> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.techdiving.com.au/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Mount Gambier - URL: https://www.techdiving.com.au/mount-gambier/ - Published: 2026-09-30T05:42:14.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-30T05:42:14.000Z - Description: Clear water, limestone sinkholes and a history that shaped cave diving in Australia. South Australia's karst country is one of the world's most distinctive cave-diving regions. - Author: Tech Diving AU - Tags: Locations, Cave, #Import 2026-09-30 15:24 Site facts Location Mount Gambier region, South Australia Type Cave · sinkhole Depth Varies widely by site Water About 15 °C Access Many sites require a Cave Divers Association of Australia rating and booking Typical gas Air, nitrox and trimix depending on site Access rules, permits and operators change. Check locally before you plan. The limestone country around Mount Gambier in South Australia is full of flooded sinkholes and caves. The water is fed by groundwater that has filtered through limestone, and the visibility can be extraordinary. For Australian divers, it's the home of cave diving. For international visitors, it's a region unlike anywhere else. ## A history that changed the rules Mount Gambier's sinkholes attracted divers from the 1960s. A series of fatalities followed, and in 1973 the Cave Divers Association of Australia was formed. The CDAA introduced ratings, training standards and site management, and it still controls access to many sites in cooperation with landowners and authorities. That model, where divers' access depends on a rating system and good behaviour, is one reason many sites remain open. ## The sites Sites range from open sinkholes with daylight to complex caves. A few examples give a sense of the range: - **Tank Cave** is a maze of interconnected tunnels, mostly shallow. Navigation and line protocol are the whole challenge. - **Engelbrecht Cave** lies under the city itself, with dry and flooded sections. - **Kilsbys Sinkhole** is on private farmland and known for its clarity and light. - **Piccaninnie Ponds**, near the coast, includes a deep chasm and is managed by South Australian national parks with its own permit system. ## Ratings and permits Most cave and sinkhole sites need a CDAA rating at the right level, a booking and sometimes a key or landowner permission. Piccaninnie Ponds has a separate permit system. International divers can usually have their qualifications assessed. Plan this well ahead. ## Planning notes - Check the CDAA's current site list, ratings and booking system before you travel. - Respect landowners. Many sites are on private farms and access can be withdrawn. - Water around 15 °C means drysuits are common, especially for long dives. - Silt in some caves is fine and easily disturbed. Good buoyancy and trim matter as much as gas planning.