Nova/National Geographic Cave Diving/Blue Holes Documentary

Well, it looks like all of our hard work has finally paid off. The documentary that our team and Wes Skiles have been working on for much of last year is finally going to air at the following times:

Nova/National Geographic Special about the Bahamas blue holes entitled Extreme Cave Diving (Nova on PBS), Tuesday, February 9 at 8 pm ET

Blue Holes: Diving the Labyrinth For NGCI it’s an Earth Day (April 22) special

For NGTI, schedule unknown

Here's a youtube teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXR94_GNuZ8


I hope you all can watch. We put a lot of hard work into this documentary and a lot of hours underwater.

The National Geographic Magazine article will be the largest spread in the last 3 years at Nat Geo. Still looking at around August for that publication.

Safe diving all,

Brian

That looks really really cool, can't wait to see it

SWEET!!! Can't wait. I'll be setting the DVR. :)

Anyone see one this past weekend about cavediving in Nevada? Someone told me about it, but couldn't remember the name of the show. They did think it was National Geographic, though.

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Originally Posted by FW

Anyone see one this past weekend about cavediving in Nevada? Someone told me about it, but couldn't remember the name of the show. They did think it was National Geographic, though.

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That irks me. I have my DVR set up to pickup up diving, scuba diving, cave, cave diving, etc., and all I've ever gotten was Hugh Hefner's bunnies learning to dive at the Playboy Mansion. :smt013

:-D

AWESOME Brian! Thanks for the heads up! We'll be watching here!

...I was JUST last night talking to a marine biologist and budding tek diver about this project and that we'd be seeing it sometime soon!

:clapper:clapper

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Originally Posted by Brian Kakuk

Here's a youtube teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXR94_GNuZ8

Brian

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Wow, that looks like must see Cave Diving TV. I will be watching.

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all I've ever gotten was Hugh Hefner's bunnies learning to dive at the Playboy Mansion.

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That, not-so-much.... Then again, I doubt they were covered in drysuits :yawinkle:

Can't wait to see the "long" version! That really was a tease as you said. :-)

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Originally Posted by Me

That irks me. I have my DVR set up to pickup up diving, scuba diving, cave, cave diving, etc., and all I've ever gotten was Hugh Hefner's bunnies learning to dive at the Playboy Mansion. :smt013

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You're complaining? Hell, where can I get a copy!?

RLK

Looks awesome Brian...I'll be trying out my new dvd recorder on that one!

The title could have been a little more creative... (it will simply encourage more card collectors to sign up for classes)

Other then that, looks like fun to watch....

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Originally Posted by Tegg

The title could have been a little more creative... (it will simply encourage more card collectors to sign up for classes)

Other then that, looks like fun to watch....

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Unfortunately, the Producer and Editor are the ones who are in charge of that type of title content....our team would have opted for something a bit different, but hopefully the story will make us proud. We have no idea how it has been edited, who, or what subjects made it to the final edit and who ended up on the cutting room floor. It's always up in the air.

We wont know till everyone knows on the first night of air. Keeping our fingers crossed! Thanks for the support guys and gals.

Brian

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Originally Posted by Brian Kakuk

Unfortunately, the Producer and Editor are the ones who are in charge of that type of title content....our team would have opted for something a bit different, but hopefully the story will make us proud. We have no idea how it has been edited, who, or what subjects made it to the final edit and who ended up on the cutting room floor. It's always up in the air.

We wont know till everyone knows on the first night of air. Keeping our fingers crossed! Thanks for the support guys and gals.

Brian

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Can't wait to see it, knowing everyone involved its sure to be stunning!

Brian, That looks amazing! Like many, I'll be recording it.

Also, if anyone has the skinny on the NV cave diving Forrest mentioned, I'd be interested. I end up in NV pretty often, and I'd be interested to see what they are up to.

Looks like PBS has come up with their own teaser for the show. Unfortunately, I can't see it from here in the Bahamas but here you go:

http://video.pbs.org/video/1398380542/

Remember Feb. 9th at 8PM.

Safe diving,

Brian

The teaser looked good :) although I can't say I ever dived into a cave for the rush, or bones. :D

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Originally Posted by SuPrBuGmAn

The teaser looked good :) although I can't say I ever dived into a cave for the rush, or bones. :D

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Agreed. Nor would I say that cave diving is the most dangerous sport in the world. I think cave diving is A LOT safer than deep (200 foot plus) wreck diving, motor cycle riding, football, and a lot of other sports.

