Cave Divers Association of Australia

The CDAA was formed in September 1973. At the time landowners throughout the Mount Gambier area of South Australia, were contemplating the closure of all holes to diving for fear of legal liability following a spate of diving fatalities in the water filled caves. With the forming of the CDAA, sinkhole divers hoped to prevent the wholesale closure of the dive sites by presenting a united voice in defence of their sport. They wished to indicate to landowners and the public at large that they were able to regulate their activities to acceptable standards of safety and training.

The newly formed CDAA set up a series of criteria and testing procedures. Initially these were a listing of all the popular cave diving sites divided into three different Categories based on their degree of difficulty. (This later expanded into the four levels of training - Cavern, Sinkhole, Cave, and Penetration - that now exist within the association). Cards were issued to divers to display to landowners to indicate their competency. The landowners gained confidence in the ability of the CDAA to produce safe divers and, as a result, the holes remained open.

The main aims and objectives of the CDAA are to foster the development, advancement, promotion, mapping, education, exploration, conservation, safety and research of underwater caves and related features.

CDAA Membership is available to all persons who complete a membership application form and are accepted for a CDAA entry level course (Cavern Diver). Members are required to abide by the CDAA regulations and to renew membership annually which includes payment of an annual membership fee.

The National Committee consists of the National Director, Business Director, Publications & Records Director, Site Access Director and the Standards Director. The National Committee manages the day to day affairs of the association.