I’m Natalie Gibb,

Scuba Diver of Yucatan, Mexico

“I cave dive for the freedom, the feeling of flying through a three dimensional structure. I am insatiably curious about what is around the next corner. The Yucatan Peninsula has the most extensive cave systems in the world and we are finding new ones all the time.

“I love that cave diving pushes a diver mentally and physically, requiring total focus and precision. I feel liberated in an enclosed space, calm during a challenging dive, and most myself when I leave my terrestrial existence behind.

“One of my best moments was not even underwater. I learned that surveys of one of our projects was being used by geologists to argue for sustainable development in the area surrounding the cave. I believe a great deal of work needs to be done for the conservation of caves and the water supply in the Riviera Maya.”

“I love side mount diving. For cave diving in Mexico, I believe it is the optimal equipment configuration due to it’s inherent redundancy, flexibility and comfort. I love that I can look up without banging my head into a manifold or twisting my neck.”

“Succeeding at exploration requires challenging yourself, leaning to control yourself mentally and emotionally. It’s that moment at the end of the line, when everything comes together: a solid dive plan, the skills to proceed and the darkness ahead. It’s almost impossible to describe the meditative state you reach when you control your mind, focus on the cave and move forward with confidence and calmness.

~ You can see more of Natalie’s amazing photos via links to her social media at the bottom of this page.