Pannikin Plain Cave

The Movie "Sanctum" was mostly fiction, but the premise was based on fact. There was an actual diving party who were trapped in an underwater cave due to a storm blocking the entrance. It happened in 1988 at Pannikin Plains Cave. This lens explores some of the real facts and a little of the movie too.

The area the cave is in is an area of Australia called "Nullarbor" We'll take a look at some of the interesting facts about the area too.

Photo from "Sanctum"

Of the Original Diving Team's experience in 1988

"Like Water Spiraling down an open plug hole" is the way Andrew Wight describes the water cascading down into the Pannikin Plain Cave when hit by a major storm with he and his crew inside. The cave they were exploring that day is part of a long and intricate system of caves beneath the Australian Desert area known as Nullarbor.

The collapsed entrance left those trapped (along with some help from those above) with the tedious task of finding another way out of the cave. They had a radio with them Ron Allum had built especially for communicating through the underground cave system. Their pre-arranged time to communicate via the radio came, and then is when they knew their team members below were alright. It was a frightening time, taking the team 6 grueling hours to make their way out of a still unstable system.

via National Geographic Blog

Covering 77,000 Square Miles, the Nullarbor hosts the worlds largest single piece of limestone.

The area is thought to be an ancient sea bed.

Good Movie! The plot to the movie is much more complicated than the actual event. Plenty of twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat!