Nullarbor

Cocklebiddy Cave

Closed to divers

Closed to the public: according to DBCA, the manager, the cave is closed because of unstable rock at the entrance. Ask the Esperance office whether dive permits are still issued.

Source: DBCA – Nuytsland Nature Reserve ↗

CertificationFull cave
SpecialSidemount

Directions

Diving and fills

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Now at Cocklebiddy Cave

Status

Closed

The dive

You dive in salt water of ~18 °C, with a thermo- and halocline at ~5 m below the entrance ledge. Cocklebiddy is world-famous for its long sumps.

Unstable rock at the entrance (the reason DBCA closed the cave to the public); after storms runoff can pour into the entrance. Hours of carrying and long sumps far from help.

Source: DBCA – Nuytsland Nature Reserve ↗Source: CDG – Weebubbie history (Lewis 2013) ↗

Profile and sections

You dive in salt water of ~18 °C, with a thermo- and halocline at ~5 m below the entrance ledge.

Cocklebiddy is world-famous for its long sumps. It was first dived in 1961. In 1983 a French expedition pushed it, and then Hugh Morrison took it to 6,240 m from the entrance, a world penetration record. It was extended in 2008.

Source: CDAA – Cocklebiddy ↗Source: cavediving.net.au – Cocklebiddy history ↗Source: CDG – Nullarbor trip report (2012) ↗

Depth and profile: One straight tunnel of more than 6 km, over 90% underwater. Entrance lake ~180–200 m, sump 1 ~1 km to the Rockfall Chamber, sump 2 ~2.5 km to Toad Hall (a dry chamber of ~250 m), sump 3 dived to more than 1.9 km. Maximum depth not published.
Configuration: Sump 1 is roomy; after that the passage narrows: sidemount and further on no-mount. Everything is carried over the Rockfall Chamber and through Toad Hall. CDAA rating: Cave and Advanced Cave.

Who can dive where

CaveAt least Full cave
Whole caveConfigurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
Whole caveRopework (SRT) needed
Whole caveExperienced divers only · doesn't decide who may dive

RopeworkDry sections / haulingExperienced diversPermission needed

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.

Source: CDAA – Cocklebiddy ↗Source: cavediving.net.au – Cocklebiddy history ↗Source: CDG – Nullarbor trip report (2012) ↗

How to get there

In Nuytsland Nature Reserve, ~10 km west of Cocklebiddy Roadhouse. Manager: DBCA (Parks and Wildlife); written application at least 4 weeks ahead to the Esperance office. A large doline, a ~5 m ladder and then everything carried down the rockpile to the lake (in 2012 four hours for two people).

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Around Cocklebiddy Cave

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