The Exploration Dive in Boatbox Cave, Utah

We woke up to a lightly smoked atmosphere making for a beautiful sunrise. Around 15 people helped haul gear out to Boatbox Cave at around 9,500 ft elevation — the highest cave dive I have performed. Matt Paulson, Jamie Goodwin, John Horton, Alex, and others set up rope access into the cave. Diving at 9,500 ft when I have been living at 2,500 ft in Vegas, in cold water, in tight narrow passage with sleep deprivation — embolizing from a dive could come easier and faster than one might think.

We rigged a haul line, a primary rap line, and a gear line at the waterline. I rapped the 40 ft first pitch into a sloping muddy room, then the 50 ft second pitch right into the water. John Horton in an inflatable raft at the waterline was a huge help. The water read 35 degrees — extreme cold. I forgot my gloves and had to have them sent down. I swam the perimeter and free-dived to look for going passage. No passage could be found — just a 35 ft deep static pool with walls coming up from the bottom, some cracks where water may seep in, and what appeared to be debris or a boat at the bottom. I called off the dive and we de-rigged. Thanks to the Timpanogos Grotto, Matt Paulson, John Horton, Chase Nelson, Amy Nelson, Danielle Urich, Alex Chagovetz, David Royer, Jamie Goodwin, Bryce Fehlig, Mark Zelenock, and dive buddy Astro Rosaire for his first cave dive project.