CAN THE THAI BOYS DIVE TO ESCAPE? - DIVE Magazine
What options do the rescue divers have to bring the children through the tight passages?
Some of the kids might be small enough that they can fit through the passage with a tank strapped to their back, but not all of them, and almost certainly not the coach. They might consider training some of the boys to use a sidemount-style slung tank, and hold it out in front of them through the tight passages, but a much better option might be to have the boys on a long-hose air source provided by one of the support divers, who can manage the tanks while the boy follows along behind. The long hose alternate air source is standard practice for cave divers in out-of-air situations. They boys would therefore always be linked to one of the support divers by both a tether and the long hose that is providing them with air.
What is going to be the most difficult thing for the children to cope with?
The tight passage as mentioned above. Regardless of how the equipment is configured in order to get them trough, this is not an easy task, even for experienced cave divers. The limited visibility and light may mean they lose sight of their support divers in the narrow crawl space. This, perhaps without the comforting, immediate presence of a support diver will be the most horrendous part of the experience, I would imagine. Despite my years of experience, I would never do that deliberately. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it, actually.
What options do the rescue divers have to bring the children through the tight passages?
Some of the kids might be small enough that they can fit through the passage with a tank strapped to their back, but not all of them, and almost certainly not the coach. They might consider training some of the boys to use a sidemount-style slung tank, and hold it out in front of them through the tight passages, but a much better option might be to have the boys on a long-hose air source provided by one of the support divers, who can manage the tanks while the boy follows along behind. The long hose alternate air source is standard practice for cave divers in out-of-air situations. They boys would therefore always be linked to one of the support divers by both a tether and the long hose that is providing them with air.
What is going to be the most difficult thing for the children to cope with?
The tight passage as mentioned above. Regardless of how the equipment is configured in order to get them trough, this is not an easy task, even for experienced cave divers. The limited visibility and light may mean they lose sight of their support divers in the narrow crawl space. This, perhaps without the comforting, immediate presence of a support diver will be the most horrendous part of the experience, I would imagine. Despite my years of experience, I would never do that deliberately. It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it, actually.