"I will NEVER do this again" - Cave Exploring and Freediving a Florida Spring Deep in the Earth 

I survived 24 hours at sea in an emergency life raft ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5Ji_XREDrdo.html

Watching this I had so many thoughts how things could have gone wrong so quickly. As a cave diver I was just shaking my head at some of (reckless) things you all got away with. Free diving a passageway might look cool but you could have videoed an entrapment and a death. Happy nothing happened to anyone, and you’re right never do that again. Others would have to risk their lives to recover bodies.

Imagine walking in the woods enjoying nature and suddenly 3 divers come out of nowhere

This guy speaks a VERY good and UNDERSTANDABLE english........for me, as a swiss germain, very IMPORTANT........

I'm guessing you're divers who decided to do a bit of impromptu caving? Not to put a downer on your fun but the best way to do this is with some experienced cavers. I know there are plenty of caving groups in Florida and a quick internet search should find them. Here are a few safety tips for future (you may have done some of these, but if not you'll know for next time). These are what all responsible cavers do before entering a cave. 1) Go with an experienced caver, preferably someone who knows the cave if possible. Read the guidebook. It's not a bad idea to take a water-proof copy of the survey too if possible. 2) Check the weather forecast. If in doubt don't go. 3) Tell someone where you're going. THIS IS A MUST. Tell them the name of the cave, it's grid co-ordinates, the route you intend, the number of people in the group and their level of experience and how they're equipped (It will help cave rescue if required). Say how long you expect to be and give a call out time to alert cave rescue ( I recommend about 3 hours after you expect to come out). IMPORTANT: Remember to give your contact a call once you're out of the cave. 4) Be properly equipped. i.e. - a proper caving HEADtorch (not a cheap, crappy one) this leaves your hands free. DON'T use hand torches. You did at least have the sense to take a back up which is good. - Proper footwear with a decent grip. As you noticed wet boots aren't much use. Wellies are perfect. If you expect to do a lot of swimming you can always stick them in a tackle sack. - A caving helmet. - An oversuit is good in some caves to protect your wetsuit or better yet have a proper caving wetsuit with sharkskin. Knee and elbow pads are another option to stop it getting trashed and protect your joints. - Perhaps a tackle sack to put a first aid kit, ropes, etc in. - Check the guide for any other equipment required like ropes or ladders. A couple of tape slings can be handy for small climbs and can be stuffed in a pocket or under your helmet. 5) Best size of group is 4-6 people (if there's a lot of you split into smaller groups, otherwise you'll be very slow and spend a lot of time hanging around and getting cold). Four is the ideal minimum so that if anyone gets hurt someone can stay with them and the two people going out for help can look out for each other. Always look out for the people immediately in front of and behind you. Tell those up front to wait if anyone's getting left behind. NEVER go off alone. 6) Have a basic first aid kit, including a survival bag. Also a few supplies e.g. granola bars, raisins & nuts, etc some water. These can help reduce the chance of hypothermia if someone is hurt and has to wait for Cave rescue and provide an energy boost 7) DON'T do any diving, snorkling, etc unless you're a trained CAVE diver. Loads of experienced divers have died in Florida's blue holes when they've stirred up silt., lost visability and become disorientated because they weren't using a dive line and had no cave diving experience. Lastly have fun! Caving's a great sport if you take these basic safety precautions. Going off half-cocked puts your lives at risk and also those of Cave Rescue. I'm not sure about the US, but here in Britain they're all unpaid volunteers. For anyone interested I recommend reading Martyn Farr's cave diving classic "The darkness Beckons". This video film by Sid Perou is based on an early edition: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hYxMreI6BOU.html P.S. I'd also have taken two smaller boats. Easier to carry, plus you have a back up in case of a puncture. N.B. Deep mud can be incredibly difficult to get out of as you saw. It's best to avoid it if possible. If you do get stuck spread you weight by lying flat and let someone throw you a rope, tape sling, etc and pull you out. Sorry for the essay, but hope it's been informative and helpful.

Mr ballen unintentionally sent me here. Cave diving is a new phobia, going to conquer it by watching successful dives. Great name for the channel I must say.

Is it just me or were those hand prints at 15:56 upper left ???

Important things that were said. It is unbelievable - 37 times "If my batteries go out, that's going to be a bad day" "What's this, look at this, look there's holes up there!" "This is really dangerous when you think about it man" "This is crazy" - also 37 times "We are deep in a cave" And many, many more.

This sounds like the perfect start of a horror suspense cave film

This is super awesome and all but you couldn't offer me a BILLION DOLLARS to do this. I'm perfectly content in experiencing your glory through you and your camera! The entire time I'd be wondering when my flashlight would die. Getting stuck. Falling down some natural water slide that dumps you off into a chamber below that you can't climb out of (picture the "Goonies" water slide scene). Getting lost. Pitch blackness & total silence!

