“Near Disaster in Egypt: Deep Dive Gone Wrong!”

I had a dive go wrong at Egypt’s Brother Islands while filming a documentary. I was in charge of the lighting, but back then, underwater lights were beasts—each weighing around 20 pounds. Carrying two of them was no easy task, and my BCD didn’t have enough lift to compensate for the extra weight.

The moment I hit the water, I felt the pull. At first, I tried to control my descent, but the weight was too much, and I started sinking—fast. Before I knew it, I had plunged to nearly 180 feet, way deeper than planned and far beyond a safe limit for such an uncontrolled drop. For a few intense moments, I had to fight the rising panic, knowing that ascending too quickly could mean serious trouble.

Thankfully, a safety diver was nearby. I managed to signal him and hand off the heavy lights, instantly regaining control of my buoyancy. With slow, steady breaths, I carefully made my way back up, keeping a close eye on my ascent to avoid getting bent. It was a close call, and I knew how badly it could have ended.

That dive taught me a valuable lesson about proper gear, weight distribution, and always accounting for the unexpected. Even after years of experience, the ocean will humble you in an instant.