It is with great pleasure that the European Speleological Federation (FSE) publishes the next EuroSpeleo Newsletter of July 2026. This Newsletter will be exclusively available in electronic form and it will be distributed through the FSE mailing lists, website, Facebook and Instagram page. It is edited by the FSE Bureau and will inform member countries and individual speleologists about important events nationally and internationally as well as new developments and the initiatives of the FSE and its member countries. This Newsletter will be released on an occasional basis.
Please spread this newsletter on the broadest way possible among caving clubs and individual speleologists and all those interested.
The European Cave Protection Commission (ECPC) of the European Speleological Federation (FSE), is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the applications received, the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2026 has been attributed to the Jamarski klub Novo mesto (Eng. Caving Club Novo mesto) from Slovenia for their Project: PROTEctUS – Cleaning and Protecting Cave Habitats for the Conservation of the Black Olm
The prize is endowed by € 800.- and caving gear from the FSE sponsor Aventure-Verticale. (www.aventureverticale.com)
MUNDUS SPELAEUS – 18th EuroSpeleo Forum & Meeting of Croatian Speleologists – Pazin 2026 will take place in the Town of Pazin, Istria, Croatia, from 13 to 15 November 2026.
This year, Croatia will host the international EuroSpeleo Forum for the first time. As Europe’s leading speleological event, the Forum is celebrating its 18th edition this year.
The event is organized under the auspices of the European Speleological Federation (FSE) and is supported by the Croatian Speleological Federation (HSS), the Commission for Speleology of the Croatian Mountaineering Association (KS HPS), and the City of Pazin.
The organizer of the Meeting of Croatian Speleologists is the Speleological Society Istra – Pazin. Co-organizers are the Estavela Speleological Association, the Karlovac Speleological Society, and the Ursus spelaeus Speleological Club from Karlovac.
Istria is the largest Croatian peninsula, located in the northeastern Adriatic Sea, and is widely recognized throughout Europe.. The region is a well-known tourist destination, renowned for its karst landscapes and its long tradition of exploration, dating back to the very beginnings of modern European speleology.
The EuroSpeleo Forum and the Meeting of Croatian Speleologists are two events combined into one, attracting numerous cavers, friends of speleology, enthusiasts, and nature lovers from across Croatia and Europe. The aim of the event is to bring together explorers, scientists, and enthusiasts to exchange experiences and present the results of new research, strengthen cooperation among European speleological federations and clubs, promote knowledge sharing and standardization, and support the development of common ethical codes and technical standards for the exploration and protection of caves and karst features.
By attending MUNDUS SPELAEUS, you become part of a unique speleological community where, through lectures, images, words, and films, you can experience the mysterious underground world in which scientific discoveries and adventure merge into an unforgettable experience, creating lifelong passion and friendships. This event is dedicated to all aspects of speleology and is equally valuable to scientists, experienced cavers, beginners, and supporters of speleology, offering interesting lectures and activities for everyone.
FSE scholarships to encourage young cavers to attend the 18th EuroSpeleo Forum in Pazin, Croatia from 13-15 November 2026
The annual EuroSpeleo Forum is a unique opportunity to discover karst areas around Europe, exchange knowledge about recent karst research, discoveries and cave protection activities on an international level. But most importantly, it is the place to become part of the European speleological community, where old and new friends as well as different generations of cave enthusiasts meet. It is the place to get connected to Speleology in Europe.
For this reason the FSE supports especially the attendance of young speleologists active in caving, karst research or karst protection to the 18th EuroSpeleo Forum in 2026 in Croatia.
The FSE grants two scholarships to young speleologists for attending the 18th EuroSpeleo Forum in Pazin, Istria, Croatia.
The international speleological exploration expedition Grind 2025 took place in the Piatra Craiului Massif over multiple stages, including a preparatory trip in September, a main 19–day expedition (26 September – 14 October), and a follow-up trip (12–17 November). During the expedition, exploration continued in Avenul de sub Vârful Grind, resulting in new discoveries beyond the 2024 terminus and further extending the Romanian national cave depth record, previously increased during previous expeditions in the same cave.
The objective of the project was the continued exploration of Avenul de sub Vârful Grind, a predominantly vertical alpine cave, with a focus on extending the cave in the terminal sector and improving logistical infrastructure for deep exploration.
From the 2024 terminus point at –801 m, teams extended exploration to an estimated depth of –807 m following rock removal and passage enlargement.
In parallel, exploration also continued from the level of the former sump at –775 m, where teams resumed the digging and passage enlargement of a horizontal passage. Beyond this section, a new parallel section was explored (100 m long), leading to a new sump at –815 m, which is the new terminus.
During 12–17 November 2025, a follow-up trip to Avenul de sub Vârful Grind resumed exploration in the terminal area. Survey of the newly discovered passages resulted in a depth of 815 m, confirming a new national depth record for Romania, with 100 m of new passages between the former sump at –775 m and the new sump at –815 m.
