Summary
In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss the dangers and complexities of cave diving, which involves scuba diving horizontally through miles of cave systems while being 100 feet under sea level. They differentiate between open water diving, cavern diving, and cave diving, with cave diving being the most dangerous due to the lack of direct vertical access to open air surface or light. The hosts share statistics on the number of deaths associated with cave diving, with the most common cause being asphyxia due to drowning. They also discuss the risks associated with silt outs, which can last for a long time and cause panic in even experienced divers. Despite the dangers, the hosts acknowledge the scientific discoveries that have been made in these caves and express admiration for those who pursue this activity.
The podcast hosts also discuss the equipment used for cave diving, including black masks, shorter and stiffer fins, and dry suits that keep the body dry. They explain the importance of maintaining perfect buoyancy and using small controlled kicks to avoid kicking up silt and damaging the cave. There are two types of cave diving, spring diving, and sump diving, and both have their own dangers. The podcast emphasizes the importance of having redundant equipment and being prepared for any mishaps. The discussion touches on the need for different air mixtures while cave diving to breathe properly.
The hosts explain the effects of pressure on the human body while scuba diving, including nitrogen build-up in the blood, which can lead to the bends and nitrogen narcosis. They also discuss different gas mixtures that can be used to reduce the risk of these conditions, such as nitrox and heliox. The hosts explain the importance of following decompression schedules and the rule of thirds when diving. They also mention the use of driver propulsion vehicles and the need for guidelines to navigate in dark underwater caves.
The podcast hosts discuss the guidelines used by divers to navigate through caves, including the main line marked with yellow or gold lines, side tunnels with white lines, and entry lines tied to a big rock on the surface. Dwarf markers, plastic triangles, are used to indicate the way out of the cave. Cave diving is a technical dive that requires years of experience, with at least 50 dives before considering cave diving. Certification as a cave diver is an achievement that places divers in the top one percent of divers in the world, with only 75 professional team jobs available worldwide.
The podcast hosts also discuss the challenges of human exploration on Earth, including the recent Thai cave rescue. They mention the emotional and physical difficulties involved in retrieving bodies from caves and the lack of regulation in cave diving. They also read a listener email in response to a previous episode about conversion therapy, in which the listener shares their own experience with sexual confusion and the guilt they felt afterward. The hosts encourage listeners to embrace themselves and not worry about what others may think.
