Orce Gjorgievski: Vrelo dive to 338 meters a pride for Skopje and North Macedonia

Skopje's Vrelo cave in the Matka Canyon drew renewed international attention after Polish diver Bartlomiej Pitala, supported by an international team, descended to a depth of 338 meters. The achievement is being presented as an important milestone in the cave's exploration and as an opportunity to raise Skopje's global profile.

The operation lasted nine hours and included divers from North Macedonia and Poland together with members of Speleodiving Club Vrelo. Organizers say the expedition required advanced technical skill, meticulous preparation and tight team coordination.

Technical challenge and teamwork

Reaching 338 meters in a flooded cave system is a complex undertaking that combines cave-diving expertise with speleological knowledge. Participants described the descent as physically demanding and logistically complicated, with safety and staging points carefully managed throughout the nine-hour effort.

Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgievski welcomed the result, calling it a source of pride for the city and the country. He congratulated Bartlomiej Pitala, the members of Speleodiving Club Vrelo and all participants in the exploration, and emphasized that such feats deserve ongoing support from local institutions.

Local authorities and the diving community say the expedition could attract further scientific and touristic interest to Matka Canyon, while also highlighting the capabilities of Macedonian speleodivers when they operate alongside international partners.

Photo: press material from the event