Beyond the discovery of new passages and the establishment of a new national depth record, the exploration of Avenul de sub Vârful Grind is also contributing valuable geological and hydrogeological information regarding the internal structure of the Piatra Craiului Massif.
At the General Assembly of the European Speleological Federation FSE on the 16th April 2026 the Czech Republic was accepted as a new member country. They were unanimously warmly welcomed into the FSE family by the other member countries. The FSE now has 32 members.
The Czech Republic will be represented to the FSE by the Czech Speleological Society (Česká Speleologická Společnost) with the new delegates Michal Hejna and Markéta Jakovenko. The Czech Speleological Society represents 59 clubs with over 1.200 cavers. We thank the board of the Czech Speleological Society to have taken the step to apply for the FSE membership.
We all look forward to a good cooperation with our Czech colleagues and hope that their membership will lead to many mutual speleological activities.
The competition was organized by TETIDE APSas a EuroSpeleo project , in collaboration with European Children and Young Cavers (ECYC) , the EuroSpeleoForum CAPOVOLTA , and with the support of the European Speleological Federation (FSE) . The aim is to encourage submissions of images and works that creatively represent underground environments, promoting environmental education and awareness of the importance of underground ecosystems and conservation efforts worldwide.
The competition featured five primary categories:
Scientific Exploration and Documentation; winner Holding the Unknown by Sotiris Kountouras
Artistic Interpretation and Symbolism; winner The Chamber of Choises by Sotiris Kountouras
Human Adventure and Exploration; winner A World within the World by Sotiris Kountouras
Education and Immersive Experiences; winner Mostramos el Mundo Subterraneo de una Manera Inmersiva by Asoc. Espeleofoto
Young Cavers Corner – Youth Contest; winner Movie Gefangen in der Unterwelt by Anna and Florian Gundacker
Cavers from 9 countries participated in the competition with 37 works.
Mostramos el Mundo Subterraneo de una Manera Inmersiva by Asoc. Espeleofoto
Youth Contest winner Movie Gefangen in der Unterwelt by Anna and Florian Gundacker
Audiance Award La Mia Prima Grotta by Diana Casadei
Award handover at CAPOVOLTA, photo: Fedele Messina
Sotiris Kountouras winner of . Scientific Exploration and Documentation HOLDING THE UNKNOWN . Artistic Interpretation and Symbolism THE CHAMBER OF CHOICES 3. Human Adventure and Exploration A WORLD WITHIN THE WORLD + Audience Award. Picture by Sotiris Kountouras.
It is with great pleasure that the FSE announces the next call for Cave Protection projects to receive the Label “EuroSpeleo Protection 2026” from the ECPC (the European Cave Protection Commission of the FSE).
The EuroSpeleo Protection Label is a European Speleological award managed by the ECPC, financed by the FSE budget. The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will help to promote amongst the speleological clubs of Europe, Cave Protection activities that are designed in an integrated ecological way, taking into account EU environmental directives, the principles of administration of the Natura 2000 sites and the IUCN Guidelines on caves and karst protection.
With what kind of projects can you apply?
The EuroSpeleo Protection Label will be awarded every year to one unique Cave Protection project. A European speleological jury established by the ECPC Board will make the selection. Any project aiming at protecting caves developed by a club, a local committee or a national commission from a member of the FSE can apply.
What are the criteria to receive the FSE EuroSpeleo Protection Label and what is the prize?
There is no need for participation of cavers from different countries, but the application should be a quality project and the broadcasting of the project presentation and results should be made in a spirit that can be reproduced in other European regions and countries. The application should be sent to protection@eurospeleo.eu before 30th of April 2026, in English language.
The project must receive the approval from its national speleological organisation, i.e. a letter of support from the national organisation, member of the FSE.
The reward for the label 2026 is 800.- EUR plus caving gear from our FSE-sponsor Aventure-Verticale.
It is with great pleasure that the European Speleological Federation (FSE) publishes the next EuroSpeleo Newsletter of January 2026. This Newsletter will be exclusively available in electronic form and it will be distributed through the FSE mailing lists, website, Facebook and Instagram page. It is edited by the FSE Bureau and will inform member countries and individual speleologists about important events nationally and internationally as well as new developments and the initiatives of the FSE and its member countries. This Newsletter will be released on an occasional basis.
Please spread this newsletter on the broadest way possible among caving clubs and individual speleologists and all those interested.
At the General Conference of UNESCO in Samarkand (12 November 2025), 13 September was officially proclaimed the International Day of Caves and Karst — a global recognition of the significance of the hidden world beneath our feet.
