Meet the site
McKay's Shaft appears on the Cave Divers Association of Australia's register of Mount Gambier sites with a Cave rating and the note 'site is currently CLOSED'. No description, depth, dimensions or landowner details are published on the listing, and no other source consulted documents the site in detail.
What the grade tells us is useful in itself. A CDAA Cave rating means the site involves a genuine overhead environment beyond the daylight zone, where divers must run a continuous guideline to open water, apply the rule of thirds to gas, carry three lights and hold the Cave grade. That places McKay's Shaft in the same bracket as Allendale East Cave, the Engelbrecht East passage, Mud Hole and Baker's Cave. The name suggests a shaft-type entrance – common across the region, where narrow solution tubes open into flooded chambers below paddocks and forest, and entry is by ladder or rope.
The row is included for completeness because the site is on the official register and occasionally appears in older site lists and dive logs. Closures in the Mount Gambier region usually reflect changes in land ownership, landowner insurance requirements or breaches of access conditions, and some sites have reopened after the CDAA negotiated new arrangements. Until then, McKay's Shaft is off limits, and divers should not approach landowners directly – enquiries go through the CDAA. If it reopens, expect it to suit CDAA Cave-rated divers with vertical-access experience. Divers planning a Mount Gambier trip will find plenty of open Cave-rated alternatives nearby.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
McKay's Shaft is recorded as Cave/Cavern 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.
- 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 McKay's Shaft 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 McKay's Shaft 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
Not documented
Location
A Cave-rated site in the Mount Gambier district listed by the CDAA; currently closed.
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
cavedivers.com.aucavedivers.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.