A 65-year-old diver from Victoria has died following an incident at Tank Cave, one of South Australia’s most extensive and challenging submerged cave systems.
Emergency services were called to the site near Tantanoola, about 25 kilometres from Mount Gambier, at around 10.30 am on 30 November. Initial reports indicated that two divers were in difficulty. One was able to exit safely, while the second was later found dead.
Officers from South Australia Police’s Water Operations Unit led the recovery effort. Police said they had ‘no further safety concerns’ regarding the site and confirmed that a report is being prepared for the coroner. The diver’s identity has not been released.
Tank Cave, together with the adjoining Green Waterhole system, contains more than ten kilometres of submerged passages and is regarded as the longest underwater cave system in South Australia and the second-longest in Australia. Its network of intersecting tunnels, low ceilings and silt-filled chambers has been mapped over several decades and continues to reveal new connections.
The site is managed by the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA), with access strictly limited to divers holding advanced cave certifications and operating under a controlled permit system. The cave is regularly used for high-level training and is considered a proving ground for experienced cave divers.
Tank Cave has long been central to Australia’s cave-diving history but has also seen tragedy before, including the deaths of two divers in 2010. Those incidents prompted reviews that strengthened the CDAA’s already rigorous protocols. While serious events are rare, the latest death serves as a reminder of the inherent risks of diving in complex overhead environments.
Authorities have not as yet released further details about the circumstances of the incident.
