Komati Springs

A flooded asbestos-mine pit in Mpumalanga used as an open-water lake to about 55 m, with an entrance into multi-level mine workings for qualified cave divers.

Komati Springs combines an open-water lake, the flooded pit of a former fibre mine, with an entrance into the mine's tunnels. The lake has training platforms at 5 m, 9 m and 30 m and reaches about 55 m.

The mine entrance lies on the pit wall at roughly 12-18 m. Inside, levels joined by shafts continue to about 186 m. A visiting team reported that only certified, experienced cave divers may enter the workings, while the open lake is used for general diving and training.

Fresh water with summer layering from about 24 C at the surface to 16 C at depth, and 16-17 C in winter. The lake is typically 10-15 m visibility; in the mine, cut tunnels about 2 m by 1.5 m, doors, rails and machinery, with silt and rust that can reduce visibility to near zero.

Up to 40 m visibility in winter in the lake. Inside the mine, visibility depends on how much silt and rust is disturbed.

प्रकाशित स्रोतों से सामान्य अनुमानित दायरे, वर्तमान परिस्थितियाँ नहीं।

Earlier accounts describe a dive base in a former mine house with compressors and mixed-gas filling, pontoons and a decompression platform; current status unconfirmed.