Picanninnie Ponds

At 'Picaninnie Ponds' you can snorkel across the top of 'The Chasm' and peer into the dark depths. The crystal clear waters have been slowly filtering through the limestone and forming the pond's features over thousands of years. The freshwater rising to the surface under pressure has eroded a weakness in the limestone to form 'The Chasm'. This same process has formed the large underwater cave known as 'The Cathedral', so named because of its majestic white walls of sculptured and scalloped limestone. Visibility can exceed 40 metres. This is one of the most spectacular underwater sites in the Mount Gambier area. Diving Permits are only issued to divers who are current financial members of the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA) and rated at sinkhole level. Divers must show proof of current membership before diving. Permits are required! Divers and Snorkellers can share a time slot but a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 persons per group is allowed. You must be out of the water before your time slot expires. A maximum of 2 dives per person are allowed per day. Dive slot times are: - 5am - 6am, 8am - 9am, 11am - 12noon, 2pm - 3pm, 5pm - 6pm, 8pm - 9pm, 11pm - midnight. (SA Time). When booking, phone (08) 8735 1177 during business hours. Advanced bookings must be confirmed one week prior to the day of diving or snorkelling. All divers and snorkellers are required to sign an indemnity at the time of booking.