Tank Cave diver Gary Gibson remembered as internal investigation begins into SA death
Gary Gibson (right) and two other men at Tank Cave in 2020. (Facebook: Cave Divers Association of Australia)
In short:
Gary Gibson, 65, died while cave diving with two other men at Tank Cave on Sunday.
A friend has described his careful and funny nature.
What's next?
The Cave Divers Association of Australia will investigate whether its protocols were followed.
A diver who died deep underground in a cave in South Australia's south-east has been remembered as "very meticulous" about his safety, as the Cave Divers Association of Australia (CDAA) launches its own investigation into the death.
Gary Gibson, 65, from Victoria, died on Sunday while cave diving with two other men at Tank Cave, near Tantanoola.
CDAA national director Grant Pearce knew Mr Gibson well and said he and other members' thoughts were with his wife.
Tank Cave includes about 8 kilometres of underwater passages. (Supplied: Richard Harris)
He said Mr Gibson had dived "60 or 70" times at Tank Cave, which is considered one of the most advanced of many cave systems around Mount Gambier.
"Gary was a very meticulous diver, very fastidious about his gear and his planning. Like if he didn't feel right about something he wouldn't do it, so we're all scratching our heads at the moment as to what actually occurred,"Mr Pearce said.
Grant Pearce speaks to the media at Tank Cave on Monday. (ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook)
Police divers and others from the CDAA, including Thai cave rescue hero Richard Harris, brought Mr Gibson's body to the surface on Monday afternoon.
Mr Pearce said Mr Gibson had a "dark sense of humour".
"We shared quite a few laughs," he said.
"He was a teetotaller, a very energetic chap and very funny as well.
"He was a very solid diver also and he had quite a bit of experience diving here."
Gary Gibson (centre) and two other men at Tank Cave in 2020. (Facebook: Cave Divers Association of Australia)
Investigation to begin
Limestone Coast Superintendent Trent Cox yesterday said the possibility of a rockfall would be considered in the police report for the coroner, but Mr Pearce said that was not the case, and it was not correct either that Mr Gibson had become stuck in a tight spot within the cave system.
The CDAA will run its own internal investigation into the incident, in addition to the coronial inquest.
Mr Pearce said it would focus on the organisation's protocols, while the coroner could also look into whether Mr Gibson had any health issues.
"From our perspective, it's just reviewing to see whether the appropriate protocols were all followed, which I'm sure they were, but we'll just be going through that as a matter of course just to make sure we're comfortable as an organisation that protocols were followed," Mr Pearce said.
"If there were some other health factors that nobody else was aware of, perhaps even Gary himself may not have even been aware of, then there's no protocols in the world [that would] cover for things like that.
"You can't plan for everything, right?"
Cave divers and police joined together to bring Mr Gibson's body to the surface on Monday. (ABC South East SA: Sam Bradbrook)
Tank Cave is on private property owned by the CDAA.
It has been closed to divers for the time being, but other caves and sinkholes around Mount Gambier are still open for diving.