6:03 I’m not a bat expert, but I work at a historic site where we have bats very similar to that. I was told it was an endangered species.

Was gonna call you ignorant a dumb but you seem to jabe gotten the message from the professionals and Clearly understand you were pretty lucky to have made it out with no experience. So kudos to you for being willing to grow as a person and be better much respect.

Wao

Once a group of friends and I explored an abandoned hospital and we got lost in the basement morgue and had to crawl out of a window. The panic attack I had... I can’t imagine doing this.

I have a friend who is a professional diver in our city there are no caves, he advised me to take fins and a mask at night, turn off the light in the bathroom, fill it with water and dive is a more terrible adventure than a cave

I want to like this, because the content could be so good. But I just can't stand this stereotypical RU-vidr style. Several subscribe plugs, a clickbaity title and clickbaity intro (making us think the water is rising, like they got lost/were in danger when they were not at any point). How this video could have been WAY shorter with some quality editing. There was a ten second spot where he said "Guys check this out" like 4 times. One time is plenty, but even then it's too overly hyped. Just not my jam. Doesn't feel like authentic commentary.

the way jack says crevasses is to funny

This is some minecraft type shit, he about to be finding creepers and everything

This is touching my soul!

I feel like you could sense their fear start to finish

Things I will never do 1 Caving 2 Diving 3 Underwater Cave Diving

I can just hold my breath for 1 minute. Gives me a near panic attack just watching! You could easily get stuck in a silt cloud or get flooded out.

the water is so clear,omg

I legit wanna know what kind of conversations you guys have at dinner!! Like, who talks about: "Hey I got a brilliant idea, let's explore caves from a freshly drained river!!"

This is quintessential "Floridaman" content, IMO.

Nature is beautiful

Looks like you like and reply to everyone that’s really impressive also love the video

Free diving in a cave. This makes cave divers look like babies. You've taken extreme sports to a whole new level! :D

Man just watching these videos and going down in them deep caves gives me anxiety

Anyone who is claustrophobic after this 😂?

Amazing place. I love it

Hi Joe. I appreciate your adventurous spirit, however it may lead you to some serious problems. I think it would behoove you to take the training to become certified if you want to explore caves with water in them. The cavern you entered is not a secret. You found the guide rope set by certified cave divers. Others will see the same sights you did when it fills with water again. I do think you showed many people an exciting place they may never normally see. Please do not ever go off of the main line without laying down line so you can find your way back. I don't want to see you or your crew become a statistic.

respect to the mother/ father.

Really an awesome video and one of a kind experience but I don’t think you realize just how dumb and dangerous that was lmao. Since the cave has never been like that, any little thing could’ve caused it to collapse or a plethora of other things, like crocodiles. But, you guys made it safe and showed us something really cool so thanks for that

Coltons doing so well because he's so small, it's probably a huge cavern to him, instead of a narrow cave. haha

Madness, I can understand a line and pre dive check done by a diver to confirm the free diver had an airspace, this could have ended very badly. Cave diving alone is a risky task, Ive done training and even with the right gear and a legendary instructor watching me, it was still scary. Glad you all walked away. @10:42, dropped your light and said thisis why you shouldnt go into a cave without training, rule of cave diving, multiple lights always, I carry 4.

Caves are so beautiful.... Just be careful not to go in too tight spaces if you can't see what's on the other side.... Thank you gor sharing the beauty of this cave.... Just don't do extremes....make sure to only go through safe passages.... 👍👍

11:00 thats why you use the strap on the light. Literally i was a little unconfortable when i saw you not using the strap when you entered the cave.

Nope! I’m good. I’ll take your word for it! Thanks!

Cave diving is something I say I would never do but kinda think I would.

imagine breaking a bone in a cave 😬✌🏽

Nice🤙🏼

You’re very fortunate.

Something that seems like fun

The video quality is freakin amazing

Thanks for the warning

14:25 Bro this is how people Die I was just watching a bunch of videos on Cave driving accidents and your video popped up in my recommended There's Noting in there worth Dieing for, No pirate gold just a dark cave that will kill you if you give it the chance

You guys are crazy 1 wrong turn and you could have been lost forever.

Wow it's amazing ❤️❤️❤️👍🔔🙏

This made me claustrophobic just watching it.

It’s very nice of you to make Rich do all of the riskiest shit.

“You guys, look at this. Wow! Yo, are you guys seeing this? You guys have to check this out, you guys”

Oooh I’m too claustrophobic for this 😥 I’m loving this video but cringing at the same time

Way to motivate! Good on ya fellas! Crazy!

