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DIVERS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN 2013

AGM and Symposium 2013

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA). To celebrate, we are holding an exciting two day event on the 9th and 10th of November in conjunction with this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

There will be a number of talks, demonstrations and displays, at which we will also be inviting public participation.

Speakers will include notable Australian and international cave divers. We are also planning on inviting various dignitaries including representatives from local and state government, private land owners and the local media.

The venue, the Main Corner, is conveniently located in the centre of town at 1 Bay Road, Mount Gambier.

The Symposium will be held in the Dress Circle commencing at 9:00am. The AGM will follow at 6:00pm and dinner will be served in City Hall at 7:30pm.

We hope that you can join us to celebrate 40 years of CDAA history.

2013 SYMPOSIUM AGENDA & GUEST SPEAKERS PAGE 1 ~ GUEST SPEAKER BIO’S ~ Peter Horne & Ian Lewis Peter Horne & Ian Lewis are two of the CDAA’s longest serving members and their contributions to the Association are themselves “historic”. Both have acted in official capacity as Office Bearers, both have been amongst the first to find, explore and map a multitude of sites and both have had to work hard to ensure that the CDAA has continued access to many sites that it retains today.

Peter “Puddles” Horne became interested in Mount Gambier's underground realm in 1976 after a workmate introduced him to Ewen's Ponds. He joined the CDAA after learning about the awesome Cocklebiddy Cave explorations from Ian Lewis and Peter Stace (authors of the groundbreaking book " In Australia") in 1979. Peter discovered a rare new species of cave-adapted syncarid crustacean in 1981 and subsequently became interested in documenting the region's then largely-unknown underwater cave environments with the help of supportive speleologists, academics and scientists. He was a founding member of the CDAA’s Research Group in 1983 & also established the South Australian Underwater Speleological Society Inc. in 1986. Peter coordinated many of Australia's first underwater cave research projects and integrated traditional cave mapping protocols into the CDAA's mapping procedures. He also served in various Committee roles (including President and National Secretary) over many years and was instrumental in negotiating access to many sites such as The Shaft and Iddlebiddy Cave. Peter also first explored (and named) Tank Cave with Mark Nielsen in August 1983 and discovered Stinging Nettle Cave several years later. Peter has published numerous books and articles including the voluminous 'Lower South East Cave Reference Book', and he is proud to have contributed to the CDAA's many achievements during the past four decades.

Ian Lewis has been caving and diving since his early teens. Being born in the Mount Gambier region he enjoyed exploring many of the local in his youth, and he joined the Cave Exploration Group of South Australia (CEGSA) in the early 1970s. He took up cave diving in 1971 after a trip to the Nullarbor Caves at a time when nothing was known of them and he initiated the first diving explorations there. He served as an advisor on the South Australian Government Advisory Committee established in 1973 when the whole sport was under review following a string of cave diving deaths which resulted in the creation of the CDAA and attended the Association’s first meetings in Mount Gambier. Ian has acted in many Committee roles including National and Standards Director as well as being a long-standing Examiner, and he has travelled widely to explore caves around Australia and in Florida and England. Ian has also authored many popular books and articles over the decades including Australia’s first cave diving manual, “Cave Diving In Australia”, with then-President Peter Stace (ed 1982), within which the first maps of Mount Gambier's categorized were also published. Ian has represented Australia at the International Speleological Conference, has a degree in Geomorphology specialising in hydrology and these days works as a Scientific Assessment Officer for SA’s Department for Water. He continues to enjoy sharing his experiences and knowledge with others..

Jason Mallinson Jason Mallinson is from West Yorkshire and started caving at 16 and diving soon after. A long term members of the UK’s CDG he has explored caves and cave diving sites around the world, including being part of the 1998 US Deep Cave ’s Wakulla2 Project with Dr. Bill Stone. pioneering CCR Cave Diving Explorations with an international team. He has explored the Emergence de Ressel in France, pushed Pozo Azul in Spain to over 9 kilometers and made Systema Huautla in the Western Hemisphere’s deepest cave at over 1545m. He is an experienced cave diving mentor within the CDG for many divers and has established himself as one the UK’s foremost CCR cave divers, using, amongst others, Inspirations, sidemount and, most recently, a classic KISS to explore where few have dared (Photo Credit: ) to venture. And if all that is not enough he runs his own business as a rope access worker!

Richard Harris (Harry) Richard Harris (Harry) is an Adelaide based medical practitioner who brings a wealth of experience in expedition diving, wilderness and , advanced and delivering medical care in austere environments. His work and training with the South Australian aeromedical retrieval service also gives him unique insights into the emergency services and disaster planning in Australia. His work with the South Australian Water Operations Unit has helped generate a new era of cooperation between volunteer cavers and the police in dealing with and recovery in this state.

