In July 2018 Craig Challen was part of a diving rescue team who saved 12 boys and their 25 year old coach from a flooded Thai cave. The cave rescue was technical and dangerous, highlighted by the death of a Thai navy seal whilst Craig was in transit from Australia. As they raced against the imminent monsoon rains they expected more causalities. The most reasonable plan was to sedate the boys and keep them unconscious for the 3 hour extraction. Most of which was underwater. This is Craig's side of the story.

Craig was named joint winner of the Australian of the Year award in 2019 along with his dive partner, Dr Richard Harris for the Thai cave rescue.