Cave diving in the Yorkshire Dales
The classic resurgences around Ingleton — Keld Head (with the farmer's permission, via the CDG), Hurtle Pot (free) and the closed Joint Hole — plus the flooded slate mine of Hodge Close in the Lake District: cold water (4–7 °C), often limited visibility and strongly dependent on dry weather.
4 sites · down to 35 m · 1 suitable for an intro team
All 4 sites
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hodge Close Quarry | 32 m | Backmount | Intro to cave |
| Hurtle Pot | 35 m | Sidemount | Full cave |
| Joint Hole⛔ Closed to divers | – | Not known yet | Full cave |
| Keld Head | – | Sidemount | Full cave |
Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.
Practical info: rules, fills and emergency numbers
Emergencies
- 999 or 112. Accident in a cave: call 999, ask for the police and say it is a cave rescue. Diving accident on land: National Diving Accident Helpline 07831 151 523 (24 h) or the nearest BHA chamber; DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685.
- Chambers: Hyperbaric Treatment & Training, 2 East Street, Birkenhead CH41 1BY, tel. 0151 648 8000 (24/7; backup 07802 824245), category 1 (~1 h 45 from Ingleton). North of England Medical Hyperbaric Unit, Spire Hull and East Riding Hospital, Lowfield Road, Anlaby, Hull HU10 7AZ, tel. 01482 659471 (hospital switchboard), category 1 (~2 h 15).
Access and rules
- Access: the Council of Northern Caving Clubs (CNCC) publishes access rules per cave (cncc.org.uk). Keld Head: permission from the farmer at Braida Garth (may be refused on any day), carry your CDG card and preferably go with a local CDG member. Hurtle Pot: no permission needed. Joint Hole: closed. Hodge Close: goodwill parking fee, no formal permission.
- CDG Northern Section: ask about access and conditions beforehand. Overseas cave divers can only get temporary CDG membership.
- Insurance: BCA membership (caving member £32 a year) includes public liability insurance; clubs such as UKMC use it to cover landowners.
Gas and fills
- Gas: Capernwray Diving Centre near Carnforth (air, nitrox, trimix; ~25 min) and The ScubaDiving Gear Store in Manchester (technical nitrox, O₂, trimix; ~1 h 15).
Water and season
- Water and visibility: Keld Head ~7 °C and peat-stained, good visibility needs weeks of dry weather; Hodge Close 4–6 °C and usually clear. In sumps rarely above 7 °C, with 1–2 m visibility as normal (CDG).
- Floods: in Chapel-le-Dale the Weathercote shaft can fill to the top in spate and Hurtle Pot then floods dramatically — dive only after a dry spell.
Safety
- British practice: the CDG recommends solo diving in British sumps because no British sump allows unimpeded buddy diving. Sidemount, helmet, hand-held lights and permanent 4 mm lines are the norm.
Plan a cave diving trip to Yorkshire Dales
Enter your team, with certifications, gas and configurations, and see right away which caves fit. With driving times from your stay, fill stations and an AI instructor who thinks along.
Compiled from public sources (CNCC 2017–2023, Northern Caves, Cave Diving Group, InDEPTH 2020, a 2021 dive report, Wikipedia, TDI/Scubaverse 2019–2021, finstrokes, DeeperBlue 2019, Furness Diving Club, Visit Cumbria, British Caving Association, British Hyperbaric Association, DDRC, Capernwray, divernet and The ScubaDiving Gear Store; Sept 2026). Pins converted from Northern Caves and CNCC grid references (Hurtle Pot and Joint Hole accurate to ~70 m) and from finstrokes (Hodge Close). ~ = estimate. Access and rules change — check locally.