

Best for expert divers, 13-16m, shore entry.
Fossils Cave is a freshwater sinkhole dive featuring embedded fossils of extinct megafauna within the cave walls and substrate. This site is strictly for expert divers due to the overhead environment, which requires full cave training, appropriate redundancy, and the use of a guideline. The average depth is 13 metres, with a maximum of 16 metres. Visibility is typically 40 metres, though the dark silt on the bottom can be easily disturbed. Water temperatures remain cold, ranging from 14C to 17C throughout the year, necessitating the use of a drysuit. There is no current, but the overhead environment demands careful gas planning and decompression management.
-37.73188, 140.53106
Confirm gas planning and decompression obligations before entering, as the overhead environment leaves no margin for error. Check locally for any permit or access requirements specific to this site before making the trip.
The site is located in Tantanoola, about 22km north-west of Mount Gambier, near the Princes Highway. Access is restricted to members of the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA). Bookings must be made online at least 48 hours in advance through the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website (parks.sa.gov.au), under Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park. A diving indemnity form is required for each diver.
The site is a natural sinkhole with no stated disabled access.
Expected in this region. No sightings logged here yet.
Depth
13-16m
Visibility
40m
Skill Level
Expert
Entry
Shore
Water Temp
14-17°C
Current
None
Best Time
Year-round
No, this site is strictly for expert divers due to the overhead environment and the requirement for full cave training.
The site has an average depth of 13 metres, with depths ranging between 13 and 16 metres.
Access to this natural sinkhole is via a shore entry.
Diving is possible year-round, from January through December.
The main hazard is the overhead environment, which leaves no margin for error. Additionally, the dark silt on the bottom can be easily disturbed, reducing visibility.
Diving at Fossils Cave in Mount Gambier requires the following certifications: CDAA Advanced Cave Grade. Always dive within your training limits.
A 7mm wetsuit or semi-dry is recommended for diving at Fossils Cave in Mount Gambier. Water temperatures range from 14°C to 17°C.
Visibility at Fossils Cave in Mount Gambier typically ranges from 40 metres to 40 metres. Conditions vary with weather, tides, and seasons.