2013 SYMPOSIUM AGENDA & GUEST SPEAKERS PAGE 2 ~ GUEST SPEAKER BIO’S ~

Paul Heinerth Paul Heinerth made his first cave dive in 1971 and since that time he has logged over 8,000 cave dives and another 3,500 open water dives. His cave exploration and CCR cave diving credentials are outstanding. In 1973, he made his first major discovery when he explored and named the Twin Dees system in Florida and is credited with the discovery of the 380-foot-deep cave system “The Pit” under in , Mexico in the 1990s, returning & extending the discovery there using a CIS Lunar Mk V CCR in 2000. He was a member of the original exploration team of Diepolder from the late 70's until 1990 and discovered Giant Cave in Belize in 1979, serving as expedition co-leader with three years later and returning earlier this year as part of the 2013 Belize Giant Cave Project. He participated in the Wakulla Project with Dr. Bill Stone in 1987 and was the only returning explorer to take part in the 1998 US Deep Cave Diving Team Wakulla2 (W2) project. The W2 was a pioneering CCR Cave Diving Explorations with an international team such as U K’s Jason Mallinson and joined by Australians Andrew Poole & John Vanderleest (yes, now our very own National Director!). He was part of the early deep explorations into Eagles Nest and continued to explore the area as part of the 2007-2009 Weeki Wachee Karst Project reaching a depth of 407 feet using an O2ptima . Paul has also explored caves in Iceland, Bahamas, France, Bermuda, Mexico and swamps in Florida. He has also dived deep wrecks off South Africa’s wild Indian Ocean coast and Quebec’s St Lawrence Seaway. In addition to his explorations Paul has worked on numerous feature film and documentary projects including “Ice Island” in 2001 with long time friend Wes Skiles, the movie “Cave” in 2004 and “The Pirates of the Caribbean” movies 2 & 3 for Walt Disney Productions in 2005. He was involved in the “Ben’s Vortex” documentary produced by Heinerth Productions in 2011 and he has authored several articles on cave diving in periodicals and books. Paul has been teaching Cave Diving for over 34 years with both the NSS-CDS and NACD and is a CCR Cave, DPV, Stage and Sidemount Instructor, a Sponsor and member of the NSS-CDG Training Committee, a Past Office Bearer with the NACD and holds Instructor Trainer ratings with IANTD, DSAT & RAID. He owned Scuba West Inc on the west coast of Florida for 29 years and began teaching open water programs in 1977 and still teaches open water classes today! His hobbies, besides cave diving, are , , spear fishing, bottle and shell collecting and canoeing. On a darker side, since 1974, he has been repeatedly called upon by various Sheriffs’ Department to do body recoveries from inside underwater caves.

John Dalla-Zuanna John Dalla-Zuanna began cave diving in 1973 in Mt. Gambier and is a 38 year active member of the CDAA. John has an interest in cave maps and cave surveying and is particularly keen in the development of 3D cave mapping technology. He is also a member of the Wetmules & the ASF - CDG and is a recipient of the NSS-CDS 2007 Exploration Award and a member of the CDAA Hall of Fame. Notable expeditions in which John has taken part include: Kija Blue, in the Kimberleys, a remote in northern Western Australia, 2006; Tank Cave, Mt Gambier, SA, ongoing mapping & surveying of over 8 kms of underwater passage; Slug Lake, Jenolan Caves, NSW 2007; RMS Niagara, NZ Shipwreck Expedition 2007; Cocklebiddy Cave, WA in 2008 & 2009; , Mt Gambier, SA. Soil Sampling & videography; Picanninie Ponds, SA. Ongoing deep survey & 3D mapping Project; Junee Resurgence, Tasmania 2009; the Pearse Resurgence, New Zealand expedition, in 2010, 2011 & 2012; Camooweal Caves, Qld 2012; Xmas Island Caves, WA 2013. John believes that there are still a few more expeditions left in him yet…

Andrew Cronan Andrew Cronan has been for 22 years in locations across the globe, during which time he has shot, edited and published over 100 hours of underwater video documentaries; producing footage that has been shown on Australian, Russian and Chinese television. His videos on the web have had over 100,000 hits. Participating in video expeditions to dive and document caves in Mexico, USA, Australia and China, he has documented shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, Australia and most of the Pacific Islands. Andrew is a member and past Director of the CDAA and is an active diver with Global Underwater Explorers and the GUE divers based in Australia.