The initiative was proposed to UNESCO by the Republic of Slovenia, following the proposal of the International Union of Speleology (UIS), in close cooperation with the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO, the Permanent Delegation of Slovenia to UNESCO, and the Karst Research Institute ZRC SAZU, where the UIS headquarters has been based in Postojna, Slovenia.
Caves and karst cover nearly one quarter of the Earth’s land surface and provide drinking water to over a billion people. They preserve unique subterranean biodiversity, geological archives, and invaluable cultural heritage. Yet, they remain among the least understood and most fragile ecosystems on our planet.
The International Day of Caves and Karst will help raise global awareness, promote research, education, and international cooperation in science, environmental protection, culture, and sustainable tourism.
The UIS warmly thanks all UNESCO Member States that supported the initiative, as well as the UNESCO scientific programmes (IGGP, MAB, IHP) and international partners including the International Science Council (ISC), IUCN, and more than 150 organisations worldwide that endorsed the proposal. Our sincere appreciation goes to the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO and the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Slovenia to UNESCO in Paris for their dedicated diplomatic efforts and continuous support.
From now on, September 13 will unite the global cave and karst community in celebrating and protecting these vital landscapes — for science, for nature, and for humanity.
Don’t forget, in 2026 we will celebrate the first ever International Day of Caves and Karst on 13 September!
Nadja Zupan Hajna, UIS Past President November, 2025
The international cave diving expedition Punar u Luci 2025 was organized by the Caving Department of CMC St. Michael from Šibenik.
The expedition was held from May till September while the central part was held in the period from August 15th to August 24th. During the main part of the expedition, 77 cavers from five countries: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Uruguay and Germany, gathered with the aim of transporting heavy diving equipment to the 1st sump. This required technical climbing of several chimneys, searching the surface for new entrances and exploring new found pits.
The expedition was divided in three main parts; a pre-expedition where the cave had to be rigged to a bivouac and searching of the area to discover new entrances. In the main part of the expedition a diving team was formed, together with a transport team and base camp team. The part of the cave between the bivouac and the sump was equipped with ropes and anchor points. The transportation team transported more than 500 kilograms of diving, bivouac and technic equipment and food and also installed a CaveLink communication system. The post-expedition part was for derigging and cleaning the cave of everything that was left.
Despite cave divers not reaching the 2nd sump the caving team surveyed more than 1 km of new passages above chimneys in the Punar u Luci pit and a new cave Paležinka to a depth of -191 m with 345 m length.
This Euro Speleo Project was sponsored by the European Speleological Federation and Aventure Verticale equipment from France.
We invite all cavers and those present at the EuroSpeleo Forum – Capovolta (see https://radunocapovolta.it/) in Volta Montovana, Italy to a public meeting of the Bureau of the European Speleological Federation FSE.
The meeting will take place on 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗵𝗿𝘀 (for the location see the announcements at the Forum).
At this meeting we will present all aspects of the work and possibilties the FSE has to offer:
– General presentation of the European Speleological Federation, it’s history, structure, commissions and working groups
– Presentation on the EuroSpeleo projects, what can be funded, how to apply, the guidelines
– Presentation of the work and achievements of the European Cave Protection Commission
– Presentation of the work and plans of the European Children and Young Cavers Working Group
At he meeting also the prize take-over for the winner of this year’s EuroSpeleo Protection Label will take place.
The European Speleological Federation (FSE) enhances the ability to find, enjoy and share the best speleological and caving films from one spot: Speleo-TV (https://speleo-tv.eu/).
Speleo-TV’s mission is to offer cavers the means to share creative work with caving communities around the world. We also hope Speleo-TV will some day serve as an inclusive directory for speleological videos and films.
The Cave of Two Worlds is a poetic and thought-provoking creative documentary set on the border between Greece and Albania, where a unique cave becomes a lens through which we explore the interconnectedness of nature, memory, myth, and geopolitics.
It aims to engage global audiences with urgent themes of environmental preservation, cultural heritage, and the reimagining of borders in a time of fragmentation.
The geo-tour was organized in February 2025 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The trip was organized as a follow-up to the publications of John Pint, which documented numerous cave discoveries and highlighted several unresolved geological and speleological features at the Volcano Jabal Al-Hil at the Harrat Kishb Volcanic field. Additionaly the group visited caves in the Harrat Rahat and in the Harrat Khaybar areas near to Medinah.
After a long preparation, in February 2025, a multi-national group of eleven participants went to Saudi Arabia with the primary objective of investigating the ‘cave question marks’ previously documented by John Pint. Many documented entrances—some as deep as 50 meters and visible as long as 90 meters—had remained unexplored due to past technical limitations. It was during the 2025 trip that these long-standing mysteries were to be finally unravelled.