I’ve been diving for over 30 years. One thing I’ll never do is cave dive! Because I don’t wanta die also. I don’t see anyone carrying the life line string that is mandatory in cave diving?

I got major claustrophobia and never just never will I ever do this

How cute that bat was like a baby

3:54 Some names written on the rock here haha. Looks like there are other explorers out there

Did you just dive into a water filled cave, assuming you will get an air pocket on the other side?

The camera that he holding that way. Feel my heart bumping so fast and like cant breath. Feel like i am following them from the back 😅

thank god atleast you guys did'nt lost or stuck in the way ..

Merritt's Mill pound like all water in Jackson County goes up and down depending upon the year and the amount of rain. Just go to the local bait store and the guys will tell you when and when not to fish because of how high the water is. Or just go look at the Chipotle River and see how it's flowing.. there is no secret to these caves.

Amazing!

dude thats so cool

Holy crap. These guys did this without any oxygen tanks thats crazy. If they accidentally took a bad breath and got stuck while underwater. Geez I can imagine if you didnt have a mask underwater and were swiming to the next air pocket and missed. You'd panick and try to swim to the surface..... Then you smack your skull up against rock while trying to gasp for air.

At 17:57 you can see letters carved into the rock

I want to do this sometime so badly! Definitely a bucket list. 🪣 But then i remember how I get nervous when I'm holding my breath in the shower while I rinse the shampoo off of my head 😆

Wow this was such an amazing adventure,

Ok, that's it. I'm never gonna go cave diving.

Guys can we appreciate the camera man ❤❤😊😊

No helmets and handheld torches. True pros!

Just a warning. I am a caver and know of other cavers who have done free diving into an airspace and came up into an air filled chamber.The chamber was filled with bad air that is low in oxygen and high in carbon dioxide, and they passed out. If it were not for smart cavers with them, they would have died.

Scary as hell, how u never got lost I don't know - 6 its up, down, through, under, around etc.....

Someone got murdered back there and the necklace is one of the remains…😳

Hey, I Think That's Legendary SuperRare Catfish 0.0000000001% !!😱🎣😅

Yeah stuff that I Got Lost and drowned Just watching this in my living room 😭

It baffles me how they are finding drinks down there, who in their right mind would go down there with a drink, especially that long ago

Wow! Who would've thought there would be bats living in a cave.

17:57 I’m not sure if anybody noticed this or not but there is actually writing on the cave walls

I think the sign was the underwater cable the divers use. The fact that was dry had to be a decent warning.

Take a shot every time this guy says that this is something most people don’t normally see

Imagine being in there when they filled it back up and the water starts rising 😳

I could be wrong but considering their is only a couple bats and the cave is normally under water the air should be just fine whether the bats are asleep or not 👍🏼

At 17:56 you can see the letter B carved into the ceiling of the cave two times.

Why I suddenly think of scary animals when they are middle of the cave

You guys are nuts! Bonkers! No way, not me . . .

My entire family, including myself are all certified cave divers. Both of my parents spent four years doing body recovery. If you’re not cave certified do not enter a cave! Like my dad always says, “the most dangerous thing to a cave diver/caver is the diver/caver himself.” Human error is the most dangerous thing you’re gonna find whether your cave diving or just caving. As cave divers we use specialized equipment and have extensive training. You have total and complete disregard for anyone but yourself… even if you die in a cave someone still has to get you out. Waterlogged cave bodies are not pleasant and a lot of the body recovery specialist have severe psychological trauma after recovering bodies. But once again you don’t think about that, you only think about your own ego and your own needs. Stop doing this….

"sinking up to my legs" haha

Kind reminder: you can breath while watching this video.

This would be a SICK horror movie 🍿😎

Me who's deathly afraid of caves but still watches theese: 😨

"I will NEVER do this again". The same thing I say when I am on the toilet after eating spicy food.

free diving in caves....what could go wrong????

I think he forgot to mention that once the water level is back to normal, nobody is gonna see the caves like they did

"YO! WE DON'T WANT TO DISTURB THE SLEEPING BAT!! LETS LET IT SLEEP!! WE'RE SO KIND YO!!" they screamed next to the sleeping bat with incredible hearing.

Free diving in a cave is incredibly stupid... - sincerely, a scuba diver.

“Are you a fan the strange, dark, and mysterious?” - Mr. Ballen

“If I were brave, I’d climb up in there” Careful, don’t want another Nutty Putty on our hands.

"But I'm not brave" - continues to venture through a completely unknown cave submerged in 50-degree water in the middle of nowhere without an oxygen tank.

"Colton, have you ever seen anything like this in your life?" Colton: "I have never seen anything like this in my life" Damn. That's crazy.