MOUNT Gambier based diver Ryan Kaczkowski has been named technical diver of the year at the OZTek 2019 Advanced Dive Conference and Exhibition.
Ryan was awarded for his dedication and outstanding achievements in underwater exploration, including elements of teamwork, mentoring and inspiration.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be given the award among many other great divers that were there that night and it is exciting to be given an encouraging award that motivates me to dive further,” he said.
“This award marks a small part of my contribution to exploration in cave diving.”
Presented the award by last year’s winner – Dr Richard Harris, who was catapulted to international fame for his role in the daring Thailand Cave rescue – Ryan said he felt “very privileged”.
“Awards like this always give me inspiration and motivation to continue exploration in caves underwater,” he said.
Ryan has dived for 10 years, basing himself in Mount Gambier which is widely regarded as the cave diving capital of Australia.
He has been involved in exploring Nullarbor caves such as Cocklebidy Cave, as well as Pannikin Plains Cave where he discovered the second dry chamber, Chapel Hill and the subsequent third sump.
Spending his free time exploring the caves around the South East, Ryan said the “caves in Mount Gambier give us a small window into the world at our feet”.
“We live in a unique part of the Australia that has these types of underwater caves,” Ryan said.
“There is a lot we can learn from our underwater caves and hopefully more people within Mount Gambier and surrounds will be encouraged to let us explore and learn about them.
“My favourite things about the region is the ability to be able to explore areas rarely visited by others and also particular sites that have never been seen by anyone before.”
Mount Gambier’s Reef 2 Ridge was also recognised at the awards, named OZTek’s 2019 dealership of the year.
EXPLORING: Ryan Kaczkowski explores one of the many caves in the region.
