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.

Three Australian cave divers have taken out third place in the Dive Rite Photo Competition 2012:

• Luke Baade | Photo: a cave diver exits through a curtain of sunrays in Mexico's Chac Mool Cenote
• Liz Rogers | Photo: divers in Tank Cave on their way home 250m from the entrance stop for a quick chat in an air pocket of exhaled bubbles
• Neil Vincent | Photo: diver Lyn Vincent enters Fossil Cave, a small and silty cave that revealed complete skeletons of extinct mammals

The winning photos:

Dive pros Jill Heinerth and Jeff Loflin lead you through the fundamentals of sidemount diving. Equipment selection, gear setup, techniques and skills are covered in this comprehensive video guide.

From beginner to professional - recreational, cave, or wreck diver,you will find useful tools to help you improve your diving. Filmed in underwater locations around the world, featuring leading sidemount divers including Nick Hollis, Brian Kakuk, Jakub Rehacek and more.

Now available for purchase from the Cave Diving Down Under online shop.

Free postage in Australia.