Cave-Diving In Australia’s Arid Nullarbor Outback

Catalyst: Weebubbie Cave - Exploring the geological wonders of Australia's caves, underneath Australia's parched desert,
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The Nullarbor Plain of southern Australia is one of the most barren, bleak landscapes on the planet. But underneath this flat wasteland is an intricate system of deep subterranean caves and underwater channels. The Nullarbor is consisted of the largest contiguous block of limestone in the world, and over the course of millions of years, water erosion has carved out this awe-inspiring labyrinth of caves. Not only is it amazing that such vast reserves of water lie underneath this arid landscape, but cave-divers have recently made surprising discoveries about water temperature that may hold new clues about the formation of these geological marvels. Taking refuge from the scorching Australian desert sun, Anja Taylor, Simon Pampena and Dr Derek Muller go underground to explore the largest of the Weebubbie caves.
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Journeyman Pictures brings you highlights from the cutting-edge science series, ‘Catalyst’, produced by our long-term content partners at ABC Australia. Every day we’ll upload a new episode that takes you to the heart of the most intriguing and relevant science-related stories of the day, transforming your perspective of the issues shaping our world.

[@davidmorgan3328]

Thanks for fantastic video, I did the diving out there in 1990 & 1991 with Perth Diving Academy and Ian Lewis joined us. I would have to say it was the best diving I’ve done. The vis is unreal and thanks for bringing back my memories 😊

[@maureenkidd6629]

Fantastic! Wish I had the guts to dive. I've travelled the Nullabor and found it so boring, even my doggie was never the same after. But who knew what was below - such beauty.

[@cherylolsen4420]

Beautiful ! Thanks so much for your amazing adventure on film.

[@aussiedrifter]

Very interesting video thank you for sharing mate, two things that caught my attention was, 1) The woman being permitted to go on her first ever cave dive, without first gaining prior training with a certified instructor. 2) Driving the Nullarboring as they called it, I am not a professional truckie but my wife & I have made the trip 14 times over the years & think it is one of the best if not the best road trip you could ever make. I suppose it's what you make of it, always remember this it's not the destination that is fantastic, but rather the journey getting there. Anyway what ever you do get out there & enjoy our beautiful country the best country in the entire world. Take Care & Safe Travels, Steve.

[@simonp4089]

Regarding your point one, it looked more like a cavern dive to me, maybe not even that if she was in open water for the duration, not leaving the lake. Also, do we know that neither of the divers with her was a cave instructor? Anyway, looked lovely. One day I'll hopefully dive there. And Cocklebiddy too.

[@VirtanenDK]

@@simonp4089 We do know that the old guy is the guy who started to explore the cave. And you are right, it's a "cave lake dive" You can read it in the description.

[@MegaCharns]

@@simonp4089 they were clearly inside a cave with zero light lol

[@MegaCharns]

@@VirtanenDK he wasn't right it is a lake inside a cave therefor it is definately a cave dive

[@user-bd5ni8vr5c]

hi, I would not say our country is the best, yet it is very beautiful. I have to say each country or place has its own significance.

[@MotownShaker]

Some great footage, cheers

[@cyber69]

Don't tell the water bottle companies this cave's location. They will suck the water out and sell it as spring water.

[@sauldiaz9805]

Awesome, video 👍🤿

[@jasminkajakovljevic7697]

Amazing thanks 😊👍

[@karma4729]

Absolutely beautiful 🤩 u divers are so brave!

[@balderdashery1]

That is amazing.

[@charlesclements4350]

At 8:17, it talks about the visibility being 500 feet. I wonder how does that compare with the water in Iceland? The water there is also exceptionally clear. Like Cyber-6 said, "Don't tell the water bottling companies..." Might want to kept under wraps all together because when people find out, they will absolutely ruin it.

[@victoriaivankovasmith872]

Very good.

[@ANTINUTZI]

... The wonderful mysteries of Oz are truly endless.

[@gtxixclipxix4019]

I’m over here at 1:00 thinking fuck I’m tripin hard he hit that ball far and they been driving for a minute to it then I’m like ohhhhh🤣😅☠️

[@Spyplane2005]

Gotta love youtube with it's fake 720p quality. I could see the pixels from space.

[@610SSS]

Alpha N wet yoghurt you are

[@Madyn]

Could count the pixels like a calculator

[@ateosedm5690]

Then don't watch it moron

[@Spyplane2005]

@@ateosedm5690 Why are you crying about a 4 year old comment? Don't worry I didn't watch it.

