cave diving sydney cdaa sydneyCAVE DIVING cave diving sydney cdaa sydney

THE THOUGHT OF SQUEEZING THROUGH TIGHT TUNNELS FILLED WITH WATER MANY METERS BELOW THE SURFACE, COULD MAKE YOU DECIDE TO STOP READING THIS PAGE RIGHT NOW.
WELL, I HOPE TO DISPELL A FEW MYTHS AND ALTHOUGH IT STILL MAY NOT BE YOUR TYPE OF DIVING, YOU MAY BE ENLIGHTENED.

The term Cave Diving is too general.
In Australia we have split
"cave" diving into four categories.

      Cavern

      Sinkhole

      Cave

      Penetration

Cavern Diving,

A cavern is a body of water no deeper then 20 metres with walls of the cavern not restricting a divers ability to ascend directly to the surface, With all sections large enough to allow two divers to swim side by side and turn around.

Cavern diving is the entry level qualification for 'Cave Diving'.

Sinkhole diving,

A Sinkhole is is body of water usually formed by the collapse of surface strata into an underground river or water system. A sinkhole diving site is a body of water to a maximum depth of 40 metres with some overhangs and direct access to the surface being no more then 40 metres away. With natural light being visible at all times and again all sections allowing two divers to swim side by side and be able to turn around together.

Cave Diving,

A cave site is one where there may be dark areas (ie no natural light) or areas of silt. A diver can travel away from a direct access to the surface to a distance using one third of the available air supply. Again all sections must allow two divers to swim side by side and turn around.

Penetration Diving,

A penetration site will have areas where two divers cannot swim side by side through some restrictions.

Cave diving in Australia is controlled by the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA). This association was set up in the early seventies to allow continuing safe diving in many of Australias 'cave' sites. The CDAA has arranged access for properly certified divers to many brilliant dive sites. One of the concepts that people do not think of is, most caves are on private or public authority controlled land and access is not as simple as ocean divers are used to.
Because it is a different type of diving , further training is required and to allow a diver to dive at a particular site he must be qualified to the category of the site. ie Cavern, Sinkhole, Cave and Penetration with most known sites haveing been categorised.

Many people ask of us "so what do you see in the caves or sinkholes?"
well, there is plenty to see and plenty of fauna but I believe it is very much the experience. " It is awe inspiring,"
Last time you were up in the space shuttle you could see the magnificent view of the earth and stars through the porthole, yet you couldn't wait to do a space walk, not for what you would see but for the experience. That is how I explain swimming in crystal clear water in caverns large enough to house a few 747s and able to fly through the area where only a few have been.

Your first step is a cavern course, and even if you don't go further it is the best training you will get and it leaves wreck diving courses just 'damp'.

I have given you just my short introduction. Look at some of our cave diving trips to see the fun you to could have.
The following is some of our recent cave diving trips were:

Burrinjuck Dam 1998

Wellington 1998

Gambier June 98

Do a combined Cavern /sinkhole course in Sydney

For more on Cave Diving look at the report on the Cronulla Dive Centre's "Limestone Cowboys" or try the CDAA's home page. If you'r interested in any more info or training contact me at the shop or eMail.

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