I dive in caves for the zen serenity of the experience. Very peaceful. Not really dangerous at all as long as you don't go deep.

The video looks great. Can't wait to see it. :clapper

dean

Ill be watching it, channel 2 in Orlando!

If it actually says cave diving is the most dangerous sport in the world I believe I'll pass on watching it. I've got better things to do.

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Originally Posted by deanme

Agreed. Nor would I say that cave diving is the most dangerous sport in the world. I think cave diving is A LOT safer than deep (200 foot plus) wreck diving, motor cycle riding, football, and a lot of other sports.

I dive in caves for the zen serenity of the experience. Very peaceful. Not really dangerous at all as long as you don't go deep.

The video looks great. Can't wait to see it. :clapper

dean

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Yea, but if it is "safe", they can't get anyone to watch :(

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Originally Posted by Brian Kakuk

Looks like PBS has come up with their own teaser for the show. Unfortunately, I can't see it from here in the Bahamas but here you go:

http://video.pbs.org/video/1398380542/

Remember Feb. 9th at 8PM.

Safe diving,

Brian

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Thanks for posting your clip, it was about twice the teaser as the first one. I wonder if they identified the skeleton, maybe it was the remains of the elusive Frank Martz?

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Originally Posted by CaverCraig

Thanks for posting your clip, it was about twice the teaser as the first one. I wonder if they identified the skeleton, maybe it was the remains of the elusive Frank Martz?

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I was thinking that same thing.

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Originally Posted by Brian Kakuk

Remember Feb. 9th at 8PM.

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Damn Brian, these guys are slipping. That time is opposite an episode of Lost. I mean, if the president can move his state of the union to avoid a conflict with Lost, why cant Nova?

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Originally Posted by CaverCraig

Thanks for posting your clip, it was about twice the teaser as the first one. I wonder if they identified the skeleton, maybe it was the remains of the elusive Frank Martz?

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Frank is not elusive. He has been in the same place for about 30 years.

If you have an episode of something that's lost then what does it matter?

Regarding the Frank Martz comments...
Martz died while diving Blue Hole #4 with Jim Lockwood in Sept, 1971, after entering a deep (300-plus) vertical restriction and never returning.
IF the body found was Martz (Brian Kakuk is very familar with the Andros island blue holes, as he worked at AUTEC for several years as the DSO, they may have filmed there), would they recover the remains for burial? Frank was a bit of a "misanthrope", had no close family... I bet he would have preferred to be left where he was.
Brian, care to elaborate...did you guys film in that blue hole?
Correct me, but didn't Rob Parker die diving there as well?

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Originally Posted by phreaticus

Regarding the Frank Martz comments...
Martz died while diving Blue Hole #4 with Jim Lockwood in Sept, 1971, after entering a deep (300-plus) vertical restriction and never returning.
IF the body found was Martz (Brian Kakuk is very familar with the Andros island blue holes, as he worked at AUTEC for several years as the DSO, they may have filmed there), would they recover the remains for burial? Frank was a bit of a "misanthrope", had no close family... I bet he would have preferred to be left where he was.
Brian, care to elaborate...did you guys film in that blue hole?
Correct me, but didn't Rob Parker die diving there as well?

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Frank is in SB 4 (aka Benjamin's Blue Hole in south bight, Andros). Tom Mount has asked me to go and look for his friend several times, but when ever I go in there, I end up laying line instead....much more pleasant than doing a recovery.

Recovering Frank's bones would open up a huge can of worms, and as far as I know, no one other than Tom has formally asked that he be recovered.

As for Rob Palmer, he died on a deep air dive in the Red Sea durning a TDI conference in Egypt, a long way from Andros.

The remains of a diver that may end up on film is in a completely different area of Andros. This diver's family had specifically asked that he NOT be recovered as they believed he died doing something that he loved (diving and research). He was not a trained cave diver my any means. Unfortunately, someone recently found his remains and have disturbed them, which is a pitty. I wish Nat Geo/Nova had chosen more of the "up" aspects of our work instead of the danger and death aspect that can be part of our activity.

As for those who believe our activity is "perfectly safe as long as we are trained and stick by our protocols", I would disagree. I don't feel like what I do is as dangerous as many other activities, but the deaths and near misses that have accompanied our comunity througout the years proves otherwise. Please don't lul yourself into a false sense of security because you are still alive after many successful dives.

