All caves are connected with water in some way, but only a small percentage are suitable for cave diving. Not surprisingly, the evolution of cave diving and the techniques used during cave diving have evolved right along with the development of increasingly advanced diving equipment. Here, we celebrate some milestones in cave diving.
First Recorded Cave Dives
The first recorded cave dive was a free dive, conducted by an avid British spelunker named Mr. Day. He attempted to pass through the Buxton Water Sump at Peak Cavern in 1773, holding his breath while trying to get through a section of submerged passageway. Not surprisingly, Mr. Day soon found himself in dire straits and was rescued by another member of his exploration party who dragged him out by the arm. A successful freediving attempt was conducted in 1922 by French explorer Norbert Casteret, who managed to make his way through a short sump located in the Grotte Du Montespan in the French Pyrenees. Behind that sump, Casteret found a dry cave system containing important archaeological evidence.
Brass-Helmet Standard Diving Equipment and Cave Diving
Not surprisingly, few attempted cave penetrations wearing brass-helmet standard diving equipment although a diver named Nello Ottonelli managed to use this gear to explore France’s deep Fontaine DeVaucluse in 1878. In 1880, Alexander Lambert made a 300 meter exploration of the flooded Severn Tunnel in the UK.
Spelunkers Take Up Diving to Explore Caves Further
In the UK, spelunkers began to take up scuba diving for the specific purpose of extending their caving operations, pass through flooded cave sections, and locate additional dry cave systems. In 1934, an explorer named Jack Sheppard managed to use a homemade respirator to explore Swildon’s Hole. This apparatus proved mostly unreliable.
When Jacques Cousteau and Emile Gagnan invented the aqualung in 1943, cavers discovered a newer, safer way of making their way into flooded subterranean chambers. In 1946, Cousteau and a team of divers tried to pass through the Vaucluse sump, but failed after reaching a depth of more than 60 meters. They nearly perished due to carbon monoxide poisoning; a compressor problem had tainted their breathing gas.
In the early 1950s, divers started to explore Florida’s Wakulla Springs. Shortly thereafter, the aqualung made its way to Australia, where it was used to explore underwater caves located in the Jenolan and Mount Gambier regions.
By the 1960s, cave diving had grown, and during the 1970s and 1980s, it became even more popular. Soon, significant dives had been recorded throughout the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and by the middle of the 1980s, even more significant explorations were being made in the former Soviet Union. Bahama’s blue holes were explored shortly thereafter.
By the 1990s, cave divers had access to better equipment and DPVs. They were beginning to use mixed-gas rebreathers, and very long dives were logged. Throughout the recent past, records have been broken, specialized techniques have been developed and implemented, and more recreational divers have discovered the thrill of cave diving. While the sport definitely isn’t for everyone, it is now more accessible than ever – and great things are sure to happen in the future.