65-Year-Old Man Drowns During Cave Diving in Australia, Second Diver Rescued After Becoming Trapped

A 65-year-old man from Victoria, Australia, tragically lost his life while exploring Tank Cave in South Australia. The incident occurred near the rural town of Tantanoola along the Princes Highway on Sunday, November 30, at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time.

Emergency responders were called after reports that a diver was in danger. Authorities later confirmed that the missing diver had drowned. His identity has not been released.

Another diver had become trapped among rocks inside the cave but was successfully rescued. Officials reported no additional injuries and stated that "there are no safety concerns regarding the incident."

The South Australia Water Operations Unit is conducting a recovery mission to retrieve the diver's body, and a report will be submitted to the local coroner. The Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA), which manages Tank Cave, is assisting authorities in the investigation.

According to the CDAA's statement on social media, "Emergency services crews are on site and liaising with the CDAA. No further details are available at this time, and updates will be made as new information comes to light." They also requested the public to refrain from speculation out of respect for those affected.

Tank Cave is a well-known site for underground diving, located roughly 15 miles from Mount Gambier, a city celebrated for its limestone formations, crater lakes, and scenic landscapes. The CDAA classifies the cave as an "advanced cave site," which features confined water spaces, silt, dark zones, and passages that may not allow two divers to pass simultaneously. Access to the cave is via a staircase descending from an open field, and only divers with advanced trainingincluding at least 25 unsupervised dives across four different sitesare permitted entry. A site access officer monitors divers while they are inside.

Describing the cave, the CDAA notes: "The entrance is underground. After descending a short ladder, a small surface lake leads into a complex maze-like system with over 7 kilometers of diveable passages, making it one of Australia's longest underwater caves."

Tank Cave has previously witnessed fatalities, including the death of 29-year-old archaeologist Agnes Milowka in 2011, who ran out of air while separated from her diving partner. Later that same year, a 40-year-old man from Melbourne also died near the cave's entrance.

Author: Sophia Brooks