Vrelo cave divers attempt 300+ m record in Matka canyon
Divers in Matka canyon hope to surpass the 287 m record and explore depths of 300 metres or more during the 10–17 October 2026 mission.
A cave‑diving team has launched an expedition into the Vrelo underwater cave in the Matka canyon aiming to exceed the current explored depth of 287 metres and reach 300 metres or more, in one of Europe’s deepest submerged cave systems.
The Vrelo expedition is organised by the Vrelo Cave Diving Club and runs from 10 to 17 October 2026. The operation combines scientific exploration with an effort to set a new national and international depth benchmark in the site west of Skopje.
Previous milestones and the target depth
The Vrelo cave has been the subject of several notable dives. Italian diver Luigi Casati reached 212 metres, Polish cave diver Krzysztof Starnawski 242 metres, while in 2025 Polish diver Bartlomiej Pitala and his team reached 287 metres, a depth that currently places the cave third among the world’s deepest explored underwater caves, after Font Estramar in France (312 metres) and Elefante Bianco in Italy (292 metres).
The 2026 expedition — billed as "Vrelo 2026" — seeks to push beyond that benchmark and map previously uncharted passages below the current limit.
Logistics and safety measures for the mission are extensive. The expedition operates under the general patronage of President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. On the ground, members of the Special Anti‑terror Unit "Tiger" from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are providing support. A police helicopter unit, emergency medical services and the Red Cross are on standby, and units from the General Staff of the Army participated in preparations.
Organisers say the team will combine technical cave‑diving methods with careful surveying to document any new depths reached. Results and new measurements are expected to be published after the team completes the programme on 17 October.
Photo: press material from the event
