Piccaninnie Ponds, South Australia: Walking trail & dive permit fees

The Piccaninnie Ponds wetland near Mount Gambier, South Australia, is a popular cave diving spot. But there’s also a walking trail to the beach for those who wish to stay dry.

Depending on your perspective, Piccaninnie Ponds is either an internationally important wetland or one of the top dive sites in South Australia.

If you’re planning to explore by land, there’s a walking trail and plenty of interpretive signage. If more interested in taking to the water, you’ll need a permit for diving and snorkelling.

Where is Piccaninnie Ponds?

Piccaninnie Ponds is on the Limestone Coast of South Australia, about 32km south-east of Mount Gambier and 482km from Adelaide. It is only just in South Australia, mind. It is on the western side of the Victorian border, a few kilometres from the town of Nelson and the Discovery Bay Coastal Park.

Piccaninnie Ponds walking trail

Visitors on foot can take the walking trail through heath and coastal wattle to the ponds outlet. It offers good views of the Southern Ocean while, on the beach, you can see freshwater spring bubbling up through the sand.

Inland from the beach, there are boardwalks through the wetlands and a lookout.

Diving and snorkelling at Piccaninnie Ponds

It’s divers and snorkellers that will get the most out of Piccaninnie Ponds, however. There are three main areas for underwater exploration.

The First Pond is the simplest of these – it’s a 10 metre-deep depression with plenty of fish. The Cathedral is an underwater cavern with striking white walls. It’s about 35 metres deep.

Biggest of the lot, however, is the Chasm – a sinkhole that’s over 100 metres deep.

This is far from the only sinkhole on the Limestone Coast. Others include Hell’s Hole, Little Blue Lake and the Kilsby Sinkhole.

Both snorkelling and diving at Piccaninnie Ponds requires a special permit, bookable via the National Parks and Wildlife Service website. Divers have to be members of the Cave Divers Association of Australia.

Diving at Piccaninnie Ponds costs $43, and snorkelling costs $16. Prices were correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change in the future.

Top Mount Gambier accommodation choices

The best places to stay in Mount Gambier are:

For something fun and unusual: Old Mount Gambier Gaol.
For 19^th century charm and grandeur: Colhurst House.
For a good quality motel with low prices: Blue Lake Motel.
For studio apartments with kitchenettes, washing machines & tumble dryers: Aloha Central Premium Studios.

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