The Philippines banned compressor mining in 2012 but crews still operate as people have no other way of making a living. Miners risk their health on a daily basis spending hours submerged in water which is often contaminated. Divers use a hose attached to a homemade compressor to breathe, meaning the air they use is often polluted with carbon monoxide and diesel fumes. The miners’ greatest fear is the air flow being blocked or a tunnel caving in. When processing the gold, miners use mercury which is highly toxic and can cause brain damage.