Like most of the world, I watched with hope and fascination as selfless Thai military divers and expert volunteer cave divers from around the world saved 12 boys and their soccer coach from certain horrific death 2.5 miles inside a flooded Thailand cave. The Daily Report’s Jonathan Ringel asked me, an avid cave diver, if I’d offer some observations on the rescue. 

First, this rescue was every bit as sensational and miraculous as the media have portrayed it. The Tham Luang cave passage that trapped these boys when it flooded comprised nearly two miles of dry cave interrupted by several underwater passages, or “sumps.” The rescuers had to dive through each of these, including with children who can’t swim.