Komati Springs

Komati Springs was once a mine, closed in 1972. The mining process left a large hole and a joining cave system, which has subsequently flooded, giving excellent conditions for all forms of diving. In the open water it reaches 53 meters and the caves have been explored to 186meters. The Site: The surface area of the open hole is approximately 110meters long and 50meters wide. Please see map. Most of the sides are sheer drops so your buoyancy should be good if you want to dive here. Maximum depth is 55m, depending on rainfall and the water table. The open hole is good for recreational diving, while the adjoining caves are great for exploring or cave training. Diving is good all year round. Entry Points: Entrance to the hole is in the form of steps and a ladder at the bottom. There are platforms at 5 and 10 meters with shotlines for your use. Divers should be aware that there are cave entrances, and the best way to avoid entering one, is toy dive with a buoy line. There are no currents or tides. The water: In summer (Oct - Mar) Komati Springs is about 25oC on the surface, and 20oC at about 30meters. On the bottom it is 17oC. Visibility is about 10 to 15 meters. In winter (Apr - Aug) the temperature is a constant 17 to 18oC from top to bottom. The visibility can be up to 40 meters. The Cave System: The cave system is much larger, and with 8 interconnecting levels, starting from 9 meters to 186 meters. This is unique to Komati Springs, and an explorers dream! It must be emphasized that under no circumstance should divers enter the caverns or caves unless trained to do so. We do not and out a site map to dives until we have determined that they are cave qualified. This in order to prevent non-cave divers entering the system. Should you wish to visit for a cave dive please contact us directly for a briefing. Fish Life: There are Bass and Barbel in the hole. Beware that some of the Barbel like to sleep in the cave, and are quite motionless. Should you prod it to see if it is alive, you will both get the fright of your life as the fish will suddenly shoot off. So we suggest you assume it is in fact alive for both your sakes. Gas Fills: We supply high volume, good quality air at 760 litres per minute. It is stored at 300 bars in 360 litres banks, which enables us to fill 6 air cylinders simultaneously, ensuring a fast turnaround to our visitors. The dive shop stocks a selection of equipment and spares; and equipment can be hired from the Centre - booking is essential! Nitrox, Trimix and Argon available. Rebreather friendly, so Sodasorb and pure Oxygen also available. Accommodation: Accommodation is in the form of shady campsites, with electrical outlets available in the ablution block. For students on course there are rooms in the Dive Centre, with full kitchen facilities available. Other: Activities include swimming, freediving and bird watching. We have over 300 different species of birds and there is an abundance of beautiful flora and fauna. Please note that it is a nature conservancy, so no plants or animals should be taken or killed.