Jim Lister, in the upper Bolder Choke at Dooms Retreat.

Holme Bank Mine

Mich Ping, Exploring Holme Bank Mine by dingy. Usually when the water levels are higher the site is used by the Cave Diving Group for training.

The "Base Camp" at the far end of Ink Sump, which is 200 metres long and is located a mile from the entrance to Peak Cavern.

This Base Camp enables the safe storage of equipment, and provides the Team with a safe refuge. At the end of the Project all of the structure will be removed and the cave returned to its natural condition.

The platform the hut is built on is 50 feet above the water of the sump, and divers gain access to it by an Iorn ladder, the top of this old railway signal box ladder can just be seen by the pink planks.

A further ladder which can be seen in the bottom middle of the above photo leads to the top of the Aven which is 75 feet in height. At the top of the Aven is a passage which leads to the bolder choke were the team are attempting to break through to the cave system beyond.

Base Camp at Dooms Retreat

The old base camp at Dooms Retreat Aven, the tent which is located on the platform 50 feet up the shaft, has now been replaced by a wooden cabin, which is used as a base for digging operations, it enables the team to have a safe place of refuge in emergency's and prolonged working trips and to store equipment and supplies.

cave engieering at its best

Photograph by Richard Tooley.

"Moss Chamber" in Peak Cavern, location of the Neil Moss tragedy of 1959, which lead to the formation of the Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation.

To Mark the Anniversary of the incident, and the heroic Rescue attempts that followed Dave Webb has produced a documentary called "Fight for Life" the Neil Moss story, the CD can be purchased from "Hitch n Hike" or from Dave at davewebb12@ntlworld.com

BCRA Grade 1, Elavation and Plan of "SUSS" Sump, near Donatella`s Aven.