OT cave diving, rescue, perils, Thailand

[weisan]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ks-to-10504264

[Llewellyn]

Finding them is probably going to turn out to be the easy part. Good luck to everyone involved.

[Bruce K]

They were taping a few days ago

The problem is getting them out.

None of them swim, let alone SCUBA dive, the currents are strong, and more flooding is imminent.

BK

[paulh]

One of the divers has died on one of the (I think 11 hour) trip in and out. One diver said it's going to really tough. Weak, inexperience, tight spaces and a little panic and things could go really wrong fast. I guess there's some possibility they could drill a shaft and bring them up like they have trapped coal miners. Again an almost impossible task.

[AngryScientist]

ELon Musk has offered his assistance as well.

this is truly what engineering is all about. i hope they find a solution quickly and get all to safety.

[fignon's barber]

There's no way they can have these kids scuba dive out of this, too risky. I thinkthey would be better off sedating them, putting them in some type of small capsule, and bringing them out one at a time.

[GonaSovereign]

Wow - they're in deep.
I have some very limited experience diving in situations where you can't go directly up. (I'm ice diving and wreck diving cert.) I have zero interest in cave diving.

Pulling off that exit will require world-class planning and prep, and nerves of steel. I suspect/hope a typical 11 or 12 year old will do better than an adult if the kids focus on the "adventure" of escaping and don't think too much about the consequences of failure.

[colker]

How on earth did they end up in the flooded cave?

[Jaybee]

Walked in before it flooded, supposedly to write their names on a wall in the back as a sort of initiation activity.

The caves don’t usually flood until 2-3 weeks from now.

[pjbaz]

Originally Posted by GonaSovereign

Pulling off that exit will require world-class planning and prep, and nerves of steel. I suspect/hope a typical 11 or 12 year old will do better than an adult if the kids focus on the "adventure" of escaping and don't think too much about the consequences of failure.

THIS. I'm wreck cert. and I've been in one cave situation I probably should never have been in (Punta Sur in Coz) with my experience but I made the choice willingly and as a clear-headed adult. Cave diving is INCREDIBLY difficult and dangerous. Jeez, I've seen people wig out in open water that was only 15 feet deep.

[p nut]

Originally Posted by paulh

One of the divers has died on one of the (I think 11 hour) trip in and out. One diver said it's going to really tough. Weak, inexperience, tight spaces and a little panic and things could go really wrong fast. I guess there's some possibility they could drill a shaft and bring them up like they have trapped coal miners. Again an almost impossible task.

And not just any diver. A (retired) Thai Navy Seal. Just shows how difficult this rescue will be. God speed, all.

[joosttx]

A real option is to keep the kids and the adult in the cave til November when the rainy season is over. The NYT is doing a very good job reporting the situation.

[Doug Fattic]

I just read in USA Today that the Thai navy seal that died last night bringing bottled oxygen was a competitive bicycle racer and runner.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Originally Posted by joosttx

A real option is to keep the kids and the adult in the cave til November when the rainy season is over. The NYT is doing a very good job reporting the situation.

Obviously the experience and knowledgeable people on the ground know best, but this does seem like a sensible option. You would think they could prepare for underwater evacuation and stage it, but only go to that plan if water threatens them where they are. The odds of all thirteen doing everything just right in a diving evacuation do not seem like good ones.

[weisan]

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...tions-10505998