Boesmansgat

{{Infobox cave

| name = Boesmansgat

| other_name =

| photo =

| photo_width =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Boesmansgat, near Daniëlskuil, South Africa

| map =

| map_width =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| location = Daniëlskuil, Northern Cape

| land_registry_number =

| grid_ref_UK =

| grid_ref_Ireland =

| grid_ref =

| coords = {{Coord|27|55|18|S|23|38|30|E|type:waterbody_scale:10000|display=title, inline}}

| coords_ref =

| depth = {{convert|283|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}

| length =

| height_variation =

| elevation =1500 metres

| discovery =

| geology =

| entrance_count =

| entrance_list =

| difficulty =

| hazards =

| access =

| show_cave =

| show_cave_length =

| lighting =

| visitors =

| features =

| survey =

| survey_format =

| website =

|map_image={{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|plain=yes|type=shape|stroke-width=1|stroke-color=#d6d6d6|fill=#4271ae}}|image_map=|embedded={{Location map | South Africa#South Africa Northern Cape | relief=1 | width=300 }}}}

Boesmansgat (or Bushmansgat), also known in English as "Bushman's Hole", is a deep submerged freshwater cave (or sinkhole) in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, which has been dived to a depth of {{convert|282.6|m|ft}}.

Boesmansgat was believed to have first been explored by amateur diver Mike Rathbourne, in 1977.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}} The greatest depth attained was by Nuno Gomes in 1996, diving to a depth of {{convert|282.6|m|ft}}. Its altitude of over {{convert|1500|m|ft|0}} makes this a particularly challenging dive, requiring a decompression schedule equivalent for a dive to {{convert|339|m|ft}} at sea level.{{cite web |first=Martyn |last=Farr |title=South Africa – Bushmansgat |date=8 February 2007 |url=http://www.nunogomes.co.za/record.htm |accessdate=2010-04-30}} Gomes' dive was a close call, as he got stuck in the mud on the bottom of Bushman's Hole for two minutes before escaping.{{cite news|work=Outside Magazine|title=Raising the Dead|author=Zimmermann, Tim|date=August 1, 2005|url=http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/africa/south-africa/Raising-the-Dead.html}}

On 24 November 2004, Verna van Schaik set the Guinness Woman's World Record for the deepest dive by diving down to a depth of {{convert|221|m|ft}}.{{cite web|title=Deepest scuba dive (female)|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/deepest-scuba-dive-(female)|website=Guinness World Records|accessdate=26 January 2017}}

In October 2022 Karen van den Oever broke her own Guinness World Record{{cite web|title=Deepest scuba dive (female)|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/deepest-scuba-dive-(female)|website=Guinness World Records|accessdate=5 December 2022}} as the world’s deepest diving woman when she descended to {{convert|246.65|m|ft}} using open-circuit equipment.{{cite web|title=New cave diving record for Karen van den Oever|date=28 October 2022 |url=https://www.scubadivermag.com/new-cave-diving-record-for-karen-van-den-oever/|accessdate=5 December 2022}}

Deaths

In 1993, Eben Leyden died after blacking out at a depth of {{convert|60|m|ft}}. Leyden was brought up immediately by diving buddy Boetie Sheun but could not be revived.{{Cite book|last=Gomez|first=Nuno|title=BEYOND BLUE "Journey into the deep"|publisher=Mayfly|year=2016|isbn=978-83-62827-25-1|location=Warszawa|pages=21–25}}
In 1994, while helping a team prepare for a dive, Deon Dreyer died on ascent at a depth of {{convert|50|m|ft|0}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/515/good-guys?act=3|work=This American Life|title=Episode 515: Good Guys, Act 3}}{{cite news|url= https://www.npr.org/2014/10/31/360358240/where-no-one-should-go|work=Snap Judgment|title=Where No One Should Go|date=October 31, 2014|publisher=NPR.org|author=Washington, Glynn}} Dreyer's body remained in the cave until being discovered ten years later at a depth of {{convert|270|m|ft|0}} by cave diver Dave Shaw.
On 8 January 2005, Dave Shaw died after becoming tangled in the line while attempting to recover Dreyer's body. (Shaw's close friend and support diver, Don Shirley, nearly died as well and was left with permanent ear damage that has impaired his balance.) On 12 January 2005, Dreyer and Shaw's bodies were ultimately recovered near the surface, while members of the dive team were recovering technical equipment, which included a camera that filmed Shaw’s last moments in the water.

In literature

In Mo Hayder's novel Ritual (2008), the death of the parents of one of the protagonists while diving in Bushman's Hole is an important plot device.{{Cite book |last=Mo |first=Hayder |title=Ritual |year=2008 |isbn=9781847824639 |pages=1|publisher=Thorpe }}

In media

The 2005 attempt to recover Deon Dreyer's body that led to the death of Dave Shaw is the subject of the 2020 documentary Dave Not Coming Back.

References

Category:Caves of South Africa

Category:Underwater diving sites in South Africa

Category:Sinkholes of Africa