Boesmansgat is a natural sinkhole on the farm Mount Carmel, located some 55 km South of Kuruman on the Danielskuil road.

The sinkhole was formed when underground water dissolved the dolomite rocks above. Now Boesmansgat (sometimes referred to by its English translation, Bushman’s Hole) offers a glimpse into the watery world below.

This vertical, submerged cave is almost completely filled with fresh water, with the 100 metre diametre surface pond often covered in a green film of duckweed. The cave’s immense size was determined by sonar to be some 270 metres deep, making it one of the deepest freshwater caves in the world.

Access to the mouth of the cave is achieved by climbing down a steep rock-face to the water suface. The entrance of Boesmansgat is deceptively narrow, about 20 metres from the surface, it opens up into the vast main chamber that stretches to the depths of the cave over 200 metres below. The extreme depth of this cave requires divers to spend many hours decompressing when they ascend from the depths.

Many world records in cave diving have been set up in this exceptional sinkhole. This cave has been explored by numerous divers over the years seeking the thrill of diving its dangerous waters, while breaking records in the process.

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