South Africa · about 14 km from Badplaas
Komati Springs
- Max depth186 m
- CertificationIntro to cave (first section)
- Water temperature≈ 14–24 °Cestimated, no reports yet
- SpecialFlooded mine or quarry
Diving and fills
Dive here with
Fills nearby
- Komati Springs dive centreAir (R100, R110 above 12 l), nitrox, helium on request, oxygen (R0.35 per litre), argon
What it looks like
Komati Springs Caves Cave diving 2019 - Komati Springs Komati Springs Cave Diving Diving Abandoned Mineshaft - Komati Springs
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Videos and posts
From other divers, via YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. They only load when you click; after that, Google's or Meta's privacy rules apply.
Komati Springs Caves Cave diving 2019 - Komati Springs Komati Springs Cave Diving Diving Abandoned Mineshaft - Komati Springs
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Other people's footage, not advice: how someone else dives here says nothing about what suits your team. Dive within your training.
The dive
Visibility is 10–15 m in summer and up to 40 m in winter. In summer the water is 24 °C at the surface, 20 °C at 30 m and 16 °C at the bottom; in winter 16–17 °C.
Profile and sections
Visibility is 10–15 m in summer and up to 40 m in winter. In summer the water is 24 °C at the surface, 20 °C at 30 m and 16 °C at the bottom; in winter 16–17 °C.
This was an asbestos mine until 1972. It flooded when pumping stopped and was rehabilitated in 2002.
- Depth and profile
- Open pit of ~110 × 50 m, to ~55 m. Eight connected mine levels (including ~38, 48 and 70 m), explored to 186 m; the mine entrance at ~18 m.
- Intro level
- The open pit (to ~55 m) with training platforms at 5, 9 and 30 m is open water; the mine drifts start at ~18 m and need cave certification (or a cave course).
- Configuration
- Human-sized drifts (~2 m high, 1.5 m wide) with vertical shafts and narrow fire doors: every configuration, with good trim (estimate). Deep levels on trimix.
- Gas
- Trimix from 40 m
Who can dive where
- At least Full cave
- Cavern zone / easier part: at least Intro to cave
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
- Goes down to 186 m (trimix or deco may be 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.
How to get there
In the Nkomazi Game Reserve between Badplaas and Barberton; navigate to the R38 turn-off, not to the dive centre, then 8.4 km of dirt road with 3 gates. Booking only. Day entry R170 per adult, overnight R190. Stairs into the water. Dive within your certification and bring card and logbook; don't touch stages, lines or platforms you find; no drones.
Around Komati Springs
Fills1 fill station · 0 km
Komati Springs dive centre
Nkomazi Game Reserve, between Badplaas and Barberton, Mpumalanga (turn-off from the R38)
Air (R100, R110 above 12 l), nitrox, helium on request, oxygen (R0.35 per litre), argon
Only with a booking; gates close at 21:00
Dive centre at the mine, IANTD school and rebreather-friendly; camping on site; oxygen and first-aid staff on hand. Prices from an undated page. Private compressors and gas mixing are not allowed.
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