Meet the site
Mud Hole is a small ForestrySA cave whose name is a fair warning. The CDAA description: the water is constantly shaded and consequently usually very clear; a flooded passage leads into a low silty chamber which pinches off 17 m below the surface; the site is very easily silted out by the first diver in.
So the dive has two states. For the first diver on a still day, shaded water gives surprisingly good clarity down the passage into the chamber, where the ceiling lowers and the floor is deep silt. For anyone following – or for the first diver on the way out – visibility can drop to nothing in seconds. That makes Mud Hole a small, short dive and an excellent, honest test of trim, frog-kicking and line following by touch.
The cave is Cave-rated and on forestry land, so it is booked through the ForestrySA portal and closed on Total Fire Ban days. There is little to see in terms of formations or life; the appeal is the challenge and the solitude. Many divers use it as a skills dive or as a second site after a larger cave. It suits Cave-rated divers with confident line skills who do not mind a short dive and a very muddy exit. Because it is short and close to Mount Gambier, Mud Hole is easy to fit in on a day already built around another forestry booking, and it is quiet – you are unlikely to share it. Treat each visit as a rehearsal for a real zero-visibility exit, with touch contact and line signals practised on the way out.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
Mud Hole 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 Mud Hole 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 Mud Hole 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
Location
A small, constantly shaded ForestrySA cave near Mount Gambier where a flooded passage leads into a low silty chamber that pinches off at 17 m.
Facilities nearby
None – forest parking. Fills in Mount Gambier.
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.auforestrysa.com.aucavedivers.com.auRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.