Cave Diving: The 10 Best Dive Sites in the World
31st August 2016 | Sandro LonardiLove them or hate them, there’s an unidentifiable mystery associated with caves. Some may find the idea squirm-worthy, but many of the best dive sites in the world are found within these underground holes. The world’s caves hold plenty to explore from fish-filled sinkholes to gypsum-white caverns. Whether you’re an open water diver or a full cave diver, these 10 awesome cave dive sites are sure to test your limits.
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1. Cenote Angelita - Tulum, Mexico
One of the thousands of cenotes found on the Yucatan Peninsula, Cenote Angelita mystifies divers with its layer of hydrogen sulphate. This cloudy, almost mythical substance separates the incredibly clear fresh water from the salt water below at approximately 100 feet (30 meters). The cavern continues to drop to 200 feet (60 meters), but most divers will never make it that far. Be sure to take both your camera and your torch along for this dive!
- Required Certification: Advanced Open Water
- When to Go: May to September
Photo credit: Paul Clark
2. Indian Springs - Florida, USA
Located on private property just south of Tallahassee, Florida, Indian Springs is often regarded as the best cave dive in North America. The main passage tunnel reaches 600 feet (183 meters) before coming to a T-junction. At this point, divers can turn right to head upstream or left to go downstream. There are several points of interest within the cave including the Bone Narcosis Room, the Wakulla Room and the Power Room. Most of these are best reached by use of diver propulsion vehicles. Keep in mind that the average depth for a dive in Indian Springs is between 120 and 180 feet (37 and 55 meters), making this a technical dive as well as a cave dive.
- Required Certification: Full Cave Diver, Trimix and Proof of 100 Cave Dives
- When to Go: Late April to October
Photo credit: Bahamas Ministry Of Tourism
3. Ben’s Cave - Lucayan National Park, Grand Bahama
Lucayan National Park near Freeport, Grand Bahama is home to the longest freshwater cave system in the world. Measuring in at 6 miles (9.5 kilometers), the system is home to mosquito fish, shrimp, freshwater eels and an endemic species of crustacean. Although several caves exist, only Ben’s Cave is open to scuba diving. In addition to the fascinating mix of fresh and saltwater, you’ll also see stalactites, stalagmites and fossilized conch shells in the cave. Similar to the cenotes in Mexico, Ben’s Cave is ideal for novice divers wanting to try out the world of cave diving.
- Required Certification: Open Water
- When to Go: October to June
Photo credit: Marco Busdraghi
4. Nereo Cave - Alghero, Sardinia
Known as the largest underwater cave in the Mediterranean Sea, Nereo Cave sits between 50 and 100 feet (15 and 30 meters) off the coast of Alghero. Its sheer size as well as its arches and tunnels attract cave divers from around the world. Most dive profiles begin with a descent to 100 feet (30 meters) where the lowest entry to the cave can be found. Then divers move upward through a tunnel connecting a room full of outside light. From there, a wide tunnel hundreds of meters long, brings you back to the exit of the cave at 60 feet (18 meters). Because Nereo Cave is within recreational limits and is fairly simple to navigate, this Sardinian dive site makes a fantastic introduction to cave diving.
Required Certification: Advanced Open Water
When to Go: April to October
Photo credit: Andrea McIntyre
5. Kilsby’s Sinkhole - Mt Gambier, South Australia
One of the first sinkholes discovered in Mount Gambier, Kilsby’s Sinkhole has a fascinating history. Divers flocked to the area in the 1950s, often diving the caves with little prior training. After a tragic double-drowning the area became a weapons research center. Later an agreement was reached between the landowners and Australia’s cave diving association to once again make this a dive-able cave. The sinkhole itself is a 213-foot (65-meter) limestone cavity filled with crystal clear fresh water. It boasts both overhead and non-overhead environments.
- Required Certification: Open Water (for non-overhead areas) or Cave Diver (for overhead areas)
- When to Go: Year-Round
Photo credit: JP Bresser
6. Emergence du Russel - Dordogne Region, France
France’s Lot and Dordogne regions are considered to have the best cave diving in Europe, but one cave alone makes the trip worthwhile. That is the Emergence du Russel. With passages wide enough to accommodate back-mounted rigs and diver propulsion vehicles, the Emergence du Russel boasts a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) loop that begins at a fork just beyond its entrance. One of the passages is 30 feet (9 meters) deep and the other descends to 60 feet (18 meters). While most divers will never complete the loop, the challenge attracts cave diving experts from around the world.
