Diventures Magazine | English Edition May 2020 | Page 30

CAVE DIVING When reaching the lowest level, there was another surprise waiting for us. Vasilis, Maria and Kyriaki, three of the support members of the team, had visited the mine a few weeks earlier to evaluate the dry section. Upon reaching the sump, the groundwater was at least 0.80-1.00 meter lower, revealing two flooded chambers that were not visible "You feel at awe when you are during their initial visit. underwater like you go back in history Underwater the silt was so bad it hid the and can almost see faint images of the entrance through the first chamber and people who worked under such adverse the divers had to feel their way conditions.", says Erikos. underwater in order to find the right The team recall the hardships of the direction and push through. After 20 exploration attempt at Mine Gallery 80. meters visibility improved, and the When work abruptly ceased by the end divers were able to push further inside of 1970’s, the pumps were shut off and the mine. Along the way, percolation the groundwater flooded the deeper was causing fairly large sized chunks of levels of the mine tunnels. gravel and silt to pour down on them The condition of the mine after the first from the roof above. This happened 500meters was very poor. throughout most of the dive. DIVENTURES MAGAZINE MAY 2020