Final Minutes of Deco

Final minutes of deco featuring two divers in their natural habitat, sitting under a rock ceiling and pretending this is comfortable.

This little pocket in the cave is where time slows down. There is not much room to move, so you settle in, find a grip on the ceiling or the wall, and watch the bubbles slide past as they trace their way upward. It is quiet enough to hear your own breathing and close enough that you become very aware of your limbs, hoses and fins.

Deco always feels like an odd contrast. You just spent the dive feeling free, moving through passages, rocks and boulders, and now you are parked in a space the size of a small table, waiting for tissue compartments to catch up. The cave seems to be watching you with a straight face while you pretend that sitting motionless under a slab of rock is perfectly reasonable.

In reality it is just part of the routine. You get used to the rock ceiling an inch from your head, the slightly awkward position, and the awareness that you still have a bit more gas to breathe before surfacing. You might exchange a glance with your buddy, check the timer, shift one fin, and continue the waiting game.

Some people imagine cave diving as fast action. Often it is this instead. Stillness, patience, and the quiet understanding that comfort is optional and discipline is not.

The video captures it well. Two divers, a low ceiling, a few final minutes, and the slightly forced confidence that yes, this is completely fine.