The trip took place from February 15 to February 28, 2025 and the primary objective was to explore the volcanic region surrounding Jabal Al-Hil, an ash cone volcano located in the Harrat (i.e. lava field in the local terminology) Kishb. In the first days of our trip a basecamp was set up in the crater of one of the large shield volcanoes in the Harrat Al-Kishb area.
The remoteness of the area presented significant logistical challenges. Two big pickup 4 x 4 cars, Toyota Hilux, were hired, and our inventory of materials consisted of essential supplies such as 300 litres of water, canned food for 2 weeks and 10 persons, 40 litres of gasoline, 7 tents, 200 meters of rope, 2 air compressors, tire repair kits , 2 drills, dozens of anchors and karabiners, 7 Solar power kits etc. In total, two pickups were filled up with gear.
Altogether, more than eight caves were surveyed around Jabal Al-Hil. with a combined length of more than 1,3 kilometres. The deepest cave measured is 70 meters.
The northern region of the Harrat Rahat volcanic field, located just south of Medina near the first checkpoint, was the next area of focus. Several promising volcanoes situated east of the main road were examined during this stage of the visit.
The team gratefully acknowledge the support of the European Speleological Federation (FSE), Speleo Nederland, and Korda’s (Spanish rope manufacturer), without which this reconnaissance tour would not have been possible.
The European Cave Protection Commission (ECPC) of the European Speleological Federation (FSE), is pleased to announce that following the evaluation of the applications received, the EuroSpeleo Protection Label 2025 has been attributed to the Speleological Society of Thessaloniki “PROTEAS” from Greece for their Project: Conservation of the Unique Cave Ecosystems of Aoos-Vjosa River Basin.
The prize is endowed by € 800.- and a basic Lamp System from the FSE sponsor “Scurion”.
Handover of the certicate and the Scurion lamp to Danai Koubarelou of the Speleological Society of Thessaloniki ‘Proteas’.
Some more information about the caves and area on the Greek-Albanian border mentioned in the project summary can be found in an article from Spelunca 165 of 2022 (in the french language),
It is with great pleasure that the European Speleological Federation (FSE) publishes the next EuroSpeleo Newsletter of June 2025. This Newsletter will be exclusively available in electronic form and it will be distributed through the FSE mailing lists, website, Facebook and Instagram page. It will be edited by the FSE Bureau and will inform member countries and individual speleologists about important events nationally and internationally as well as new developments and the initiatives of the FSE and its member countries. This Newsletter will be released on an occasional basis.
Please spread this newsletter on the broadest way possible among caving clubs and individual speleologists and all those interested.
The working group „European Children and Young Cavers “(ECYC) proudly announces the 1st EuroSpeleo Youth Contest, which will take place during the EuroSpeleo Forum 2025. This year we turn the spotlight for the first time on the children and young cavers all over Europe – we turn the spotlight on you! Don’t miss it and be part of the EuroSpeleo Youth Contest.
Caves and Karst phenomena are as multifaceted and unique as the people exploring them. What could be the motivation to explore the underground until its farmost ends, to discover a rough world inside our planet lacking light and warmth and try to reveal the last secrets of our nature in order explore and protect its wild beauty?
We want to take a deep dive into your story and what fascinates you. If you are a young caver up to 20 years, this is your chance to show your talents! At this year’s EuroSpeleo Youth Contest we can’t wait to see your speleo photos and cave mapping skills! Submit your photos or cave maps until 30th September 2025 to youthcontest@tetide.org
All submissions to the EuroSpeleo Youth Contest will be evaluated by a professional jury with longtime experiences in caving and the specific category. In addition, the participants of the EuroSpeleo Forum 2025 will also have the chance to vote for their favourite photo or cave map in the contest for the Audience Award.
The winner receive an official certificate during the award ceremony at the EuroSpeleo Forum and will be presented with an own story in the 1st issue of the newEuroSpeleo Youthletter after the forum.
Competition runs from 1st June 2025 to 30th September 2025
All submissions of the contest will presented on the ECYC website
The Contest is open to all member countries of the FSE, participants are allowed aged up to 20 and under on the closing date of the competition.
Participants can enter up to three images or cave maps or any artistic work.
Judges will select a shortlist of up to 10 works and cave maps
Shortlist compete for the EuroSpeleo Youth Contest and for the Audience Award
The winner receive an official certificate during the award ceremony at the EuroSpeleo Forum and will be presented with an own story in the EuroSpeleo Youthletter.
The ECYC is looking for more members for the working group. The results of our online questionaire clearly showed that there is big room for improvement for activities for children and young cavers in Europe. This is a great motivation for our work. We already have lots of ideas for projects and activities. Today’s children and young people are the adults of tomorrow who possibly continue your explorations and help to protect caves and karst also in the future. Discovering the world through their eyes also helps us adults to rediscover the known with a new exciting perspective.
If you are also interested to put the children in your spotlight, get in touch with us at youngcavers@eurospeleo.eu
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