Post by L Roebuck on Jul 19, 2007 11:01:29 GMT -5
Roman cave exploration
Dive Magazine
Divers in Italy have begun exploring one of the world's deepest sink holes situated near the city of Rome. The Pozzo del Merro is thought to be the deepest flooded karst cave in the world, reaching depths of at le ast 400m.
Karst caves are formed by the deep penetration of meteorological water which chemically and physically erodes passages in the limestone creating cavities. The scientific project began with a free-dive descent by former apnea world-record holder Stefano Makula to 48m.
Organised by the Italian diving magazine Modo Sommerso and the authority which manages the reserve, the Pozzo del Merro 2007 MS Project hopes to map the eco-system of the cave as well as observe free-divers' and scuba divers' physiological reactions to the conditions.
The scientific project will monitor all divers' reactions of working in dark, unknown, cramped areas in terms of neurology, pathology, diving physiology and psychology.
Scuba divers have so far descended to 73m during the project. All scientific data will be used to improve the management and preservation of the protected area where Pozzo del Merro is situated.
Article
Dive Magazine
Divers in Italy have begun exploring one of the world's deepest sink holes situated near the city of Rome. The Pozzo del Merro is thought to be the deepest flooded karst cave in the world, reaching depths of at le ast 400m.
Karst caves are formed by the deep penetration of meteorological water which chemically and physically erodes passages in the limestone creating cavities. The scientific project began with a free-dive descent by former apnea world-record holder Stefano Makula to 48m.
Organised by the Italian diving magazine Modo Sommerso and the authority which manages the reserve, the Pozzo del Merro 2007 MS Project hopes to map the eco-system of the cave as well as observe free-divers' and scuba divers' physiological reactions to the conditions.
The scientific project will monitor all divers' reactions of working in dark, unknown, cramped areas in terms of neurology, pathology, diving physiology and psychology.
Scuba divers have so far descended to 73m during the project. All scientific data will be used to improve the management and preservation of the protected area where Pozzo del Merro is situated.
Article