2013 SYMPOSIUM AGENDA & GUEST SPEAKERS PAGE 3 ~ GUEST SPEAKER BIO’S ~

Chris Brown & Tim Payne (ASF-CDG) As part of the Australian Speleological Federation (ASF) the Cave Diving Commission (CDC) monitors cave diving activities in Australia by promoting effective exchanges of information between cave divers and other speleologists and maintaining a close liaison with cave diving training bodies. The ASF-CDG contain many CDAA Members whose explorations in and outside of CDAA sites have documented caves including Roe Plan, The Shaft and most recently Camooweal in remote North Queensland. Chris Brown and Tim Payne have been instrumental in many such projects and Tim is the ASF-CDG Convenor. Chris Brown’s interest in diving started at an early age from watching the TV series ‘Sea Hunt’ staring Lloyd Bridges as the intrepid diver ‘Mike Nelson’. His early years were spent spear fishing; quite unsuccessfully! Chris has been a CDAA member since 1979, and a CDAA instructor since 1984. He has served on the CDAA committee as the South Australian Records Officer,Vice President and Standards Director. In 1982, on his first trip to the Nullarbor he ‘laid line’ in Murra-El-Elevyn and Pannikin Plain Cave with about 350 meters of virgin passage found and since then has undertaken more than 20 trips to the Nullarbor with some of the highlights including the 1988 Pannikin Plain cave diving expedition which was the focus of the Nullarbor Dreaming documentary and the 1995 Cocklebiddy trip where he extended the known length of the cave and made the Channel 9 TV documentary, “Cocklebiddy Challenge”. In Mount Gambier, Chris worked on a number of the early cave research and mapping projects, including Piccaninnie Ponds, , Alleyn’s (“Death Cave”), Engelbrechts Cave and The Shaft. He made substantial contributions to the early exploration and mapping of Tank cave and was responsible for the introduction of into Australian cave diving in the Shaft in 1993 and 1994 down to 82 metres and ultimately the discovery of a new tunnel and dives down to 123 metres. Chris has cave dived in Florida, the Bahamas and in 1999 extended the Pearse Resurgence in New Zealand to a depth of 125 m. In 2005, Chris received the “Outstanding Recognition Award” at OZTek 4 for “Outstanding contribution & commitment in cave diving exploration in The Shaft & the Nullarbor Plains” and in 2011, was made a Life member of the CDAA. Tim Payne was a caver and climber before becoming obsessed with cave diving in 1993. Since then he has been involved in the exploration and managed the mapping of a number of sites including Tank Cave, the Shaft, Junee, Cocklebiddy and Warbla. He lived briefly in the USA where he spent time exploring sumps in the Virginia area with the odd visit to Florida and Mexico. Since 1995 Tim has been the ASF Cave diving Convenor and has contributed to the development of both ASF dry caving standards and training as well as a series of diving standards within the ASF, updating the Cave diving codes and the establishment of the ASF-CDG. He has held various safety and training positions within ASF clubs, has served on and been president of the SA Speleological council and has run numerous dry caving courses through to vertical SRT caving leader level. In 2009 he became a dive instructor and has been slowly picking up credentials so that he is now a TDI mixed gas and CDAA cave instructor.

Ken Smith Ken learnt to dive whilst working in the UK in the mid-1970s. On return to Adelaide he soon became interested in cave diving and gained his first cave diving qualification in 1980 with the CDAA. He has been an active cave diver ever since. He regularly dives at Mt Gambier and on the Nullarbor Plain. He has made many overseas cave diving trips to Florida, the Bahamas, Mexico, New Zealand, Germany and France. His interest in electronics has brought Ken some fame in recent years. The “Pinger”, a radiolocation device specifically designed for mapping underwater caves, has helped develop accurate surveys of water filled passageways all around Australia. The Pinger has also been used in Florida and the Bahamas. For this work Ken received a science award from the USA National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section (NSS-CDS) in 2011. Recently, Ken’s “Buzzer” allowed communication with divers returning from the depths of the Pearse Resurgence in NZ. These devices (and perhaps not his personality?) have secured him a place on many cave diving expeditions in recent years. Ken is currently planning to work less to allow more time for cave diving.

Andy Higgins Andy Higgins is one of the CDAA’s most active and highly regarded Cave and Advanced Cave Instructors with over 14 years of experience in cave diving. As a regular Cave based in Melbourne, and having the expertise in being able to instruct programs for his students in the use of Sidemount or Backmount configuration, his Cave diving programs in Mount Gambier are always booked solid, and those who complete the program rave about the high level of skills they facilitate. Andy is also a CDAA instructor for our Rescue Orientation Program (SROP), which is run annually for divers at Advanced Cave level.

