Križna Jama Expedition

The Križna Jama Expedition is an advanced cave diving and scientific exploration project investigating the submerged karst system between Križna jama and Nova Križna jama in Slovenia, which will take place between 27 June and 12 July 2026.

The objective is to determine whether a continuous underwater connection exists between the two cave systems and to document the structure of a largely unmapped and highly restricted subterranean environment. Diving operations reach depths beyond 125 metres in fully overhead conditions, where passages remain only partially explored and the full system geometry is still unknown.

Alongside exploration, the project focuses on establishing the first environmental baseline for Nova Križna jama. This includes hydrological measurements, biological sampling, environmental DNA analysis, and high-resolution spatial mapping of submerged passages. Together, these datasets provide a foundation for understanding both the physical structure and ecological state of the system.

All operations are conducted under permits issued by the Ministry for Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of Slovenia and in collaboration with scientific and conservation partners, including the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, the Karst Research Institute of ZRC SAZU, and Društvo ljubiteljev Križne jame. The project combines technical cave diving, scientific fieldwork, and systematic documentation in one of Slovenia’s most carefully protected karst environments. Its outputs contribute directly to research, conservation planning, and long-term monitoring of subterranean ecosystems.