A team of Czech-Polish explorers led by Polish diver Krzysztof Starnawski has discovered the world's deepest underwater cave located in the Czech Republic.
The expedition team, which was partly funded by the National Geographic, found the "Hranice Abyss" (or the "Hranicka Propast,") the world's deepest underwater cave that goes at least 1,325 feet (404 meters) deep, near the eastern town of Hranice.
Starnawski first explored the "Hranicka Porpast" in the year 2014. He dived a depth of 656 feet down the abyss which he mistook to be the bottom of the cave. After discovering a narrow passageway that led to another tunnel, he lowered a probe that reached the end of its cord at about 1,260 feet. In 2015, he came back and discovered that the passage has widened, allowing him to enter the tunnel and reach a depth of 869 feet. He lowered another probe that reached a depth of 1,214 feet, but he was convinced that it wasn't the end of the cave.
According to Starnawski, there are only three caves such as the "Hranicka Propast" in the world. He told National Geographic that "This cave is very unique because it's like a volcano formed from hot mineral water bubbling from the bottom up, rather than rain coming from the top down like most caves."
Starnawski said that the "Hranicka Porpast" was a big part of his life because he has been exploring it for quite a time now. He and the team plan to conduct more research about the cave. Meanwhile, the diver said that his discovery would not stop there as he intends to continue seeking for new depths.