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Liz & Peter Rogers Liz and Peter Rogers are one of the few cave diving father & daughter teams, and even more unique for their joint interest in cave diving photography. Combined their images have recorded both the history of CDAA members and the underwater beauty in the South East and the Nullarbor Plains for over 40 years. Peter Rogers has at various times been a CDAA Examiner, National Testing Officer and Shaft Guide and is a veteran of cave diving in Australia. He started sea diving in 1974 and cave diving in 1978 and bought his first underwater camera, a II, in 1979. As an early underwater photographer Peter documented the exploratory cave dives under the Nullarbor through the 80s using his Nikonos II and later a Nikonos V. He was part of the 1982 and 1983 push dive teams in Cocklebiddy, the trips on which Toad Hall was discovered and the third sump dived for the first time. Cocklebiddy held the world record for the longest cave dive at the time, and the expeditions out there were using cutting edge techniques and technologies, including triple tanks and specially designed sleds holding 14 spare tanks. Peter has been involved in exploration diving in many of the Nullarbor caves, as well as undertaking scientific research on cave water chemistry and bacterial fauna and his most recent scientific exploration was to the protected Warbla Cave in 2010. Liz Rogers is a second generation cave diver and underwater cave photographer, with an interest in expedition and exploration photography. With both parents involved with the CDAA it did not take long for Liz to “get wet”. Since learning to dive at 14 and becoming an Advanced Cave diver at 21, Liz has taken underwater photographs in caves across Australia. From Mt Gambier to Camooweal, Jenolan to Junee, the Roe Plains to Elk River, the camera and housing has been protected on its way down big pitches and squeezed through awkward restrictions to bring home the shot. Liz has had cave diving photos and articles published in Sport Diver, DAN's Alert Diver, National Geographic, the Weekend Australian and other major newspapers and dive publications in Australia and internationally. Awards won for her images include first places in the 2011 Underwater Festival and the 2013 OZTeK Underwater Imaging competition. Her photos can be seen on her website, lizrogersphotography.com.

Tom Aberdeen Tom has been caving for approximately 12 years, all over the South East of Australia (NSW, SA, Vic and Tassie). This includes two years of caving all over the United Kingdom, where he was professionally trained in SRT techniques and rope work by a government accredited caving skills specialist. He has written approximately 12 articles which have been published in caving journals and two articles in popular glossy magazine 'Wild'. He spent two years on the VSA (Victorian Speleological Association) committee. He has run dozens of varied trips for and/or involving beginners, including both horizontal and vertical skills trips. Over the years he has specialised within the VSA running and leading beginners’ trips, for a number of CDAA members. His caving website http://www.under-victoria.com makes good reading. For those planning on participating in the SRT workshops, please read the advanced skills menu.

Gary Barclay & Linda Claridge Gary Barclay & Linda Claridge have been taking trips to the Nullarbor for over 20 years. As two of the CDAA’s most well-known Instructors Gary & Linda pioneered Advanced Cave Courses on the Nullarbor and now lead trips there at least once every 2 years and their Nullarbor trips are renowned for safety and comprehensive support. Join Gary & Linda and see what every CDAA member needs to pack in their Nullarbor camping kit, find out how to set up a full service 4WD Dive Trailer and maybe even book on their next expedition!

2013 SYMPOSIUM AGENDA & GUEST SPEAKERS PAGE 5 ~ AGENDA ~ Friday 8th November

Time Agenda item 7:00 - 10:00pm Cocktail Function – Landowners and special guests The CDAA will host a Civic Function for Landowners, Access Facilitators, Regional & City Council Representatives from Wattle Range Council, District Council of Grant and the City of Mount Gambier and invited Special Guests. CDAA Representatives will include the CDAA Directors, Life Members, Hall of Fame Members and others who have contributed to the CDAA’s historical celebration and landowner relations in the South East. The Venue, the King’s Room, upstairs at Main Corner in Mount Gambier, will be themed to celebrate the history and involvement of the CDAA within the South East with Historical Displays, Lights Shows and information highlighting the significant involvement of the Association within the area and around Australia. This theming will be open to Members over the AGM Weekend and also open to the Public for a limited period after the 40th weekend.

