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Vrelo Cave becomes world's deepest explored underwater cave
The Vrelo underwater cave in the Matka Canyon has become the deepest explored underwater cave in the world, reaching a record depth of 338 meters. During the ‘Vrelo 2026’ international expedition held from October 10 to 17, a team of 15 divers from North Macedonia, Poland, and Italy achieved this milestone, surpassing the previous record of 287 meters by 51 meters.
The expedition, which included Polish cave diver Bartlomiej Pitala, set three world records: the deepest cave explored by a human, the deepest cave dive, and the deepest open water dive. The operation was highly complex, involving a nine-hour dive and a safety team of 12 divers, alongside medical support and specialized equipment such as an underwater habitat installed at a depth of 8 to 9 meters.
In addition to the new depth, the team discovered two previously unknown underwater channels, adding more than 150 meters of new passages to the cave's known map. North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met with the expedition members to congratulate them, noting the achievement's potential for the international affirmation of the region's natural and cultural heritage.
Entities
Bartlomiej Pitala · Bartłomiej Pitala · Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova · Matka Canyon · Speleodiving Club Vrello · Vrello Cave · Vrelo Cave · Vrelo Spelunking Club
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 150 meters of new cave channels were explored. utrinskivesnik.mk · nezavisen.mk · plusinfo.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The expedition reached a record depth of 338 meters. utrinskivesnik.mk · nezavisen.mk · plusinfo.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The team consisted of 15 divers from Macedonia, Poland, and Italy. utrinskivesnik.mk · nezavisen.mk · plusinfo.mk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A Polish diver named Bartlomiej Pitala completed a nine-hour dive. plusinfo.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The expedition 'Vrelo 2026' took place from October 10 to October 17. utrinskivesnik.mk · nezavisen.mk · plusinfo.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The expedition discovered two previously unknown underwater channels. utrinskivesnik.mk · nezavisen.mk · plusinfo.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] Three world records were set: deepest cave explored by a human, deepest cave dive, and deepest open water deep dive. utrinskivesnik.mk · nezavisen.mk · plusinfo.mk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Vrelo underwater cave has become the deepest explored underwater cave in the world. utrinskivesnik.mk · nezavisen.mk · plusinfo.mk