The original documentary of the 1988 Pannikin Plains Expedition, Nullarbor Dreaming, is now available on YouTube:
A team of international cave divers set out on an amazing adventure to explore the mysterious subterranean waters of Pannikin Plains Cave on the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia. Their epic underwater exploration nearly ends in tragedy when a rare cyclonic storm hit the area and a deluge of rain results in a flash flood that funnels water into the cave causing the entrance to collapse blocking the main route out of the cave. Fifteen team members are trapped below ground. This documentary is a graphic account of the expedition and their escape.
In the excerpt below from an Australian Geographic podcast, Ron Allum gives some insights into the 1988 Pannikin Plains Cave expedition where a massive storm with torrential rain and flooding caused tons of boulders and dirt to collapse in the cave entrance trapping the crew of divers underground:
Sophie's Sister is a novel written by Nina Paine. Cave diving on Australia's Nullarbor Plain features in the story.
Sophie doesn't know there's a dead girl in her head, and that the dead girl is her twin sister, Georgia.
When faced with a 'sliding doors' moment - the opportunity to travel across Australia with freelance photographer Clinton West who is on assignment at Cocklebiddy Cave, on the Nullarbor Plain - she turns it down. Georgia on the other hand, who didn't survive their mother's pregnancy but who lives on as a voice in Sophie's head, is angry and frustrated with Sophie's boring life so decides to break free and go without her.
Travel across this incredible country with Georgia as she learns more about her sister, and life, than she anticipated. Through the extreme sport of cave diving, and the force of Mother Nature, Sophie's Sister explores the fine line between life and death. It uses the extraordinarily beautiful, dramatic and dangerous landscape of coastal and inland Australia as its canvas. It also explores the expectations we place on ourselves and others when it comes to excitement and contentment. Dreams don't have to be big. The small ones
mean just as much.
Sophie's Sister is available from all the usual online bookstores.
Sophie doesn't know there's a dead girl in her head, and that the dead girl is her twin sister, Georgia.