In January 2013 we attempted to push the second sump of Junee again. The distant part of the sump is blocked by a rock collapse which prevents access to the theoretical Junee "Master Cave" beyond. Several divers have looked at the rockpile but failed to find a way on. Sadly, this attempt by our group failed again.

However in the process, numerous dives were performed on the new Golem Gear Flex rebreather and what I believe to be the first video of the second sump was captured. This part of the video may be a little long and boring for some viewers but will be of interest to those who have dived the sump, and those who plan to visit in future.

RemipedeNational Geographic have funded a cave diving research and mapping expedition for investigations of submarine caves along the coast of Christmas Island, a territory of Australia.

The grant will enable the team to search for new species of Remipedia, a class of crustaceans. Submerged caves on Christmas Island are likely to be inhabited by remipedes and possibly other undiscovered, cave-limited species. The caves of Christmas Island have never been completely explored or scientifically examined.

This is a joint expedition of U.S. and Australian researchers and world class cave divers. The cave diving team consists of Americans Thomas Iliffe, Jill Heinerth, Curt Bowen and Brian Kakuk and the Australia contingent is Richard Harris, John Dalla-Zuanna, Craig Challen, Ken Smith and Bill Humphries.

More information.

Cocklebiddy LakeThe current era of diving on the plain was ushered in during 1972 with Ian Lewis and other South Australians systematically diving in some of the then 10 known caves with lakes. A total of 500 metres of underwater passages were found but limited organisation prevented further exploration. It must be added that at this time, the largest penetration dive attempted in Australia had been carried out by the Underwater Explorer’s Club of Tasmania in Kubla Khan, a distance of 502 metres.

Over the Christmas-New Year of 1973/74 the second Nullarbor cave diving expedition proceeded to dive in all the remaining wet caves except Winbirri, which couldn't be found. At this stage the divers were using only single tanks, 6 volt sealed beam lights and reels which could only be described as archaic. However, the two divers, Ian Lewis and Keith Deckers, were still able to add 1300 metres more to existing caves and, in particular, the spectacular Tommy Graham's system.

In 1971-72 the first diving Nullarbor Caves Expedition took place with Phil Prust, Dave Warnes, Ian Lewis, Bob Lea, Bob Turnbull, and Ron and Denyse Doughton from Sydney. The divers were supported by dry cavers from CEGSA, WASG, Rover Scouts and others. A total party of about 60!, although not all were out on the Nullarbor at the same time. The 10 known caves with lakes were systematically dived and a total of 500 metres of underwater passages were found. These caves included Weebubbie Cave, Cocklebiddy Cave, Pannikin Plains Cave, Tommy Grahams Cave, Murra-El-Elevyn Cave and Mullamullang Cave.