Diver Risks Life in Landmark Cave Experiment, Captured in New Australian Film
PEARCE RESURGENCE, NEW ZEALAND - Renowned cave diver Richard Harris, instrumental in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, recently undertook a perilous experiment in the depths of the Pearce Resurgence cave system in New Zealand, a feat documented in a new Australian film. The dive, reaching a staggering 230 meters (755 feet), tested a novel hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture designed to mitigate high-pressure neurological impairment – a condition known as High Pressure Nervous Syndrome (HPNS) – that can incapacitate divers at extreme depths.Success meant possibly unlocking deeper, safer cave exploration; failure carried the risk of fatal explosion.
Harris, already celebrated for his role in saving the Wild Boars soccer team from Tham Luang cave, faced a uniquely personal challenge with this dive. The experiment wasn’t simply about pushing the boundaries of underwater exploration, but about confronting his own internal struggles and the toll his dangerous pursuits take on his wife, Fiona. The film captures the agonizing wait Fiona endured during the 12-hour decompression ascent, highlighting the emotional cost of Harris’s ambition.
At 180 meters, Harris began experiencing tremors. The critical moment arrived at 200 meters when he switched from a helium mixture to the experimental hydrogen-oxygen blend. “It was an intimidating moment,” Harris recounts in the film. A hiss in the cylinder and cautious sips were all that stood between success and catastrophe. Remarkably, the switch worked, alleviating the tremors and inducing a sense of calm.”I felt incredibly relaxed and in control at that depth for the first time ever. I thought, ‘Wow, I could just keep going.'”
The ascent involved a meticulously planned decompression schedule, utilizing a series of watertight chambers at varying depths: one hour at 40 meters, two hours at 28 meters, four hours at 16 meters, and five hours at seven meters. Emerging into the darkness, greeted by a circle of faces and torches, Harris and his diving partner, Jason Challen, shared a silent understanding of the profound experience.
Despite the success, Harris has declared this his final dive at the Pearce Resurgence, acknowledging the strain his passion places on his family.”I shouldn’t need to get to the bottom of a cave in NZ to be OK with who I am,” he stated. While the future of his diving career remains open, with Challen playfully asking, “Well, where are we going then?”, Harris has affirmed his need to prioritize his personal life.The film offers a raw and intimate look at the courage, risk, and emotional complexities inherent in extreme exploration.