Saturday 9th November

Time Agenda item 9:00 - 9:15am Member Registration and check in 9:15 - 9:45am Welcome from the National Committee The CDAA Today & Looking Forward – National Director, John Vanderleest A Brief Summary of State Events 9:45 - 10:30am 40 Years of CDAA History - Peter Horne/Ian Lewis The formation of the Cave Divers Association of Australia in 1973 was a significant event in the history of Cave Diving in Australia. For over 40 years the CDAA has fostered the growth and development of both cave and underwater cave exploration around Australia, established long lasting and respected relationships with Landowners & Government Departments and has trained in excess of 5000 cave divers. Members have broken world records, discovered and mapped new caves and underwater cave systems, created acclaimed award winning documentaries and have been recognised by peers and industry both internationally and in Australia. However its origins and early years were moulded by events that occurred beforehand. This presentation will begin by covering the key events that led to the formation of the CDAA including the deaths of the 1969-1974 period, the Committee which was appointed by the Government (of which one of the presenters was a member), the very first Nullarbor exploratory dives and the first CDAA meetings in the Allendale Hall. It will also review the successes of such CDAA supported projects as the Kilsbys, Shaft, Engelbrechts, Iddlebiddy and Piccaninnie Ponds mapping projects, the Water Quality Assessment Directorate work done to monitor groundwater pollution, the success in dealings with local Aboriginal and Museum heritage groups and how CDAA techniques, training, testing & gear evolved to enable divers to do more than just survive cave diving, but rather go on to do great things!

2013 SYMPOSIUM AGENDA & GUEST SPEAKERS PAGE 6 ~ AGENDA ~ Saturday 9th November - continued

Time Agenda item 10:30-11:15 The Role of the NACD & NSS-CDS in Cave Diving & Cave Diver Training - Paul Heinerth Unlike Australia there are two major Cave Diver organisations in North America. Whilst both the NACD (National Association of Cave Divers) and NSS-CDS (National Speleological Society - Cave Diving Section) offer training, and some instructors are dual certified, both organisations operate separately and have distinct differences, yet both set the accepted framework for Cave Diver Training and access levels for Cave Divers. This presentation will look at the reasons for the formation for both organisations, the differences in how they operate, what they offer to members and overseas visitors, where their training programs are headed and the types of projects and explorations being supported by each of them. New technology (CCR), changes to equipment styles (sidemount) and the expansion of competing commercial training agencies (such as IANTD, TDI & GUE) mean the NACD and NSS-CDS are having to adapt to a changing training and cave diving world. Media coverage on any incident results in questions about safety and on-going access to public sites. Lessons learnt from the NACD and the NSS-CDS and how they adapt when dealing with the public and regulators can apply to the CDAA.

11:15-11:30 Morning Tea

11:30-12:15 ASF Overview – Tim Payne and Chris Brown While the CDAA origins are in Mt. Gambier, cave diving in other parts of Australia has evolved from within the Australian Speleological Federation (ASF) as an extension of dry caving. Over time the CDAA has become a national organization and ASF cave diving has evolved and advanced from sump style diving to incorporate the types of techniques prevalent in Mt. Gambier. Despite the convergence of the organizations there are distinct differences; almost all diving activities within the ASF involve either research or exploration of some type. This talk will outline some of the history associated with cave diving in the ASF, the formation of the ASF-CDG and some of the activities. Occasionally activities of the ASF-CDG and the CDAA intersect and there have been a number of activities where divers from both groups have collaborated or leap frogged each other. One such cave, which is one of Australia's most famous, is The Shaft. A little of the exploration history and the culminating exploration done by the ASF which finally reached and mapped the bottom of the cave (?) will be discussed.

12:15-1:00pm The ’s Success – from Training to Explorations – Jason Mallinson The UK’s Cave Diving Group does not give formal training, yet it’s divers are amongst the most accomplished and respected cave diving explorers in the world. Formed in the 1940’s names like Rob Palmer, Martyn Farr and are familiar to most CDAA members and have explored caves throughout the UK, Europe and The Americas. Its continuous existence to the present day makes it the oldest surviving diving club in the world. The CDG's function is to educate and support cavers for recreational and exploratory operations in British sump conditions, basically meaning . Training is on a mentoring system with a rigorous assessment and examination to pass to become qualified. However from the birth of cave diving in in 1934 to today’s use of CCRs British Cave Divers have pioneered much of the equipment and techniques now accepted as standard. ...continued page 8

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Time Agenda item 12:15-1:00pm Jason Mallinson - continued So what makes the CDG and its divers so successful? This presentation will look at how the CDG undertakes it’s training, how it is structured to support cave diving around the UK and further afield, and how the various styles of diving and the subsequent use of CCRs are so successfully incorporated by its divers. This makes the CDG just not the oldest cave diving organisation in the world but also one of the internationally most enviable for the exploration achieved by its members.

