1973 Mount Gambier cave diving accident

High school (ages 12+)
Safety & Emergency

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/1973-mount-gambier-cave-diving-accident

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location of the incident?A flooded sinkhole known as 'The Shaft' near Mount Gambier, South Australia
2. What is the date of the accident?May 28, 1973
3. What happened during the Mount Gambier cave diving accident?On May 28, 1973, four divers lost their lives while exploring a deep sinkhole called 'The Shaft' in Mount Gambier. They went beyond their planned limits and did not use a guideline.
4. Why was not using a guideline so dangerous?A guideline is a lifeline that shows the path back to the surface. Without it, the divers got lost in the dark tunnels and ran out of air.

Recreational Scuba Diving: Diving activities undertaken for leisure and enjoyment, distinct from professional or military diving operations.
Guideline (Cave Diving): A continuous line laid by divers from the entry point into a cave to mark a safe and navigable route.
Flooded Sinkhole: A natural geological depression formed by the collapse of surface rock, which has subsequently filled with water, often creating subterranean cave systems.
Risk Management: The process of identifying, assessing, and controlling threats to an organization's capital and earnings, often involving potential negative events.