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65-Year-Old Diver Dies at South Australia's Tank Cave; Second Diver Rescued

07:43 AM, 12/01/2025
65-Year-Old Diver Dies at South Australia's Tank Cave; Second Diver Rescued

The 65-year-old diver from Victoria drowned while exploring Tank Cave near Tantanoola on Nov. 30; his identity has not been released. Emergency crews freed a second diver who had become trapped among rocks, and no other injuries were reported. South Australia's Water Operations Unit is leading recovery efforts and police will prepare a coroner's report. The Cave Divers Association of Australia is assisting investigators and has urged the public to avoid speculation.

A 65-year-old man from Victoria has died while cave diving at Tank Cave in South Australia. Emergency services responded to reports of a diver in danger near Tantanoola off the Princes Highway at about 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30. Responders later confirmed the missing diver had drowned; his identity has not been released.

Authorities said a second diver became trapped among rocks inside the cave system but was subsequently freed and suffered no serious injuries. Police reported there were no other injuries and indicated there are 'no safety concerns regarding the incident' at this stage.

A recovery operation led by South Australia's Water Operations Unit is underway to retrieve the diver's body, and police will prepare a report for the local coroner. The Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA), which manages access to Tank Cave, is assisting emergency services and investigators.

'Emergency services crews are on site and liaising with the CDAA. Out of respect for any individuals who may be involved (and their families), please avoid speculation at this difficult time while the Police and emergency services conduct their work,' the CDAA said.

About Tank Cave

Tank Cave lies roughly 24 kilometres (about 15 miles) from Mount Gambier and is a popular but challenging underground diving site. The entrance is reached via a staircase that descends from an open field into a small surface lake leading to an extensive maze-like system. The CDAA classifies Tank Cave as an 'advanced cave site'—it contains silt, dark zones and narrow passages where two divers cannot always pass side-by-side, and more than 7 kilometres (around 4.3 miles) of diveable passage.

Access requires advanced cave training: divers must complete at least 25 unsupervised cave dives across a minimum of four different sites before visiting Tank Cave. A CDAA site access officer is present while divers are in the cave.

Context

The site has seen previous fatalities. In 2011 archaeologist Agnes Milowka, 29, died after becoming separated from her buddy and running out of air, and another man died later that year near the cave entrance. Investigations are ongoing into the latest incident, and authorities have asked the public to respect the privacy of those involved while inquiries continue.

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65-Year-Old Diver Dies at South Australia's Tank Cave; Second Diver Rescued - CRBC News