1:00-1:45pm Lunch 1:45-2:30 Diving with the Wet Mules and Friends – Ken Smith, et al The Wet Mules were officially born at the Pearse resurgence in 2010. However, well before then, the Wet Mules team and friends have been having some challenging cave diving adventures around Australia. This talk will describe what they have been up to in recent years, from Cocklebiddy, to a Volcanic Crater in New Zealand to the Pearse Resurgence. Each trip has its own particular challenges. Rebreathers are necessary for much of this work, however the Wet Mules won’t let the presenter have one! So this presentation will be assisted by fellow Mules in describing how they are used. 2:30-3:15 GUE Australia Cave Explorations – Andrew Cronan As a group Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) is recognised and respected for their focus on Education, Exploration and Research and their achievements in both Cave and Wreck diving have been documented internationally for National Geographic & the Discovery Channel. GUE have had a presence in Australia since 2001 and a number of CDAA members participate in GUE projects related to the underwater cave environment, whether for conservation or research, here and overseas. These GUE based teams have undertaken projects in, amongst others, the Nullarbor, Blacks, Blue Creek in New Zealand, the caves in Fengshan and San Men Hei in China and karst explorations in PNG & Thailand. This presentation will review the success of these projects, and others, and will show how the GUE concept has been implemented to support the core exploration and research involved. Many CDAA members use some or all of the utilised and as such will be have an insight into the teamwork involved. 3:15-3:30pm Afternoon Tea

3:30-4:15 The History and Future of Rebreathers in Cave Diving – Paul Heinerth Since the arrival of rebreathers on to the scene in the mid 1990’s Cave Divers have looked at the potential benefits for exploration. Long duration dives, lengthy penetrations and have all become more acceptable when using CCRs. From the history making explorations into Wakulla2 over 15 years ago to today’s deep diving projects in Mexico and Florida, including the deepest cave dives in the US in Weeki Wachee, CCRs are the forefront of cave diving. But with this new technology comes added risk. This presentation will look at how CCRs have established themselves in Cave Diving and Cave Diver Training, what the benefits are and how cave divers are adapting to their use. The question should be, is there a future for cave diving without rebreathers?

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Time Agenda item 4:15-5:00 Huautla – Exploration in the Depths of the Earth – Jason Mallinson Mexico’s Sistema Huautla is perhaps one of the most complex of the world’s deep caves. With 17 entrances and numerous independent and physically demanding deep routes, dropping nearly a mile into the earth, this dark labyrinth requires extensive rope work and multiple days of effort to reach the lower depths of the sys- tem.In 1994 Dr used his self-designed CIS Lunar rebreather to pass what was then consid- ered the terminal sump, diving from a portable platform suspended over a pool of water, discovering some 3.3km (2 miles) of new passage, but ultimately stopped by Sump 9. In 2013 a multinational team of cavers and divers once again visited Sistema Huautla in hopes of pushing deeper into the flooded lower passages, the UK’s Jason Mallinson amongst them. Rebreathers would be key to performing these dives, due to the difficulty of hauling equipment deep into the cave. In the years since Stone’s 1994 expedition, has developed significantly, both in terms of technology and knowledge and in contrast to the complex electronic rebreathers used previously, divers in the 2013 expedition used manually controlled rebreathers fitted with KISS valves. During this expedition Jason reached the extreme limit of the exploration, diving to 80m in the last sump using a full classic KISS Rebreather. www.cdg-exped.org

5:00-5:45 A Photographic Journey Through the South East - Liz and Peter Rogers Peter and Liz Rogers have both taken thousands of photos in the caves & sinkholes of the Mount Gambier area - a generation apart. This father and daughter talk will cover the then and now with a visual look at cave diving in The South East. From early dives in the Shaft without compensators to the results of the latest in the digital photographic revolution, these images are set to remind us all why diving in the Limestone Coast is so special. Over the years sites have changed, photography has devel- oped new techniques & equipment and divers have pushed further to explore new leads. Capturing this amazing journey Peter & Liz will take us on an exploration of the hidden below the paddocks, forests, lakes and even homes in Australia’s most famous Cave Diving region. Taken over a period of more than 30 years and with photographic skills few cave divers have mastered then, or now, be prepared for some fascinating images of Cave Diving in the South East past and present.

5:00-5:45 Instructor Meeting – Standards Director & CDAA Instructors (to be held in the Kings Room) An Instructor update to review training procedures and issues and to discuss current and future CDAA Training Policy.

5:45-6:00pm Break

6:00-7:00 AGM- Dress Circle Director Reports, Election Results and Motions brought before the AGM.

7:30-11:00pm CDAA 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner- City Hall The weekend highlight. A special 40th Dinner Celebration sure to entertain and allow you to mingle with old friends and dive buddies. Not to be missed. Winners of the CDAA 40th Anniversary Photo Competition to be announced along with special guests and an opportunity to honour members past and present. Bookings essential - see separate booking information.

