Cave Diving in Sala Silvermine

Imagine a mine stretching from the ground level to 318 meters / 1040 feet depth.

Imagine a water surface located 155 meters / 510 feet below the ground level resulting in more than 160 meters / 525 feet of accessible water depth in the deepest part of the mine.

Imagine the mine being excavated from the water surface and down mainly during 17th and 18th century which leads to the fact that few people have set their foot here since. After the mining industry being shut down in the beginning of the 20th century and the mine being filled with water, the number of visitors on levels below 155 meters / 510 feet has been limited to a handful.

Imagine a mine that continously shifts layout between huge halls and narrow passages, passages that continue both horisontally and vertically for several kilometers/miles through the mine.

Imagine a mine where the visibility is only restricted by the amount of carried light, regardless of if you are located above or below the water surface.

Imagine this mine not being merely an imagination.
Finally you have the opportunity to explore Sala Silvermine below the water surface.

The team that has worked in order to make this possible venture to say that this by far is one of the worlds most spectacular cave diving environments, but also one of the more demanding. A constant water temperature of 2 degrees Celsius / 35 degrees Fahrenheit from the water surface and down and a complete lack of current combined with a virtual swiss cheese of passages creates the base for a completely unforgiving environment. Everyone that is capable of exploring the underwater environment is however deeply rewarded with spectacular impressions.

Original purpose was to open the mine for public access, but so far the diving is restricted to the project group. This will hopefully change in the future...

Continously updated info on
http://www.salasilvergruva.se/gammal/cave_diving_in_sala_silvermine/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Cave
• Diving