Question about Thai rescue.

[LAS14]

CNN reports that rescue operations are suspended for a day. Does anyone know why they are depending on a small enough group of divers that they need to allow them to rest? You'd think they'd have been flooded with experienced rescue divers by now. I'm sure there's a good explanation, just wondering what it is.

tia
las

They are now resting and need at least 20 hours to prepare for the third operation, Osotthanakorn said, but timings could change depending on weather and water levels. Monday's rescue was carried out four to five hours ahead of schedule due to favorable conditions, he said.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/09/asia/thai-cave-rescue-intl/index.html

[NewJeffCT]

1. supposedly

the two divers involved are considered the best in the world at what they do.

Maybe they don't want to take a chance with anybody except the very best?

[MichMary]

2. From what I have heard,

these are not only "rescue divers" or "cave divers" but "cave rescue divers," and there are a whole lot fewer of those than either of the other category! If it were my kid in that cave, I'd want the rescuers to be in top form, even if it meant an extra day in the cave.

In addition, they have to replenish the oxygen tanks, because they have been totally depleted on both of the previous rescue missions.

[cwydro]

8. They are not "oxygen" tanks - they are compressed air.

Very few media sources are getting this right.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Thank you.

I've been screaming at every news report that calls them oxygen tanks - can't the media do 2 second worth of research on Google??? People are already confused enough - because this is so publicized, it is likely to stick in people's memories.

[Yonnie3]

12. I saw photos of both oxygen tanks and dive tanks on site.

They even said they were waiting on an oxygen delivery. The oxygen tanks had green color coding and were labeled oxygen. These were larger tanks. They may be using a mix in the dive tanks to increase dive time.

Edit to add: The oxygen levels in the cave are falling. They may be providing the oxygen to the coach and boys and in the various rest areas.

[LAS14]

14. I read somewhere that they have strung a three mile oxygen hose into the cave. nt

[Yonnie3]

15. Thanks! I hadn't seen that.

That could be what those tanks were for. Three miles of hose will severely limit the rate that oxygen can flow into the chamber. Hopefully they can tent off an area to contain it in the chamber.

[Ms. Toad]

16. Primarily what the divers are using is compressed air,

or perhaps Nitrox. Not oxygen. And the media that are using the phrase "oxygen tanks," are not using it becuase they are talking about tanks that might be released in the cavern to boost the oxygen levels, or as part of a rebreather apparatus. They are doing it becaus they think every diver's tank is an oxygen tank.

[virgogal]

3. I think that they have to carefully place spare oxygen tanks all along the

very long route before another attempt can be made.

[underpants]

5. +

Thanks I posted something about that below

[underpants]

4. I heard a blip about having to restage oxygen tanks

I can't say I've followed this as much as I've wanted to but I heard or read something about getting the route restocked with oxygen tanks. Also, divers need to rest. There are probably other factors we don't understand or haven't been told.

[Ms. Toad]

10. Compressed air, but yes.

Also Tightening the guide ropes.

Visibility, as well (but likely less critical becaue of the guide ropes). But think driving in the snow with your bright beams on. That's what particles kicked up by the previous divers do when hit by diver's flashlights. If there are places where the rescue divers need to good visibility, it would be important to let the silt settle back to the bottom before bringing novice divers through the next time.

[Blue_Tires]

6. Because the crew of divers they have are the ones most familiar with the route by now??

And as we have seen, the route is incredibly dangerous even when you DO know it already and are highly experienced...

There's zero visibility in some underwater places and only a guide rope to get you through -- And should that rope slip out of your hand you're a dead man..

[Yonnie3]

7. I've read that the extraction divers are resting.

Other teams are staging air and oxygen tanks in the cave. Much of what they are carrying in will need to be consumed by the resupply team during the resupply effort. There is one part of the route where they must remove the tank to proceed. This is probably the limiting part of the resupply. It is likely that they are only taking a few tanks at a time through that area. There have been mentions of deteriorating air quality in the entrapment area so the coach and four boys may be using air tanks continuously, further increasing the need for air.

[Dave Starsky]

11. There are experts from around the world helping in this effort.

The logistics of this rescue are insanely difficult. It's amazing that the boys and their coach were even discovered alive in the first place. One rescue diver has died.

Anyone who thinks that they aren't doing the very best that is humanly possible to rescue everyone in that cave doesn't know what they're talking about.

[canetoad]

13. It takes four or five hours to reach the boys

And a similar time to return with them although the second batch was a bit quicker.

My understanding is that each boy is accompanied by two divers; one in front, carrying the kid's air bottle, one behind. Once the rescue divers are all in place at the cavern where the boys are, they are leaving around 15 to 20 minutes apart. Then it's another four or five hours to get them to the cave entrance.

So eight specialist cave rescue divers per batch - I reckon they are going as fast as they can.

[IcyPeas]

17. all I know is it went from "it might take 4 months" to...

let's do it NOW and they are doing it. so if they have to rest or reset or replenish for a matter of hours in order to do it right, that seems reasonable. Amazing resuers. just amazing. the world has some very talented individuals out there with expertise in things I didn't know existed... until somebody needs them.

[Lee-Lee]

18. There are rescue divers. There are cave divers But

Cave Rescue Divers of the kind with the experience to handle these kind of operation? A handful, at best.

And one thing to keep in mind is that for every rescue diver working to get the boys out for safety there must be a rescue diver staged to save them in case something happens. So two are taking each boy out, that becomes 4 plus one more of the boy is 5.

So taking out 2 at a time means 4 actually taking them out and 6 more staged and ready along the way in case they have problems.

That’s probably all the people in the world experienced and skilled enough for this.