This idea of how extreme circumstances can make seemingly simple decisions a matter of life or death is prominent in Sanctum.Ībsolutely. As we like to say, there are no accidents in cave diving, just fatalities.

On one hand, when you are doing it and nothing happens, it’s not dangerous, is it? But the consequences of not following the rules or not being properly prepared are very dangerous. That becomes a very seductive, powerful part of exploring caves. Cave diving takes you places places few, if anyone, has ever been before. It’s a great sensation of flight and freedom. It feels like floating through air or being in outer space. The main thing that draws people in is the beauty of it. What is the lure of cave diving when it is obviously so dangerous? They are full of stalagtites, stalagmites, and other decorations that would only normally be found in a dry cave. The caves there were once dry caves that flooded after the last Ice Age. Where’s your favorite spot?Īndrew Wight: I’d say the most spectacular place I have dived was the Yucatán.

By Mary Anne PottsĪDVENTURE: You’ve been cave diving all over the world, from Alaska to the Dominican Republic, for the last 30 years. Here Wight describes the lure of this dangerous sport, how extreme situations effect human dynamics, diving the Titanic, and how was able to turn his hobby into a life of adventure. Not only did it inspire the new 3-D adventure film Sanctum, it sparked a successful filmmaking career which led to a highly productive friendship with fellow 3-D pioneer James Cameron, the executive producer of the new film. When Australian producer and renowned caver Andrew Wight ( Ghosts of the Abyss, Aliens of the Deep) led a cave diving expedition beneath Australia’s Nullarbor Plain in 1988, he had a near-death experience that truly changed his life. Photograph courtesy Universal Pictures SANCTUM EXTREME ADVENTURE CONTEST: Share your best adventure story and photo for a chance to win great prizes! Find out more here.

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