Golden Bay and Nelson
Nile River caves (Charleston)
Info · exploration
Information only: this cave is dived by a small group of New Zealand cave divers and expeditions, and we know no dive centre, guide or club that takes visitors.
- Max depth37 m
- CertificationFull cave
- SpecialExperienced divers
Diving and fills
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Now at Nile River caves (Charleston)
The dive
River dives in the limestone of the West Coast, against a flow too strong to swim against without a scooter.
Profile and sections
River dives in the limestone of the West Coast, against a flow too strong to swim against without a scooter.
A team of New Zealand cave divers including Kieran McKay has explored the caves for five years and found some 600 m of new passage. A kilometre away McKay explored another 300 m in a cave that probably connects to the system, until a rockfall blocked the way.
Practical: expedition work only; we know no provider.
- Depth and profile
- Dives to -37 m of about three hours · ~600 m of new passage explored
- Configuration
- Expedition dive with rebreathers (sidemount and backmount), trimix and scooters: the flow is too strong to swim against.
Who can dive where
- At least Full cave
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR
- Configuration unknown — research beforehand
- Goes down to 37 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
- Experienced divers only
This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.
How to get there
Limestone caves near Charleston on the West Coast. Access for divers: ask.
Around Nile River caves (Charleston)
FillsNo fill station known nearby
No provider in Golden Bay and Nelson yet
The caves here are listed as information only: we don't know a dive centre, guide or club yet that takes visitors, so you can't plan a trip here yet. Do you know one, or are you one? Let us know.