Meet the site
Little Blue Lake is the most accessible sinkhole in the Mount Schank field and one of Mount Gambier's best-known swimming holes. It is a near-circular collapse sinkhole about 50 m across, ringed by vertical cliffs roughly 8 m high, sitting right beside Mount Salt Road. Underwater it is essentially a bowl: steep walls fall to a very flat silt floor with an average depth of about 36 m and a maximum of a little over 42 m, while the shallowest bottom, near the access ramp, is around 25 m.
It is not a showpiece like Kilsby's. The CDAA's own listing is blunt – a local swimming hole with rubbish on the bottom, dirty water and poor visibility that can be clear below 20 m – and divers who come expecting Piccaninnie clarity are disappointed. What it offers instead is easy access, genuine depth and a realistic low-visibility environment that is useful for Basic Cave training, depth practice and equipment checks. Descending through a green surface layer into darker, clearer water below the thermocline is a common Little Blue experience, and the flat floor makes it easy to hold a stable depth. Rubbish thrown in over the decades lies on the bottom.
Exploration began in the 1950s, it was surveyed in 1980 and through the 1990s, declared a public pleasure resort in 1986 and handed to council management; the District Council of Grant built the cutting, staircase and pontoon in 2002. Swimmers share the site, so dive early. It suits CDAA Basic Cave divers who want a simple, deep freshwater dive with no booking hassle, and trainees on CDAA courses.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Little Blue Lake is recorded as Sinkhole/Cenote in Mount Gambier Sinkholes & Caves. The listed access is shore. Confirm the actual meeting point, route and permission to visit; a map pin does not establish any of these.
Topics flagged by the stored research
These are questions prompted by the existing notes, not a verified or complete hazard assessment.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- Water movement
- Ask how swell and local exposure affect the proposed entry, exit and route.
- Overhead environments
- Ask whether the plan stays entirely in open water. A wreck or cave listing is not permission or training to enter.
Historical access notes exist for this record, but have not been independently verified for current use. Request current directions from the operator or site manager rather than following an old entry description.
Questions, answered
Is Little Blue Lake suitable for my certification?
The record lists Cave/Cavern certification. That does not establish suitability for every route or day. Share your training, recent experience and equipment needs with the operator and ask about the specific proposed dive.
Can I book Little Blue Lake through YouDive?
YouDive is an independent research directory. Contact an operator directly to confirm whether it currently runs the trip, the inclusions and the booking terms.
What you might see
Very little: algae in the upper layer, occasional yabbies and small fish; syncarid crustaceans are known from nearby karst waters
Location
A 50 m-wide cliff-ringed sinkhole beside Mount Salt Road, Mount Schank, about 20 km south of Mount Gambier; a council-managed swimming hole with a flat silt floor at about 36 m.
Facilities nearby
Parking on the east side, metal stairway and floating pontoon, CDAA change table; no toilets on site. Fills in Mount Gambier (20 km).
Before you make plans
Conditions, access and operator schedules can change. This is a location guide, not a dive plan. Ask a local operator about current conditions and suitability for your training and experience.
Sources & further reading
en.wikipedia.orgcavedivers.com.aucavedivers.com.audivedb.netRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.