Craig Challen

Craig Challen‏‎ is a renowned Australian technical diver and cave explorer. He was one of the key divers in the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, which gained international attention. For his heroic efforts, Challen was jointly named Australian of the Year in 2019 along with his dive partner, Dr. Richard Harris.

Early Life and Career

Challen was born in Perth, Western Australia. He developed an interest in diving at a young age and pursued it as a hobby alongside his professional career. He worked as a veterinarian before switching to the field of oil and gas exploration.

Diving Career

Challen is a specialist in cave diving, a type of technical diving. He has participated in numerous expeditions around the world, exploring underwater caves in Australia, New Zealand, and Christmas Island. In 2010, he was part of the team that conducted the first exploration of the Cocklebiddy Cave's underwater section, setting a world record for the longest cave dive.

Tham Luang Cave Rescue

In 2018, Challen played a crucial role in the Tham Luang cave rescue, where a youth football team and their coach were trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. Challen, along with his dive partner Dr. Richard Harris, was instrumental in planning and executing the rescue mission. Their efforts were successful, and all twelve boys and their coach were safely extracted from the cave.

Awards and Honours

For his role in the Tham Luang cave rescue, Challen was awarded the Star of Courage, Australia's second-highest civilian bravery award. In 2019, he was jointly named Australian of the Year with Dr. Richard Harris.

See Also

• Cave diving
• Tham Luang cave rescue
• Australian of the Year

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