2013 SYMPOSIUM AGENDA & GUEST SPEAKERS PAGE 9 ~ AGENDA ~ Sunday 10th November A number of workshops and activities are planned. Members are invited to attend one workshop in the morning and one in the afternoon. A lunch time BBQ will be arranged and venue advised on the weekend. Morning sessions will run approximately 9:00am-12noon and afternoon sessions 1:00-4:00pm unless you are advised otherwise by the workshop presenter. All bookings, unless directed otherwise, to [email protected] Morning Mapping Workshop – John Dalla-Zuanna A view and hands on experience of, • the art of underwater surveying and • putting the data into a map. This workshop will overview the techniques of collecting data during a cave or sinkhole dive. You will use compass, tape, knotted line, slates and other tools to gather measurements and images to then take to your desktop. Here we will arrange the data using available software programs into maps and overlay onto Google Earth. For this workshop, you will need to bring some hardware, if possible... a compass, slates & pencil, a reel with knotted guideline (every 3 or 5 metres), and a laptop. You may wish to share some equipment and laptop with your buddy, but the desktop work should be experienced individually for maximum effect. Once registering your interest, you will be advised on a couple of programs to download and how to activate them prior to the workshop. Morning Photography Workshop – Liz Rogers Not getting everything you expected out of your new (or new to cave diving) underwater camera rig? Or looking to take the next step with your shots? Bring along your camera equipment and dive buddy model for a hands-on cave photography workshop with a focus on lighting. Liz Rogers will cover off camera strobes, modelling techniques and lighting control in a practical dry session to help you get the images you're looking for on your next cave dive. Numbers will be limited to ensure good interaction, so get in early! Morning SRT Workshop – Tom Aberdeen A practical workshop with an emphasis on understanding SRT gear and how to use it safely whilst getting a feeling for prusiking and abseiling. Every participant will have an opportunity to don SRT gear and practise both abseiling and prusiking techniques and if time permits, how to change direction on rope. Morning Cave/Advanced Cave Preparation Workshop – Andy Higgins This workshop is an opportunity to see first hand the skills and techniques required as part of the CDAA’s Cave & Advanced Cave Diver programs. Regarded as some of the most stringent training requirements in Cave Diving this workshop will suit any member looking to upgrade their rating in the near future or just review the skills that make CDAA divers some of the most capable Cave Divers around. This is a land based workshop that will focus on skills such as primary line laying, finger spool use, line markers, line cutting exercises for Cave & Advanced Cave level, stage tank set up, and stage tank drop off/pickup. This will also allow participants the opportunity to test themselves under the watchful eye of an experienced Instructor, and give you the opportunity to update and practice these skills correctly, maybe before diving on your next CDAA Course. Morning Nullarbor Planning Workshop – Gary Barclay/Linda Claridge Taking a trip to the Nullarbor is often the highlight of a CDAA Member’s Cave Diving experiences. Sites such as Cocklebiddy, Weebubbie and Murra El Elevyn offer exploration opportunities and challenges not found elsewhere in Australia and often involve trips in excess of two weeks duration. This workshop will look at how to plan, set up and execute a safe and enjoyable Nullarbor Trip with a look at the equipment, skills and support systems needed from compressors, generators, air fill hoses and site plans to camping needs, transport requirements and those home comforts often missed but easily taken.

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Time Agenda item Afternoon Sidemount Workshop – Jason Mallinson Sidemount diving has a history as long as cave diving with explorers developing systems to dive the small sumps & passages found in much of the UK. Today it has become an optional tool for many, often used in conjunction with other styles of diving. With exploration now having to extend existing sites or dive in more remote areas sidemount has become a requirement, with training options at dive centres around the country. This workshop will look sidemount configurations and how these are adapted to suit varying conditions and equipment requirements, including the use of sidemount for and deep explorations.

Afternoon Rebreather Workshop – Paul Heinerth The growth in rebreather diving in Australia has been amplified within the cave diving fraternity, with a recent survey of CDAA members showing over 200, or 25% of active members, being endorsed for rebreathers. Training in diving rebreathers is one thing, but learning to use them safely in caves is another. This workshop will discuss the procedures, protocols and configuration options necessary to safely dive CCRs in a Cave. Each CCR requires user familiarity and training with that unit, however many of the CCR Cave Diving requirements are universal. A must for any CDAA Member currently diving CCR or interested in mov- ing down that track! (Instructors attending the Cave Instructor CCR Workshop MUST attend this session)

