Don’t know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but the divers who rescued the Thai boys from the cave were explorers, risk takers, putting themselves in danger for kicks etc. Then when the boys got stuck, they were the only ones with the knowledge and skills to help them when even several countries’ armies and navies couldn’t help. Then they were heroes.
I admire the people who are brave enough to do the things most wouldn’t or couldn’t. I think in this case there is a lot of bad taste because of the money involved and the shoddiness of the vessel.
But in alternative scenario, it could have been a vessel like this one involved in a rescue or recovery operation for someone else, and we would all be praising their bravery.
Explorers have discovered so much over the years and there’s still so much about the world we don’t know. How many people have learned something about marine exploration, the dangers of the seas, oxygen vs. carbon dioxide etc. thorough this incident and it’s media coverage. Seems like loads of mnetters became scientists overnight. For the passionate explorers who dedicated their lives to this cause, it’s an explorers death. For some, this could be a better alternative to a slow painful death at 90 odd in a care home with no capacity. They will go down in the history books with the whole world paying attention to their exploration.
It’s an extremely sad situation and at the same time a celebration of bravery and adventure. I can’t buy into the idea that they were “silly rich tourists.” They weren’t at a full moon party in Thailand or bating sharks in a cage for the cool photo. It was the ocean equivalent of a space mission (in a botched tin can).