Meet the site
The Pines is one of the most popular ForestrySA cave sites and a dual-rated dive: the CDAA lists it as Cave with an Advanced Cave section. Its description is simple – 'small entrance cuts back to large clear chamber; lower level between rocks can cloud up badly' – and that captures the dive well.
The squeeze of the entrance gives way to a big, open chamber with clear water that feels spacious after the approach, and it is this chamber that most Cave divers come for. Lights reveal rock walls and a floor broken into boulders; the lower level between the rocks is where silt lies thickest and where visibility can be destroyed in moments, so good divers stay high and keep their fins still.
Below 25 m, two stop signs mark the start of the Advanced Cave section. Cave-level divers must not go past them, and the CDAA requires more than the standard Advanced Cave rating to continue: advanced decompression, extended range and advanced nitrox certifications, reflecting the deeper, decompression-heavy nature of that part of the cave.
As a ForestrySA site it is booked through the forestry portal and closes on Total Fire Ban days. For newly rated Cave divers it is a rewarding step up from the Engelbrecht East passage; for technical divers the deep section offers a genuine decompression cave dive close to Mount Gambier. Book early in summer, when fire bans can remove several days at short notice.
Research this site before booking Stored site notes may be historical. These questions highlight gaps without turning old instructions into a current dive plan.
The Pines 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.
- Planned depth
- Confirm the intended route and training requirements; the recorded maximum is not a target.
- 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 The Pines 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 The Pines 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 – occasional cave crustaceans
Location
A ForestrySA cave near Mount Gambier where a small entrance opens into a large clear chamber, with an Advanced Cave section below stop signs at 25 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.auscuba.comRecord updated 26 Sept 2026. Source claims are being reviewed.