The Pit

Located only ten minutes from our base The Pit is one of Australia's only dedicated occupational dive sites. The Pit is approximately two hectares in surface area, has low visibility, fresh water and a distinct thermocline at about 8 metres, which can change the temperature to a chilly 8 degrees Celsius in mid winter.

The Pit

The Pit is set up with permanent work tasks, which include a 30-metre pipeline, a simulated wellhead, several one tonne lifting tasks, a pipework maze, a welding stage and a Volkswagen combivan. Descend has exclusive use of this site which is not subject to wind, tide, weather or boating hazards and can be dived 365 days a year.

'The Pit' is a disused gravel quarry, approximately 2 hectares in surface area with a maximum depth of 16m. The pit is the cleanest diveable water in the area with visibility often exceeding 5 metres, however a layer of bottom silt is easily disturbed and can reduce the visibility to nil almost instantly.

Surface water temperatures are approximately the same as the southern oceans, surface temperatures are often 24 deg.C in mid summer but with a very noticeable thermocline at about 8 metres which reduces bottom temperatures by approximately 6 deg.C. Bottom temperature can be as low as 8 deg.C in mid winter.

Under water life includes several varieties of fish, lots of plant life, turtles, yabbies and shrimp and prolific bird life.

The pit is located about 10km from the dive shop on the Riverina Highway, known locally as Howlong Road. About 100 metres past Griffiths Drive, a locked gateway to the left signed "unauthorised entry prohibited", access is arranged via the dive shop.