The Caves, Caverns and Sinkholes (CCS) geocaching series brings to your attention the various features of the limestone coast, and beyond. These karst are formed by erosion and dissolution of the limestone. Some of these features that contain water can be scuba dived with the appropriate qualifications.
Alleyns Cave, also known as Death Cave has an unfortunate history of a few diver fatalities. In October 1972, a group of three perished together after swimming into an enclosed side-cavern through an extremely low and silty duck-under without a safety line to follow out.
The team of four divers chose to have a quick look at a cave in the pine forest east of Mt Gambier. The most experienced of the group told the others to wait at the entrance while he checked it out (without guidelines), but the others decided to follow him through the low entry tunnel into the cave, and quickly silted out the chamber.
In the ensuing chaos, one diver fortunately found the entrance as he breathed the last of his air. The other three drowned. The bodies were recovered the next day, at which time the whole cave was still completely silted out.
The unfortunate name "death cave" arose from the hysterical newspaper report that followed, calling the site "death cave" gave the impression that the cave was the killer, rather than any errors on the part of the divers. The legacy of this unfortunate title still persists in the minds of many non-divers.
Following a string of cave dive fatalities, the 1973 South Australian Government appointed a committee to review diving practices, with one of its recommendations to seal Alleyns Cave to prevent access. It is currently closed indefinitely to cave divers.
CEGSA Cave Reference: 5L-84-85.
