Expedition Name (& Club): Pozu Azul 2011

Destination country: Spain
Region:

Lat: 42.7340 Long: -3.8018 Elevation: m
MEF funding: none

Leader: Jason Mallinson

Brief Expedition objectives:

List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.

Continued (since 2001) dive exploration of resurgence cave, Pozo Azul, currently the longest cave dive penetration in the world. Further mapping of underwater passages using prototype electronic data collection. Radio location of dry bivouac chamber, located 6km into the system.

How can the GPF support your Expedition?:

Please explain the aspects of the trip which make it eligible for Ghar Parau funding.

The current limitations of the underwater diver propulsion vehicles (DPV's) will be extended for 2011, by the replacement of the standard batteries with LiFPo (Lithium) batteries, in at least one DPV, per diver. (3 OFF DPV's per diver used to reach end of Pozo Azul). We have had some success with these batteries in 2010. The cost per large DPV to purchase these batteries, is in the region of £1500 per DPV. Additionally some modification of rebreathers and bail-out rebreathers will be required to extend the dive range, which will be in the region of 24 hours of underwater time, on the main exploration trip. Most of this work is done in house on personal lathes etc. All grants received are spent on group consumables, food, oxygen, camping electric, and to offset travel costs.

Detailed description of objectives:

Give a more detailed account of the purpose of the trip, including any particular known caves you intend to visit, specific areas where you will explore for new cave, and scientific experiments you will attempt.

The current limit of 2965m into Sump 3 will be the main objective of this expedition, this point is located 9195m from the entrance and involves 8825m of diving. The logistics required to reach and pass this point are extreme, in terms of technical cave diving, and increased levels of redundancy, especially with regard to underwater propulsion vehicles, and rebreather duration, need to be adapted and increased from the 2010 expedition limits. Encouraging results from the electronic mapper used in 2010, make it a priority to transport this device, once again to the end of the system and obtain useful data for the direction and location of the end of the system. We currently have data from the entrance, up to 1315m into sump 3. That is 7545m. A purpose built radio location device is being designed for the 2011 expedition, and this will be transported (in dry tubes) to the 'Tipperary' bivouc chamber to obtain an accurate fix to interesting (fault) nearby surface features. This should also enable us to correct any drift, the electronic mapper may produce. If space permits, communication (additonal extra to radio location) will also be taken to Tipperary, enabling the dive team to update the surface support team of our progress.

Previous work in this area:

Give details of any previous work in this area by your own and other teams. Include references to reports and articles published on the area, and the names of any local cavers or academics with whom you have discussed the Expedition.

Pozo Azul has been systematically explored by J Mallinson since 2001. In 2009 the exploration tean was expanded with Rene Houben, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen. All exploration has been documented in the Cave Diving Group Newsletters 2007 - BCA Hidden Earth - presentation 2009 - BCA Hidden Earth - presentation