- Required Certification: Cavern Diver
- When to Go: April to October
Photo credit: Viktor Lyagushkin
7. Orda Cave - Perm Region, Russia
Extending more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) in length, Orda Cave is the longest gypsum cave in the world and the longest cave in Russia. Located in the eastern foothill of the Ural Mountains, this cave diving heaven is filled with white walls and ever-changing scenery owing to the fact that gypsum dissolves quickly. This ethereal dive site is full of huge rooms of up to 250 feet (76 meters) across and tiny passages that will test your ability to wiggle through. Most of the cave lies yet undiscovered, tempting those with enough experience to reach its furthest depths.
- Required Certification: Cavern Diver
- When to Go: May to September
Photo credit: Kedson Silveira
8. Anhumas Abyss - Bonito, Brazil
For scuba divers and snorkelers alike, Anhumas Abyss can be a most exhilarating experience. Each day 18 to 25 people are allowed to rappel down 24 stories through a tiny opening in the top of the Anhumas Abyss to an underground lake below. Sunlight only penetrates this lake for a short period of time each day, yet the water is filled with huge schools of fish. The crystal clear water invites divers to explore the most beautiful portion of the lake, found between 50 and 80 feet (15 and 25 meters).
- Required Certification: Open Water
- When to Go: December to March
Photo credit: Emma
9. El Cenote - Playa Giron, Cuba
Located in the Zapata Marshes near Playa Giron, El Cenote is a limestone formation connected the sea with a big lake. El Cenote has not yet been thoroughly explored, but it is known that its side fissures travel down to at least 230 feet (70 meters). The entrance itself is at 66 feet (20 meters), but the dive is limited to 100 feet (30 meters) with a passage through a 2600-foot (800-meter) tunnel. There are lots of coral reef fish living in the cave as well as interesting rock formations to view. Overall, El Cenote offers a great alternative to open water diving in Cuba.
- Required Certification: Advanced Open Water
- When to Go: November to April
Photo credit: Aristocrats-hat
10. Chinhoyi Caves - Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe
At Chinhoyi Caves in north-central Zimbabwe, there is something to keep every level of diver entertained, from open water to trimix divers. The system of limestone tunnels and caves is today filled with unusually clear water. There are a couple of entrances to the system, but the Sleeping Pool is the most popular with its 65-foot (20-meter) vertical walls and several windows that allow penetrating sunlight. One of the rooms is littered with bones while the other contains coins tossed in for good luck.
- Required Certification: Open Water
- When to Go: April to May; August to September
While cave diving can lead to memorable experiences, there are some further considerations to observe before diving into your first cave system.
Cave Diving Dangers
Because of the nature of cave diving, there are several dangers associated with the practice. In a typical cave diving scenario, the scuba diver will encounter an overhead environment, preventing direct ascent in the case of an emergency. Additional cave diving dangers include reduced visibility due to lack of natural light and disturbed sediment, strong out- or in-flowing currents, as well as deep diving risks for dive sites at an advanced depth.
While rare, cave diving accidents and cave diving deaths do occur. Some claim that cave diving is one of the most deadly sports in the world, but most cave diving associations argue that the vast majority of divers who have died in a cave did not undergo specialized cave diver training. Because there is no reliable information regarding cave diving deaths worldwide, it must suffice to say that scuba divers wishing to participate in cave diving should do their research regarding safety and certification prior to entering the water.
Inexperienced cave divers are urged to practice cavern diving (defined as diving not beyond the reach of natural light) before advancing to full cave diving.
Cave Diving Techniques
The world of cave diving can be split into several different certification levels and techniques in much the same way as recreational diving.
Most cave diving training programs put an emphasis on safety, but also cover subjects such as cave diving equipment configuration, emergency management protocols, communication techniques, guideline protocols, propulsion techniques and gas management.
Most scuba diving agencies break down cave diving into stages of certification:
- Cavern Diving: Covers the basics of diving in an overhead environment. Most certifications require that the diver goes no further than natural light can penetrate. This is usually defined as 100 feet (30 meters) deep and 200 feet (60 meters) into the cave.
- Introduction to Cave Diving: Includes training for penetration beyond the cavern zone and the use of permanent guidelines. Once certified, a beginner cave diver can use ⅓ of a single cylinder to penetrate a cave.
- Cave Diving Apprentice: Sometimes skipped over for the full certification, the cave diving apprentice allows cave divers to begin using sidelines, jumping between guidelines and minimal navigation techniques. Once the course is completed, the apprentice cave diver can go beyond the use of ⅓ of a single cylinder.
- Full Cave Diver: The final level of basic training before tec diving becomes a necessity, full cave divers may plan and complete complex cave diving profile and utilize decompression to stay down longer. Usually, a full cave diver is limited to the use of ⅓ of double cylinders.
If you’re ready to make an investment in cave diving, do note that cave diving equipment can range from a standard recreational configuration to complex configurations used to move in confined spaces. A cave diver certification course will introduce you to the many permutations available to the cave diver.
Are you ready to try these 10 great cave diving sites? Or have you already dived into one of them? If you have, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
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