Thank you for responding to my click-bait exaggerated-danger title. An alternative title could be; "Why Global Underwater Explorers reject the Wichard “Safety Snap Hook”.

Here is the actual story...

It’s true that we were prepared for difficult diving conditions when Joe and I walked backwards into the Mekong River in the Golden Triangle region of Northern Laos. The possibility of entanglement had been discussed and prepared for, as well as how to not be shocked if we encountered a 600 lb Mekong Catfish.

Fortunately, Joe has a lot of experience with river diving. It was the end of the dry season, and  the expedition had been organized planning on the lowest river level and velocity possible, yet it was still high and strong in mid-March this year. Expedition Leader Ken Hayes had brought Joe and me along to help resolve the mystery of a Buddhist Temple from 500 years age that disappeared in antiquity, which is currently giving new hints as to where it has been hiding all these years. Archaeologists from the Lao National Museum had contacted Ken to help with the search.

My own experience with archaeological diving in various seas involved more moderate currents, or preferably none at all.

the day was warm and the water temp not shockingly cool, didpite its source in the snow melt of the Himaiayas. By the time I got to 3 m depth, the current was so strong that I was hanging onto larger rocks and a substantial tree branch with both hands. If I let go with one hand, I’d start sliding backwards in the current.

 The bottom was rocks, boulders, logs, and branches, plus twisted sheet metal and fishing nets.

I knew this because there was about 30 cm of visibility, and by putting my face near my hands, there was enough light to see.

I noticed that my line reel had paid out. The clip on the end must have  stuck or tangled on something, now upstream somewhere out of reach. A few minutes into my second dive, I had stumbled into one of the classic axioms of dive gear management: “ Don’t get your stuff tangled with debris in a strong current.”

Now I was entangled under the Mekong...

The new documentary film about our ongoing excavations on Cleopatra's personal Temple is launching on PBS. To accompany the launch, Franck Goddio is doing an AMA on Reddit about the science behind the  excavations

You can watch the Full 55 minute Documentary  streaming on PBS by clicking here

Secrets of the Dead: “Cleopatra’s Last Temple” will air on October 15th 2025
at 10pm. I haven't seen it yet, and am leaving for Egypt tomorow. Tell me how it goes.

"For more than 30 years, French explorer Franck Goddio has been hoping to confirm that ruins just below the Mediterranean’s surface in Alexandria’s harbor are a temple belonging to Cleopatra. If true, this discovery could reveal vital new information about Cleopatra’s reign and her connection with the goddess Isis".