The Adventuress, part three: The Cave Diver. “Most people look into the darkness of a cave and see only terrifying blackness. I see an unexplored world of possibilities”

As a cave diving explorer, I swim through the veins of Mother Earth, immersed in the lifeblood of our planet. Most people look into the darkness of a cave and see only terrifying blackness, but for me, the darkness beckons, drawing me into an unexplored world of possibilities. Every fin stroke that takes me further into the unknown offers an opportunity for discovery and growth.

Cave diving has been characterised as the world’s most dangerous sport and the edgy frontier of earthbound scientific exploration. In this extreme form of technical diving, aquanauts pierce through the veil of permanent darkness, swimming through a maze of subterranean limestone landscapes all over the globe. Dedicated enthusiasts, adventurous researchers, and scientists race to explore the perilous conduits, deploying multiple scuba tanks, high-tech rebreathers, and underwater scooters capable of breakneck speeds, achieving penetrations logged in miles rather than feet.

To a film-maker and photographer, underwater caves represent the ultimate challenge: I create art while monitoring delicate life support equipment at task loads that take my mind and body to the limit. Despite the risk, I’m like a kid in a candy store, working with biologists discovering new species, physicists tracking climate change, and hydrogeologists examining our finite freshwater reserves. Probing the underground pathways of the planet, I’ve found grisly sources of pollution, the roots of life inside Antarctic icebergs, and the ancient skeletal remains of Mayan civilizations sacrificed in the cenotes of the Yucatan peninsula. It is a privilege to uncover these hidden shrines and share concealed mysteries found deep inside our planet.

Today, we live in a world where fear influences the actions of the populace. People are terrified of world events, failure and change in their daily lives. If we allow fear to govern our existence, then there is only one outcome: the status quo. The secret to growth is finding a way to swim into the unknown instead of sinking into reactionary oblivion. I am not suggesting that you cast away fear and run headlong into danger. It is more important to embrace a certain amount of fear in your life, enough to stimulate growth.

People often suggest that I might not want to dive with them because they are afraid. My response is, “You are precisely the type of person that I wish to dive with.” Being fearful means that you care about the outcome of your endeavours. Fear helps you make good choices about risk versus reward. Fear drives you to move closer to the edge and take on things that inspire growth. When we work to liberate ourselves from the restraints of fear, then personal limitations expand. We can develop our potential.

Fear resides in humanity as a defence mechanism. Our primal instincts are programmed-in responses intended to keep us alive. That preconditioning may keep us safe from harm but is not necessarily designed to increase our potential. When we find ourselves in danger, our bodies respond with fight or flight. However, I would suggest another option. In the face of danger, it can be overwhelming to envision success or survival. It is all too easy to lash out or run screaming for the closest source of comfort. But in my job, either of those options can end in death. When trapped in a claustrophobic cave underwater in the darkness of a total silt-out, I must summon the calmness necessary to make the next best step towards survival. If a rock has me pinned, I use logic to figure out how to free myself. If the safety guideline breaks, I methodically deploy my cave diver’s reel and patch the broken guideline. I must do all of these things in the absence of panic.

Every breath I take has to be measured and calm. I must keep my heart rate low and focus on the next best course of action. Unchecked emotions won’t serve me in this life-threatening situation. They will only distract me from success and use up precious air. Pragmatism and confidence must rule the moment so that I can solve my dilemma and get back out of the cave. Whether you are a salesperson trying to figure out how to reach a quarterly target or a researcher looking for a cure for a disease, it can be overwhelming to find a way to envision solutions to big problems. It can be hard to know what success might look like or when it will come. But I challenge readers to consider the simple fact that we are all capable of making the next best decision at crucial moments of our lives. In the depths of our subconscious, we know what we should do next. And if we keep making positive steps toward our most meaningful goals, we will achieve great things.

How can you apply this? When fear gets in the way, ask yourself, “If I take this risk and take responsibility for my choice, what might be the rewards? What is the worst thing that could happen?” By taking responsibility, you choose your destiny. By moving methodically toward a solution, you can overcome almost any roadblock.

People look at my work and suggest that documenting the world of underwater caves might be the most dangerous job in existence. I have been burdened with the grief of countless colleagues’ deaths, some of whom made unwise choices in the blackness of underwater cave systems. Their names have been added to a long list of divers who ran out of air, got lost in a labyrinth, or pressed too far into new exploration before turning back. With training, preparation, and dedication to proper safety procedures, I have maintained a career of nearly 30 years of exploration and science. It would be arrogant to say that I will never make a mistake or poor choice that could ultimately cost me my life, but I believe that following the ultimate rule for survivors can help. Be willing to assume risk. Be ready to push the razor’s edge of possibility. Be bold and confident in whatever you take on in life. Embrace the fear of the unknown and bring it into your decision-making at every step.

But finally, when you are within sight of success, within arm’s reach of grasping the treasure you seek, you must still listen to that intuition. When the hair stands up on your neck, alerting you to danger ahead, you must be willing to let go. As you reach for the tempting summit of the mountain or the new exploration in a virgin cave, remember you also have to get home safely. Knowing when to turn back is as essential as embracing fear in the first place. Patient, diligent work is the key to an explorer’s success. Swim boldly into new endeavours with the knowledge that you may not achieve your ultimate goal the first time around. Take a deep breath, focus, and make the next best choice.

Adventuress: Women Exploring the Wild by Carolina Amell is published by Prestel, and is available from Easons, €55.99. prestel.com