Sunday, April 21, 2013

Explos Film Festival 2013

8 To 12th May
Ax les Thermes, Ariège Pyrénées


First Barcelona Technical & Cave Diving Conference: BCN TEK 2013

On 18th & 19th May, the First Barcelona Technical & Cave Diving Conference will take place   focusing on cave diving explorations. 

Topics presented include :
  • recent explorations at the terminal sumps of Sistema Huautla -1545m (Mexico)
  • Pozo Azul (over 9km diving distance)
  • Lamina'ko Ziloa (Saint Georges system resurgence in the Pyrenees)
  • Fuentona de Muriel, Escuain, Cotiella, also explorations in Portugal and Bosnia, ...

Click on the image on the left for the full details about the talks.

More information can be found on the BCN TEK 2013 facebook group, subscription form can be downloaded here.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Amazing Wingsuit Jump Through Narrow Cave at 155 mph


"Wingsuit / BASE-jump athlete Alexander Polli does a tactical flight through a narrow cave on a rugged mountainside. The flight starts with a jump from a hovering helicopter, Alexander reaches speeds of 250 km/h (155 mph) while following a precise trajectory leading to the cave opening, he then fully commits and flies directly through the narrow opening of the "Batman Cave!"

Shot in full HD, this extraordinary flight exceeds the level of commitment most fliers would ever consider—there can be no attempting, the only option is success!

The narrow cave, no wider than Alexander is tall, is located in Roca Foradada Mountains in Montserrat, Spain—a location that has inspired this professional Italian Norwegian athlete's flying dream his whole life. Alexander hopes his success will inspire others not only to 'climb over their mountains,' but to also fly right through them!"

Video from: www.epictv.com

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Technique Video: Occam Releasable Anchor



This anchor was developed for use in Canyoneering when you are forced to tie two ropes together to complete a rappel. Specifically, for first descents with unknown rappel lengths.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Cave Depth Record Achieved Using KISS Rebreather


Expedition diver Jason Mallinson describes a record-setting dive into the Western Hemisphere’s deepest cave, using the Classic KISS rebreather.


Mexico’s Sistema Huautla is perhaps one of the most complex of the world’s deep caves. With 17 entrances and numerous independent and physically demanding deep routes, dropping nearly a mile into the earth, this dark labyrinth requires extensive rope work and multiple days of effort to reach the lower depths of the system. The last extension to the cave took place in 1994, when Dr William Stone used his self-designed CIS Lunar rebreather to pass what was then considered the terminal sump. Staging their dive from a portable platform suspended over a pool of water, the transiting a flooded tunnel and went on to discovered some 3.3km (2 miles) of new passage, but were ultimately stopped by Sump 9.(...)

Discovery of longest lava cave in Southeast Asia

A system of lava caves including one considered as the longest lava cave of Southeast Asia has been discovered in the southern province of Dong Nai, according to researcher Truong Ba Vuong of the Viet Nam's Institute of Tropical Biology.

Researchers from the institute and Germany have surveyed and discovered the system of 11 caves for two months and found the caves formed after an eruption.

The longest cave found is Doi (Bat) Cave which is separated by a geological collapse and rupture that created two additional caves called Bat Cave 1 and Bat Cave 2. The largest section of the cave is about 426m long, 4m high and 10m wide. The explorers consider it as the longest lava cave in Southeast Asia as Gua Lawah Cave in Indonesia, the current longest one, is 400m long.

In some lava caves, researchers discovered many species of animals such as bats, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, cave crickets, flies, ferrets and frogs.

German scientists intend to publish these findings in English, including maps and descriptions of the cave complex, in publications of the Berlin Speleoclub.

The local authorities have called the people to be aware of protecting the complex and stop catching bats in the cave to preserve ecological environment of the site.

Source: VNS

Monday, April 15, 2013

21 st International Karstological School: Classical Karst: Hypogene Speleogenesis (Between theory and reality...)

Since 1993, International Karstological Schools have been organised, covering many aspects of karst research. The basic idea of the School has been to present the state of the art in selected topics and promote discussion between participants via set of lectures, poster sessions and related field trips to the area of Slovene Classical karst.

In the last decade, hypogene speleologenetic processes have attracted attention of speleological community. Many previously epigenic caves have been reinterpreted as hypogene. Some basic publications on the topic have triggered doubts and debates because similar cave patterns and wall rock features considered as hypogene can be formed also under other conditions. Therefore, the aim of the 21'st IKS is to present basic hydrogeological and chemical principles and processes of hypogene speleogenesis as well as geological conditions leading to it. Special attention will be paid to the geometry of cave passages and wall rock features which are often interpreted as hypogene, but could have as well formed otherwise, such as in meteoric flood-water conditions or by dissolution in contact with sediment.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Swiss caver rescued after days in water-filled cavern

A Swiss caver trapped in a water-filled cavern since Wednesday was freed late Friday by a rescue team using divers.

The man, identified as a local resident named Roland Geiser, was pulled from the Cascade cave near Motiers in western Switzerland in good health.

He had become trapped while caving solo on Wednesday when suddenly rising waters -- common this time of year with melting snow -- flooded his exit tunnel. He took refuge in a niche above the water.

