Expedition Name (& Club): Pozo Azul - 2017

Destination country: Spain
Region: Burgos

Lat: 42.7370 Long: -3.8005 Elevation: 695 m
MEF funding: none

Leader: Mr Jason Mallinson

Brief Expedition objectives:

List a short summary of the main Expedition objectives.

Continue the exploration of the Pozo Azul resurgence, beyond the current limit in sump 6, which is over 11km from the entrance. Also survey and map all the current known passages beyond Sump 4.
This will require a camp in the cave of around 7 days, beyond sump 3.

How can the GPF support your Expedition?:

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

GPF have assisted with this project before, and this helps greatly with the transport and subsistence costs whilst on site.

Note: Not all expedition personnel are entered in expedition personnel area.

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.

Following a solo trip to the end in 2015 when Sump 6 was discovered and explored for 120m with the way on continuing, the conclusion was that an Alpine style approach to further exploration was no longer worthwhile due to the limitations of the time allowed at the furthest point. And so this years expedition will use 'seige tactics' in combination with an advanced camp beyond sump 3 (3200m).
At this point all the long and technical diving is finished (so far) and so multiple trips to the end from here are feasible using just basic cave diving kit and fin power. This will also allow us time to survey the numerous side passages with potential to find bypasses to sumps 4 and 5. The camp in the cave would be around 7 days, with 3 divers.
Day 1 - Pass S2 and possibly S3 and set up camp.
Day 2 - Pass S3 and/or S4 and begin survey of dry passages
Day 3 - Pass S4 and S5 and continue dry passage survey, Possibly dive S6
Day 4 - Finish all dry survey passage - dive S6 (and beyond)
Day 5 - Dive S6 and beyond
Day 6 - Retreat to Tipperary for final night
Day 7 - Exit cave
In addition to this there will be around 1 weeks set up time to establish an interim camp in Tipperary and stage kit throughout S2.
Also around 1 weeks detackle will be required.
We would also like to establish communication whilst in the camp and we will be trying to get some loan units from CaveLink as per 2015, otherwise Hey units.
A large support team is required for this expedition and this is traditionally provided by a combination of British , Spanish and Dutch personnel

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.

The Pozo Azul project has been active since 2001, with trips carried out almost every year.
All dives are detailed in CDG Newsletters No.s 130,141,140,152,160,163,173,177,183,189,193

Hidden Earth Lectures have been given on several occasions

Also various articles in caving and diving magazines have been published:

Descent
Diver Magazine Nov 2010
http://divemagazine.co.uk/skills/6985-exploring-the-pozo-azul-cave-system
http://metro.co.uk/2010/09/14/british-led-dive-team-ventures-5-5miles-underwater-to-explore-pozo-azul-cave-system-512397/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/7936672/British-cave-diver-Martyn-Farr-to-join-a-team-attempting-a-record-for-the-longest-ever-cave-penetration.html?image=4

Dedicated website:
http://www.pozoazul-cavediving.org/