Photograph © Dennis Champ
Projects
Philippine Cave Systems
Negros Island in the central Philippines, or Visayan region is home to the second longest dry cave in the Philippines, and is a mecca for dry cavers from all over the world. A large limestone karst region covering approximately 500sq miles is covered in dense jungle, and sparsely populated. Where there are dry caves, there are undoubtedly are submerged caves, and members of the Triton Oceanic team set out in 2007 to find them.
Over the course of the last year numerous trips have yielded varying results, and plenty of mosquito bites! Due to the location and some difficult terrain, accessing the sites is done by a combination of 4x4 vehicles, caribou trailers, and good old on foot trekking. After several trips the team is now confident that they have found sections of an extensive underground cave system which is fully flooded with water. Currently they are pushing exploration through 2 entrances both found within 2km of each other on the surface, and both with tunnel of the same style, flow and direction to indicate that they lead to further and larger passageway.
Underwater cave exploration is commonly noted at one of the most dangerous sports there is, so there are significant risks to the team in these endeavors. but following their standard protocols and dive procedures safety is held as a primary goal in the exploration and documentation of the systems. Working in conjunction with the PSS(Philippine Speleological Society), the DENR(Departments of Environment and Natural Resources), and the Silliman University in Dumaguete the team hopes to be able to register the cave system as the most extensive flooded system in the Philippines, as well as collect and analyse the bio-ecology of the cave. Thereby enabling the government and scientist to increase their knowledge and understanding of the water systems and interaction of the local population with the precious water which they rely on for their day to day existence.
Check back here regularly, or subscribe to our RSS feeds, for updates on the exploration and additional cave passage that is found...
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Matt always draws a big crowd
No sign of Matt when the hard work is being done though
This is more like it
Matt on one of the early scouting trips searches for an entrance for later exploration. Only the 5th muddy hole he'd visited that day!
