Cathedral Cave and Tunnel Cave Airlock Access Rules

(NB. Access to Tunnel Cave via Tunnel Top is administered solely by the SWCC. The following rules are for caver access to the Airlock and Cathedral Cave from either direction.) 

1. Parties will number up to 5 and enter only in the company of a DYO warden. For “Health and Safety” reasons the Cave Company will not allow people to cave alone.

2.  No access through the airlock is permitted on days when there is a wedding in Cathedral Cave and on any other day there will be a maximum of three trips. In the unlikely event of a party using the airlock to access Cathedral Cave and observing a wedding in progress; the cave party MUST wait until the service is over and the wedding party is exiting the cave before they exit the airlock.

3. Keys for the airlock and caver’s entrance in the main door of Cathedral Cave are to be collected on the day by the DYO warden only, from the showcave Ticket Office during normal opening times and must be returned immediately after the trip. If the office is closed, keys must be returned to the showcave owner’s house.

4. All gates and doors are to be locked immediately after use and only one door of the airlock to be open at any time. Failure to follow this rule could lead to loss of access through the airlock and loss of wardenship for the warden.

5. Each caver wishing to enter the cave must give evidence of holding adequate acceptable Public Liability insurance cover to the agent of the Showcave Management or of the Committee (the warden) before going underground. A standard pre-trip form must be completed and placed in the caver’s post box at the back of the Ticket Office. After the trip the warden must complete a trip report for the committee.

6. Parties are responsible for their conduct, safety and the provision of equipment necessary to safely complete the trip. The warden should also draw the attention of each member of the party to the conditions of access, particularly those relating to the provision for emergency assistance to be called. (The trip notice board in the SWCC HQ should be used in the first instance.)

7.  Only electric lighting is to be used. Carbide must not be taken into the cave.

8.  No litter is to be left inside or outside the cave.

9.  Parties should respect any directions or instructions issued by the Showcave staff, who have the  right to refuse access.

10. Installations, apparatus and equipment should not be interfered with. Accidental damage should  be reported immediately on return from the trip. The ventilation fan for the showcave operates automatically and must not be touched.

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Last modified: 19-Apr-2008