The Log of the Wookey Hole Exploration Expedition

Description

The Log of the Wookey Hole Exploration Expedition is one of the most important records from the early history of British cave diving. Written by Graham Balcombe, the book documents the pioneering dives that helped establish the Cave Diving Group and opened the way for future exploration at Wookey Hole Caves.

Only 175 original copies of the book were produced, each sold for 7 shillings and 6 pence. Over time, these rare copies became highly sought after by collectors and have often sold for several hundred pounds.

Balcombe later reflected on the book’s popularity, explaining that its value came not from the writing itself, but from the achievements of the divers who followed and built upon those early discoveries.

The Origins of Wookey Hole Diving

The exploration described in The Log of the Wookey Hole Exploration Expedition began almost by accident. Graham Balcombe, “Digger” Harris, and Jack Sheppard originally focused their efforts on extending Swildon’s Hole at Priddy, high on the Mendip plateau.

At the time, explorers did not know for certain where Swildon’s Hole drained. Some believed the water flowed towards Cheddar rather than towards the River Axe at Wookey Hole. By 1921, exploration had reached a large pool where the passage continued underwater.

Early attempts to overcome this obstacle failed. Blasting produced no results, and the team began experimenting with diving methods. Always willing to innovate, Balcombe created a 40-foot snorkel using hose pipe and parts from a ladies’ bicycle frame. The attempt failed and almost ended in disaster.

The team then contacted Siebe, Gorman & Co., a company known for submarine and safety diving equipment. Jack Sheppard visited Sir Robert Davis to explain their need for lightweight equipment suitable for tight cave passages. Unfortunately, no suitable equipment existed at the time.

Instead, Sir Robert Davis offered standard diving equipment and the support of an experienced instructor. This equipment required a much larger site, leading the team to Wookey Hole Caves. These events set the stage for the historic exploration that followed.

Preserving a Piece of Cave Diving History

Original copies of The Log of the Wookey Hole Exploration Expedition remain extremely rare. To mark the 75th anniversary of the first cave dives at Wookey Hole, the Cave Diving Group decided to make this important record available again through a reprint.

Producing the new edition required considerable work. Much of the original text had to be manually retyped from Graham Balcombe’s personal file copy, which he donated to the Cave Diving Group library. The copy also included handwritten notes from Balcombe himself.

The reprint aims to remain as faithful as possible to the original publication. This includes retaining its unique punctuation, capitalisation, and writing style, even where modern conventions may differ.

Additional material from Balcombe’s archives has also been included to provide further context. John Freeman kindly supplied records from his late father-in-law Edmund Douglas, a close friend of Balcombe.

Finally, an epilogue brings the story of the divers and the continuing exploration of Wookey Hole up to date.

The Log of the Wookey Hole Exploration Expedition remains a valuable piece of cave diving history, capturing the determination, creativity, and pioneering spirit that shaped the early years of underground exploration.