Sheck Exley once told me that when he was cave diving, he had what he called "controlled paranioa". He said that he would go into the dive thinking, "OK, the cave is going to try and get me, and I just have to try and figure out how and when, and be completely prepared for it when it does...and it will happen eventually".

My experience is not exactly the same, but similar. Once in a while I will be swimming down a passage and think of an off the wall scenario and then go through the motions of my response (i.e. HP Hose burst, freeflow reg, mis-programed computer(s), BC tear, etc.)

Don't get me wrong, I don't go swimming down the passage on every dive acting like Mort on Family guy (sorry for those of you who don't watch TBS), but I do give myself reality checks once in a while to keep an appropriate amount of attention to detail.

Nuff said.

Anyway, I hope that the cheezy title and the usual references to danger and death will not keep most of you from watching what I hope will be an visually amazing program showing some of the most highly decorated cave on earth.

Safe diving,
Brian

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Originally Posted by Brian Kakuk

As for Rob Palmer, he died on a deep air dive in the Red Sea durning a TDI conference in Egypt, a long way from Andros.

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That is true.

But Rob Parker drowned in a Blue Hole on Andros. The cause was thought to be 'deep water blackout' a.k.a. exerting oneself while diving too deep on air.

Easy to get these damn Brits confused.

Andy

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Originally Posted by apitkin

That is true.

But Rob Parker drowned in a Blue Hole on Andros. The cause was thought to be 'deep water blackout' a.k.a. exerting oneself while diving too deep on air.

Easy to get these damn Brits confused.

Andy

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Ah, my bad, Parker not Palmer. Parker died in Four Sharks Blue Hole, which is at the extreme southern end of the Andros fracture cave system (miles from Benjamins). I recovered his body on 17 August 1997, two days after he died.

I'll read the posts a little more carefully from now on!

Safe diving,
B

Thanks for the clarifications, Brian...look forward to seeing the show!
I guided Rob Parker and Bill Stone in the early 80's at DiePolder 3 when they were just starting to dabble in mixed gas, (humerous, to this day, to have a guide (on air) watching over two guests, (on heliox), they were prepping for the Wakulla I Project) and was very saddened to hear of Rob's demise back in '97.

I can relate to the "controlled paranoia" aspect, it's a good mental attitude to have, IMHO.
I know that when I get the "go homes", it's time to call the dive, whether it's 500 ft. or 5000 ft. from daylight!

Just got linked to this article as well,

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/cavediv...rce=feedburner

OMG! That article is SO hyped and tons of misinformation. Geez Louise. Sorry folks.

Brian,

It's okay and you certainly should not feel the need to apologize.
The hype can be considered to be part of the cost of getting this great story/show out there to the general public.
Unfortunately, today's general television viewing audience needs this kind of melodrama, etc., to get their attention. Those of us who don't need it and recognize it for what it is can hopefully look past and ignore it and enjoy the fun and adventure you all had this past summer!

Gene

Great job, Brian and everyone! I liked seeing the Wakulla 2 sticker on the RB!

Well, OK, I liked almost everything. Glad it all worked out so well for you.

The video was awesome. You guys got some great footage. Thanks for all your hard work!

That was nice, although there was too much non-diving footage that just re-hashed the same points. More cave video! ;-)

Finally got around to watching this. Great footage. I may have to come to the Bahamas for a dive trip one of these days.

Greetings fellow cave divers and Brian thank you for your efforts.
I watched the program with my family and enjoyed it very much, even the more dark comments were met with acceptance by my wife.
I think it was well done and made to appeal to divers and non-divers alike so of coarse it was a teaser for what is to come in August.
I had the opportunity to see Wes Skiles at Our World Underwater and see a few of the images in his lap top and for all who have not had this chance, WOW! I am telling all who are still wanting that the images are breath taking and will leave you in awe!
Not only is the science that is being done stellar but the video, stills, and exploration achieved nothing short of amazing!
I am looking forward to many more missions and more discoveries in the coming years.
Thank you again Brian for your contributions to this project and fueling the passion among the diving community!
JCG

We finally have a limited number DVDs of the NOVA-Nat Geo special: Extreme Cave Diving. Get it over at www.RebreatherPro.com
Enjoy the amazing cave footage shot by Wes Skiles of Brian Kakuk, Kenny Broad and Jill Heinerth as they explore the Bahamas Blue Holes.

You can order directly here.. Help support further expeditions and exploration. Thanks!