4:30-6:30pm Instructor CCR Workshop – Linda Claridge (Standards Director) & Paul Heinerth From Deep Cavern to Cave and Advanced Cave, many CDAA Members and potential students are looking at or already dive CCRs as their preferred configuration. With this comes the need to consider what Open Circuit systems should be retained and how such divers can be integrated into CDAA courses and dives. Currently all CDAA courses are open circuit based and CDAA Instructors are unable to train divers using CCRs. This workshop will look at what procedures are used in CCR Cave Diver Training overseas and how these could apply to CDAA programs and divers. Discussions will be on how the CDAA may allow Instructors to accredit qualified CDAA divers who then switch to rebreathers as well as what it would take to allow CDAA Instructors to accept students already diving Rebreathers. (CDAA Instructors only: Accreditation to qualify CDAA Divers using rebreathers may be awarded to Instructors attending this workshop if this is approved by the National Committee and Instructor base. Instructors must attend the previous Rebreather W’shop).

10:00am onwards Live Cave Dives – Englebrechts Cave Frank Ziegler, the team from Professional Divers in Portland and suitably qualified CDAA Members will run cave dives from Englebrechts Cave screened live on TV display screens for anyone interested to watch. Using a combination of and standard Cave live images will be streamed from inside the cave to bring both the hidden treasure of Englebrechts to light but also to show just what it is to be a cave diver! Various throughout Community Talks – CDAA Representatives the day... As part of the 40th Celebrations CDAA Directors, Guests and Members will be making presentations to the Mount Gambier and wider South East Community showcasing Cave Diving and the involvement the CDAA has in the region. Media interviews and community group visits will help highlight the CDAA’s long term history and future with the South East along with helping to dispel myths about cave diving and show just what it is that makes Cave Diving an exciting and safe activity.

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Time Agenda item All Day SROP Workshop – Richard Harris (continues Monday) The Sump Rescue and Recovery Orientation Program (SROP) is a must do course for any cave divers who would like to learn more about the basics of responding to an emergency that arises when caving and diving. Run by the CDAA's SAR Officer Richard Harris, the course is now in its third year and is being constantly refined to offer an insight into the 'first response" following the loss or death of a team member during a cave dive; whether on a weekend in Mt Gambier, or on an expedition in the world's remotest locations. Considered a minimum introduction to the skills and knowledge of who to call and what to do in the first vital hours of a serious incident in cave diving, the SROP should be mandatory for all advanced cave divers especially those who run trips with less experienced cavers. Joined by other experienced CDAA educators, Richard delivers a dynamic and hands on introduction to this difficult topic. Course duration 1 1/2 days, cost $50.00. Contact [email protected]. Bookings essential.

Monday 11th November

10:00am onwards Live Cave Dives – Englebrechts Cave (cont’d)

Morning SROP Workshop – Richard Harris (cont’d) (finishes 2pm)

State Visits by International Guests – Nov. 2013 - Venue & Times TBA

Belize’s Giant Cave to Iceland’s Fissures & More... – Paul Heinerth Sat. 2nd Nov. - Sydney Paul Heinerth is one of North America’s pioneering Cave Divers and cave explorers. His bio is extensive, Sun. 3rd - Hobart as is his ability to tell a good yarn. Join Paul for an evening highlighting some of his recent explorations Thu. 7th - Melbourne in the Giant Cave in Belize and the Submerged Fissures in Iceland amongst others. With over 40 years experience in Cave Exploration and 20 years CCR cave diving Paul will take you on a journey around the Fri. 15th - Adelaide world. This Cave Diving presentation will include material not part of the CDAA’s 40th AGM Weekend Sat. 23rd - Perth Presentations and will ensure that once you hear some of his adventures you will want to hear more!

Pozo Azul & Emergence de Ressel, European cave Diving at its most Challenging - Jason Mallinson Sat. 2nd Nov - Sydney Pozo Azul in Spain is, they say, a bit like Cocklebiddy, only longer, and since 2002 Jason Mallinson has explored Sun. 3rd - Brisbane this cave to reach a world record breaking distance of over 9 kilometres through multiple sumps and depths Thu. 7th - Melbourne reaching 71m in the immense 5160m long Sump 2. From his earlier explorations in the Emergence de Ressel Fri. 15th - Adelaide in France, where the divers were forced to change from multiple large 20 litre Open Circuit cylinders and vast supplies of O2 & He to CCRs to continue the exploration, to Pozo Azul in August 2013, Jason will showcase Sat. 23rd - Perth these cave diving explorations, and others, and the whole range of technical cave dive equipment used, includ- ing specially designed electronic mapping systems, sidemount CCRs and modified scooters. Covering material that is not part of the CDAA’s 40th AGM Weekend Presentations, this is truly cave diving to the extreme!

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