Photoshoot beyond sump 1 of Grotte di Oliero, Italy

Grotte di Oliero in Italy is a complex of two underwater caves - Siori and Veci - that join together creating an interesting loop of corridors. The whole complex (first sump) is over 6 kilometers long, and the maximum depth exceeds 60 meters. About 2.5 kilometers from the entrance the first sump ends, and a dry part connecting to sump 2 begins. I've heard stories about the massive size of the dry part and its beauty, so in 2023 I decided to try reaching it myself and making a photoshoot.

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It took me a few days of preparatory dives - setting up bailout tanks, getting to know the corridors - before I finally arrived to the "other side of the mirror". Upon reaching the surface, I took my gear down in a big pool, and climbed up a steep rockslide. The chamber really was massive, and the corridor disappeared in the darkness beyond reach of my strong video lights. I started preparing my camera and setting up video lights...

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Going further into the corridors, I kept taking photos in interesting spots. After a few climbs, I found myself at the verge on top of a shaft. It took some effort to climb down safely, and after a few dozen meters of a horizontal corridor I found myself at a bank of a beautiful, crystal-clear lake - the entrance to sump two! I took some more pics, and started the climb back to where I left my gear. After almost six hours from entering the cave, I was back on the surface.

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