Advances in equipment, safety practices, and diving physiology have transformed cave diving over the last 30 years. Modern cave diving exploration has changed what is possible underground. New equipment such as rebreathers, diver propulsion vehicles, and mixed-gas systems has allowed divers to reach deeper and more complex cave systems. Since the 1980s, Cave Diving Group members have played a major role in pushing exploration in the UK and worldwide.
This article looks at key developments in modern cave diving exploration. It covers major discoveries and record dives in Wookey Hole, South Wales, the Yorkshire Dales, Derbyshire, and international sites such as France, Spain, Italy, and Mexico.
Wookey Hole and Early Technical Progress
Exploration at Wookey Hole increased in the early 1980s.
Martyn Farr, with Rob Palmer and Rob Parker, reached 60 metres on compressed air. At the time, deep cave diving was limited by gas risks such as nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity.
Trimix, a helium-based breathing gas, had already been used in the USA. It was first used in the UK in 1985 by Rob Parker at Wookey Hole, reaching 68 metres. The dive ended when the passage closed at a gravel slope.
That same year, Ian Plant also used Trimix in Gavel Pot and reached 63 metres.
Between 2004 and 2005, a team led by Rick Stanton and John Volanthen pushed past the 68 metre limit in Wookey Hole. They reached a new British depth record of 90 metres using side-mount closed circuit rebreathers and advanced line work in deep boulder chokes.
Modern Cave Diving Exploration in South Wales
Major discoveries took place in South Wales during the 1980s.
In 1984, Clive Gardener, Paul Tarrant, and Martyn Farr broke through a choke in Ogof Daren Cilau. They discovered more than 2.5 km of passage. Later work linked this system to Pwll y Cwm in the Clydach Gorge.
At the time, this created the longest and deepest caving through-trip in the British Isles at 5 km long and 213 metres deep.
Exploration continued through the late 1980s and 1990s. Systems such as Blane Hepste, Tucks Rift, and Slaughter Swallet were extended through multiple sump pushes by Andrew Ward and Gareth Hardman. In Slaughter Swallet, the divers passed several sumps to reach new river passages.
At Llygad Llwchwr, divers once carried equipment through a difficult dry entrance. In 2003, CDG members cleared an underwater route, improving access to the resurgence.
Modern Cave Diving Exploration in the Yorkshire Dales
Major system connections
In 1983, explorers linked Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill. Around the same time, Midge Hole was connected to Hurtle Pot.
In 1990, John Cordingley identified a possible link between Keld Head and East Kingsdale. This triggered a major exploration project.
Rupert Skorupka worked downstream from King Pot while other divers worked upstream from Cobble Inlet. The teams joined their lines in June 1991. By August 1991, a 3,000 metre through-trip between King Pot and Keld Head was completed.
Continued exploration
Exploration later focused on linking Keld Head to Marble Steps Pot. This project remains ongoing and could eventually connect into the Three Counties System.
In 2010, Chris Jewell extended Deep Well in Gaping Gill. A year later in 2011, Tony Seddon explored Lancaster Hole sump for 840 metres. In 2013, John Cordingley extended Keld Head exploration to within 300 metres of Large Pot.
Modern Cave Diving Exploration in Derbyshire
At P8 (Jackpot), a long-standing blockage was passed in 1987 by Rick Stanton. He reached a 183 metre sump and found dry passage beyond. A second sump followed.
Later work in the area continued into the 2010s, including breakthroughs by Ash Hiscock and Josh Bratchley.
Peak Cavern was opened to divers in 1980. CDG divers passed Ink Sump at 180 metres. Further exploration extended beyond 385 metres in the Far Sump Extensions.
At Speedwell Main Rising, exploration by John Cordingley and Russell Carter reached deep sections of the system. In 2002, Martin Groves reached the bottom of a 70 metre shaft. John Volanthen reached the same point in 2006.
Key Developments in Modern Cave Diving Exploration
- First UK Trimix cave dives took place in 1985
- British depth record increased to 90 metres at Wookey Hole
- Major breakthroughs in South Wales cave systems
- Keld Head linked to King Pot
- Rebreathers enabled longer European cave dives
- Pozo Azul became the world’s longest cave dive system
International Exploration
France
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, new equipment such as rebreathers and propulsion vehicles changed French cave diving.
At Emergence du Ressel in 1998, Rick Stanton explored beyond a 1,890 metre sump and found dry passage and a second sump.
Later expeditions by Jason Mallinson, Rick Stanton, and John Volanthen pushed the system further using advanced equipment and bivouac support.
Other major sites such as St Sauveur and Marchepied were also extended through long sump pushes and exploration camps.
Italy
At Cogol dei Veci, Olivier Isler reached a 2,340 metre sump in 1990. Later, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen used improved techniques to pass restrictions and explore dry passages beyond sumps.
Spain
Pozo Azul became one of the most significant cave diving projects in the world.
Between 2009 and 2017, teams including Jason Mallinson, René Houben, Rick Stanton, and John Volanthen explored more than 9.4 km of passage.
Sump 2 alone measures 5,160 metres, making it the longest known cave dive sump.
Mexico
In Sistema Huautla, teams led by Chris Jewell and Jason Mallinson used rebreathers to extend sump 9 to 81 metres depth.
Later expeditions in 2016 and 2017 added several kilometres of new cave passage. By 2017, the system reached 3.8 km in total length.
Conclusion
The Cave Diving Group continues to play a leading role in cave exploration in the UK and internationally.
Modern cave diving exploration continues to evolve as equipment and techniques improve. From Wookey Hole and Keld Head to the vast systems of Europe and Mexico, divers continue to push beyond known limits.
In Britain, progress is often measured in metres rather than kilometres. The goal remains the same: explore further, and discover what lies beyond the next passage.
Back to the beginnings
The Beginnings of Cave Exploration
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The golden age
The Golden Age of British Cave Diving
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