Why the Thai Cave Rescue Still Shocks Professional Divers Today | Gus Gonzalez

FULL EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnj59cCV0h4

The Thai Cave Rescue was considered impossible by most experts. Flooded passages, zero visibility, extreme distances, and trapped children with no diving experience — yet against all odds, every child made it out alive.

This clip breaks down how the rescue actually worked, why standard rules didn’t apply, and how Rick Stanton — despite not being formally certified in the traditional sense — became one of the most effective cave rescuers in history. It’s a case study in experience, decision-making under pressure, and why real-world skill sometimes matters more than credentials.

GUS's LINKS:

- YT: https://www.youtube.com/@UCb9sy84UQUOAL5To0IPotpw

- IG: https://www.instagram.com/divetalkmedia/

- X: https://x.com/DiveTalkMedia

- WEBSITE: https://divetalk.com/

Inside this clip:

• What made the Thai Cave Rescue nearly impossible

• How the rescue operation was planned and executed

• Why conventional safety rules couldn’t be followed

• Rick Stanton’s role in saving the kids

• Experience vs certification in extreme environments

No fantasy timelines.

No sensational leaps.

Just execution — under impossible pressure.

***TIMESTAMPS***

00:00 – Diving into virgin caves, danger, Thai cave rescue, how the kids were saved, Rick Stanton

19:40 – Rick Stanton legend, uncertified learning, Sheck Exley, nitrogen narcosis, near death at El Diablo

28:31 – Mental training, problem solving, cave diving as a lifelong commitment

36:36 – Rogan cowboy cave story, lost line procedures, backlash, ocean vs freshwater caves

48:54 – Treasure and artifacts, Ice Age girl in Mexican cave, bones found, Blue Hole Belize, bodies

57:27 – Bottom of Blue Hole Belize, rescue calls, Edd Sorensen, humans vs robots, Belize plan, orcas

Watch the full conversation on the Julian Dorey Podcast

@JulianDoreyDaily ​

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