Can't believe they sell this to people who are not trained.

[River Rat]

I remember these from watching Baywatch. (Alright alight, I also remember other things from Baywatch. Bouncy things).

I always really wanted one!

You can't buy one only those bouncy things come in pairs, usually with a mortgage attached!

[Wicd]

Well... yes. Rubbed in my face though not hanging from my chest.

But was referring to the snorkel thingy.

Bouncy things in your face should make the snorkel auto deploy

[peter bee]

i have one, its not a dive tank or meant to be used for air, its spare air to be carried for a emergency. it will give you a few minutes if you run out of air, never had to use it .

that thing can and will burst your lungs very easily.

[EHoffmann]

Well... I'm still alive after diving alone at least twice a month for a few years.

Then again, I'm not a holiday diver.

Not for me to judge - I am not in your fins and wetsuit.

As a Dive Instructor - I will always advocate safe practice - "don't play with a knife" kind of thing

Dive alone - die alone : an old diver's saying.

The other thing is this - if you have a dive buddy - and a knife, and a shark approaches - you can at least stick your dive buddy with the knife and make for shore. What do you do when you dive alone

[New]

You can't buy one only those bouncy things come in pairs, usually with a mortgage attached!

Too late for that advice. Bouncy things and mortgage already acquired.

[cainslie]

Not for me to judge - I am not in your fins and wetsuit.

As a Dive Instructor - I will always advocate safe practice - "don't play with a knife" kind of thing

Dive alone - die alone : an old diver's saying.

The other thing is this - if you have a dive buddy - and a knife, and a shark approaches - you can at least stick your dive buddy with the knife and make for shore. What do you do when you dive alone

Yeah, look, I agree in principle. Nearly every diver shouldn't dive alone. Things go wrong and having somebody there to assist will make a world of difference. I'm no instructor, but I'm a DM + DSD and Tec40 with many 100's of dives in the last 6 years & I've learned to be self reliant.

Sometimes I get home from work and just need that hour of silence. A quick drive to the beach, walk in and potter around on local reefs makes the world of difference.

[EHoffmann]

Yeah, look, I agree in principle. Nearly every diver shouldn't dive alone. Things go wrong and having somebody there to assist will make a world of difference. I'm no instructor, but I'm a DM + DSD and Tec40 with many 100's of dives in the last 6 years & I've learned to be self reliant.

Sometimes I get home from work and just need that hour of silence. A quick drive to the beach, walk in and potter around on local reefs makes the world of difference.

We are on the same page. You are no doubt far more experienced than I am. (I only did the instructor's course to prove a point as my dive buddy told me I would never make it - male/female thing you know)
Don't forget your knife

[cainslie]

don't forget your knife ;d

:d:d:d:d:d:d

[HobieDave]

On a lighter note - the three stooges aka topgear

https://youtu.be/OgpfYBMqURw

[faniedup]

Will it take you to the bottom of Wondergat?

[peter bee]

to the bottom probably, BUT you will not get back up you will pop a lung, i cant recall but is that not somewhere like 30 odd meters. 40 at the tagmag sign and 60 at the back of the cave.

[Robbief]

to the bottom probably, BUT you will not get back up you will pop a lung, i cant recall but is that not somewhere like 30 odd meters. 40 at the tagmag sign and 60 at the back of the cave.

38-40m, bout 12 stories, You have never lived till you have nearly died. Did dive there in late 70s, early 80s

with a little bottle on the ABLJ.

[peter bee]

that is the one, cold not remember what it said, i think at the back of the cave was a water or stop sign. darkest place i have ever been in, you cant even see your hand in front of your mask, but the light going back up the tunnel is also something, you kind of know you should get out alive. great days.

i had a mate that burst a lung and died in there. also very sad days. free diving after a long few deep dives, shallow water black out, some guys still in the water with air went to look for him, they say they never gave him air at the bottom, brought him up , never lifted his chin and it was game over. thats why i say dont play with that little bottle, it will kill you

[faniedup]

that is the one, cold not remember what it said, i think at the back of the cave was a water or stop sign. darkest place i have ever been in, you cant even see your hand in front of your mask, but the light going back up the tunnel is also something, you kind of know you should get out alive. great days.

i had a mate that burst a lung and died in there. also very sad days. free diving after a long few deep dives, shallow water black out, some guys still in the water with air went to look for him, they say they never gave him air at the bottom, brought him up , never lifted his chin and it was game over. thats why i say dont play with that little bottle, it will kill you

The few times I've been to the cave in the 80's it was 57m.

[Robbief]

The few times I've been to the cave in the 80's it was 57m.

You have never lived till you have almost died and for those who fight for it life has a special flavour the protected will never know. SAP Special Task Force.

[Robbief]

From Charles Normans book,The wonergat Experience. I dived with Alan Hulme and Marine Research Unit.

[Olyfboer]

Deadly places like Wondergat near 60 metres deep are not for the amateur





There is also Lake Otjikoto near Tsumeb in Namibia at 145 metres deep



Boesmansgat near Danielskuil in the Northern Cape





And for comparison

[RoelfleRoux]

Since we are now on deep diving.
Not to forget Komati Springs (used to be called Badgat when we dived there in the nineties).
I grabbed these images off the Net.

[Coenoes]

There is a book by Phillip Finch. Raising the dead. Excellent read. I don't dive but this book was really interesting. It is the story o Dave Shaw and Boesmansgat. Makes you appreciate the science and expertise that goes into diving.

[peter bee]

i still get the two Badgat and Wondergat mixed up. we used to dive them both. Mirico Oog was also a nice little dive in those days. you could spearfish the bass some fool dropped in there.

we now way off a spare air bottle. they nice to have if you know what you doing.