Authorities deployed 15 cavers to rescue him, including three divers. They kept him supplied with food and warm clothes while preparing to bring him to the surface.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Explos Film Festival 2013

8 To 12th May
Ax les Thermes, Ariège Pyrénées


First Barcelona Technical & Cave Diving Conference: BCN TEK 2013

On 18th & 19th May, the First Barcelona Technical & Cave Diving Conference will take place   focusing on cave diving explorations. 

Topics presented include :
  • recent explorations at the terminal sumps of Sistema Huautla -1545m (Mexico)
  • Pozo Azul (over 9km diving distance)
  • Lamina'ko Ziloa (Saint Georges system resurgence in the Pyrenees)
  • Fuentona de Muriel, Escuain, Cotiella, also explorations in Portugal and Bosnia, ...

Click on the image on the left for the full details about the talks.

More information can be found on the BCN TEK 2013 facebook group, subscription form can be downloaded here.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Amazing Wingsuit Jump Through Narrow Cave at 155 mph


"Wingsuit / BASE-jump athlete Alexander Polli does a tactical flight through a narrow cave on a rugged mountainside. The flight starts with a jump from a hovering helicopter, Alexander reaches speeds of 250 km/h (155 mph) while following a precise trajectory leading to the cave opening, he then fully commits and flies directly through the narrow opening of the "Batman Cave!"

Shot in full HD, this extraordinary flight exceeds the level of commitment most fliers would ever consider—there can be no attempting, the only option is success!

The narrow cave, no wider than Alexander is tall, is located in Roca Foradada Mountains in Montserrat, Spain—a location that has inspired this professional Italian Norwegian athlete's flying dream his whole life. Alexander hopes his success will inspire others not only to 'climb over their mountains,' but to also fly right through them!"

Video from: www.epictv.com

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Technique Video: Occam Releasable Anchor



This anchor was developed for use in Canyoneering when you are forced to tie two ropes together to complete a rappel. Specifically, for first descents with unknown rappel lengths.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Cave Depth Record Achieved Using KISS Rebreather


Expedition diver Jason Mallinson describes a record-setting dive into the Western Hemisphere’s deepest cave, using the Classic KISS rebreather.


Mexico’s Sistema Huautla is perhaps one of the most complex of the world’s deep caves. With 17 entrances and numerous independent and physically demanding deep routes, dropping nearly a mile into the earth, this dark labyrinth requires extensive rope work and multiple days of effort to reach the lower depths of the system. The last extension to the cave took place in 1994, when Dr William Stone used his self-designed CIS Lunar rebreather to pass what was then considered the terminal sump. Staging their dive from a portable platform suspended over a pool of water, the transiting a flooded tunnel and went on to discovered some 3.3km (2 miles) of new passage, but were ultimately stopped by Sump 9.(...)

Discovery of longest lava cave in Southeast Asia

A system of lava caves including one considered as the longest lava cave of Southeast Asia has been discovered in the southern province of Dong Nai, according to researcher Truong Ba Vuong of the Viet Nam's Institute of Tropical Biology.

Researchers from the institute and Germany have surveyed and discovered the system of 11 caves for two months and found the caves formed after an eruption.

The longest cave found is Doi (Bat) Cave which is separated by a geological collapse and rupture that created two additional caves called Bat Cave 1 and Bat Cave 2. The largest section of the cave is about 426m long, 4m high and 10m wide. The explorers consider it as the longest lava cave in Southeast Asia as Gua Lawah Cave in Indonesia, the current longest one, is 400m long.

In some lava caves, researchers discovered many species of animals such as bats, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, cave crickets, flies, ferrets and frogs.

German scientists intend to publish these findings in English, including maps and descriptions of the cave complex, in publications of the Berlin Speleoclub.

The local authorities have called the people to be aware of protecting the complex and stop catching bats in the cave to preserve ecological environment of the site.

Source: VNS

Monday, April 15, 2013

21 st International Karstological School: Classical Karst: Hypogene Speleogenesis (Between theory and reality...)

Since 1993, International Karstological Schools have been organised, covering many aspects of karst research. The basic idea of the School has been to present the state of the art in selected topics and promote discussion between participants via set of lectures, poster sessions and related field trips to the area of Slovene Classical karst.

In the last decade, hypogene speleologenetic processes have attracted attention of speleological community. Many previously epigenic caves have been reinterpreted as hypogene. Some basic publications on the topic have triggered doubts and debates because similar cave patterns and wall rock features considered as hypogene can be formed also under other conditions. Therefore, the aim of the 21'st IKS is to present basic hydrogeological and chemical principles and processes of hypogene speleogenesis as well as geological conditions leading to it. Special attention will be paid to the geometry of cave passages and wall rock features which are often interpreted as hypogene, but could have as well formed otherwise, such as in meteoric flood-water conditions or by dissolution in contact with sediment.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Swiss caver rescued after days in water-filled cavern

A Swiss caver trapped in a water-filled cavern since Wednesday was freed late Friday by a rescue team using divers.

The man, identified as a local resident named Roland Geiser, was pulled from the Cascade cave near Motiers in western Switzerland in good health.

He had become trapped while caving solo on Wednesday when suddenly rising waters -- common this time of year with melting snow -- flooded his exit tunnel. He took refuge in a niche above the water.

Authorities deployed 15 cavers to rescue him, including three divers. They kept him supplied with food and warm clothes while preparing to bring him to the surface.