[@solosipahi]

Isnt that the epic Veritasium guy??

[@Freakschwimmer]

+solosipahi +Veritasium is that you? :D

[@edifire9737]

Freakschwimmer yes it is. The show is called catalyst.

[@dronexfun8469]

Crater Lake, Or has a visibility of 800ft. Plus.

[@xtrvlnchic3709]

What implications do you theorize the caves, cave water and their respective rising temperature have had on the archaeological record? Are there any recordings providing this perspective?

[@benjaminsmith7024]

Like corrosion of fossils, minerals and crystals from the rising temperatures ?

[@MrNotebookguy]

It is very irresponsible taking a person with you to a cave exploration who doesn't have cave diving training before

[@Ralphgtx280]

100% agree Weebubbie though is a dual rated site ( both Deep Cavern and Cave). I haven't had the privilege of diving it yet so cant say weather it was in the deep cav zone , either way was definately not explporation this cave is well dived. None of the people mentioned in the video are CDAA instructors therefore was against regs

[@never2old-sd638]

I was surprised when she said that was her first cave dive. 😱

[@GreatWhite7]

Normies love attention, so they will risk their lives for some publicity.

[@PeterBuzzacott]

Anja completed CDAA basic cave diver training before the trip and did not leave the cavern zone. All dives were within CDAA standards and the conditions of the permit.

[@Crazy--Clown]

*Who cares, no one gives a fuck u muppet*

[@graftongodofmemes]

So pisswarm cave water is sooooooo exciting? Yea I can dig that. It WOULD be pretty exciting.

[@firstlast6781]

I believe that the hot water comes from lava underneath heating some water Edit They just said that I believe that its magma because of Yellowstone except you can't explore boiling acidic caves

[@fayzemourie7776]

WATER FILTERED AND CRYSTALLISED UNDER GROUND CLEANER FROM DUST AND OTHER VEGETATION

[@SephCat74]

So, you dont have to decomp when the depth isnt too deep?

[@norgamer643]

if you dive over the decompression limit, you have to have several decostops. but if you stay in the limits it is okay, you can still get decompression illness.

[@lucid_sound_design]

Its not recommended, but I've done shallow dives above 35 ft where we've chosen not to decompress. Anything past that though is definitely not worth the risk.

[@southmancanham3275]

Come to the limestone coast if you want to go to a real cave diving place

[@iandalziel7405]

Meanwhile other parts of Australia are looking at severe drought next year.

[@zeMasterRuseman]

theres no surface water on the nullarbor, and very little rain.

[@meyakabrown4725]

I don't know anything about the subject but the bubbles that are created from the scuba gear....doesn't that cause erosion and other negative environmental side effects inside the cave?

[@simonp4089]

The bubbles can dislodge material from above, though this is very rarely of any significance in caves, in mines stuff can rain down upon you, which is a little unsettling.

[@jamesallanbutterworth4150]

road over 750cc waterbottle 1979 but not see whats under bicks one thing diveing another only open water diver 62.5 years so much more to do

[@peteravila6496]

Did she say this was her first dive in a cave??? Do not cave dive unless you have had the proper training. It is almost a certain recipe for death. Look up the stats. Does anyone in this video have cave diving training???

[@teatedcrescent4357]

Do the have training in a cave?

[@Ralphgtx280]

having been in the water with a couple of the people in the video , I can confirm they are very well trained , as for the journyman crew I'd say no.

[@thewaterslesstraveled8487]

lol Veritasium guy is here but for some reason his accent was awful back then.

[@thereisaplace]

"This is my first cave dive ever." And you're trying to pawn this off as a science-based video? This is beyond irresponsible, it's dangerous, presents a false sense of safety regarding cave diving, and seems to just be a ploy to increase viewership.

[@salmanyare2103]

Curiosity is the most causes of humans death 💀 ! Ow it’s beautiful isn’t it! Yeah let’s go through it! After some time they stuck in somewhere dangerous and that’s will be the end of their journey of discovery.

[@johnmerton3630]

Hope you aren't spending much money only to find out it's just a hole full of water.

[@azizey9246]

"a mecca for cave divers" yeah its swarming... with 3 people lol... meanwhile the real Mecca has over 300,000 pilgrims at any given moment. Naw, still, its a cute ambitious aspiration.

[@melissastewart8743]

Azize Y i Melissa Stewart live on that land, all I have to say ring me ,because my grandfather is on that land talk to me I will tell you the true. Don't fuck with the cave. I live in port Lincoln. but going home.