Caving in Greece for USA Cavers?

My wife and I are taking a belated two-week honeymoon in Greece in early June, and we would like to cave for two or three days while we are there. Is there anyone on this board with whom I might start a dialogue about what kind of caving can be found there, and the logistics of a few trips? Any help is appreciated.

Hi Bruce,

You'll find all sorts of caves here in Greece, many of which can be visited easily from Athens or many of the holiday places. Are you into horizontal or vertical caves requiring SRT knowledge?

Whatever the case, although not very knowledgeable myself, I can "channel" the thoughts of other members of the club your way.

Stelios

Dear Bruce,

There are some beautiful caves in Greece that are open to the public, which you may find worth visiting. However, if you are experienced in caving, as Stelios has pointed out, and looking for something more demanding, then we can probably point out a couple of caves that you could visit -based on your interests- and even accompany or assist you.

As far as logistic is concerned, the cost depends mostly on the proximity of the cave to the place where you'll be spending your vacation, although it should not be high.

We remain at your disposal, for any further assistance

Kindest regards,
Eri

Thanks so much for responding!

We would be interested in doing both horizontal and vertical. As for vertical, my wife is not as experienced as I, so I would imagine something not deeper than 200m and on the easier side. Horizontally, we'd be up for just about anything, although we will have limited gear with us, so no wetsuit trips unfortunately.

What would be great is to reserve a few days lodging somewhere, and then strike out from there every day on cave trips. Can you recommend any cities in particular that are very speleo-centrically located that would allow this?

Sorry about the double-post!

Bruce,

we'll come back with a reply to your questions by tomorrow

Thanks very much Έρη,

I eagerly await your response.

Bruce

Bruce hi,

Greece is full of caves and potholes (puits, vertical caves etc)
It is very difficult to suggest a 1-2 caves out of thousands.

What I suggest is that you select first the place that you are willing to visit i.e. Crete, Peloponnesus, Macedonia etc and then we can suggest to you the best options for caving in a reasonable distance from your hotel.

In answer to your questions: all kinds of caving can be found in Greece - there is plenty of everything, from show-caves, to largish horizontal caves, to vertical caves of varying difficulties (many of which are not completely explored or surveyed).

Logistics is something which should take first place in your mind, and then everything else will sort itself out. The four logistical difficulties which will need to be looked at are:

1. Safety: someone will have to know where you are planning to go and when you expect to be back. This someone will also have to know who to contact (cave rescue people etc.) if you do not check in with them that you are back safely.

2. Legality: It is not legal to enter caves in Greece without permission from the relevant authority, in this case the Ephorate of Paleoanthropology & Speleology of the Ministry of Culture. Permission has to be sought a few weeks in advance, in writing. Obviously entering show-caves is not subject to this restriction.

3. Rigging: caves in Greece are not normally rigged when there is not a mission under way. Obviously you will not be coming out on your honeymoon with hundreds of feet of rope in your luggage.

4. Locality: finding the entrance of a cave is not always easy, even with GPS, accurate coordinates and good maps. It helps to have either good verbal instructions or a guide.


We can help you out with all of these little hurdles. The easiest way would be for you to decide when and where you will be taking your holiday, and we can then organize a mission in that area which you can join. There may even be a possibility to lend you SRT gear / helmets etc. for the duration of the mission. There are plenty of bilinguals in the club (as you may have seen already from the responses to your initial request).

If you want some hints on non caving aspects of organizing a holiday in Greece, like where to go or what can be seen in different places, drop me a personal message (pm button).

Cheers,
Stelios

Thanks for the responses!

In a thread on the Speleomania message boards, a Greek caver whom you may know named Yannis Zenas gave me some indication that Crete had the highest concentration of caves in Greece. So let's narrow this down to Crete. What city in Crete is closest to the most caves? I would be willing to make a lodging reservation there.

Stelios, thanks so much for your generous offer of help. I did assume that we would have to rely on Greek cavers for any ropes and directions. We would not need to borrow anything else as we'd bring our own helmets/lights, SRT gear, and clothing.

It would be great to get on an organized mission. However, the honeymoon is 6 months away so it might be more prudent to wait a couple of months. Unless you think it is best that we plan it as soon as possible.

Bruce

In here, i'm also known as ZORRO

Crete is a wonderful place to spend summer vacation and it has a vast variety of caves to fit every taste. Most of them -as well as the deepest in Greece (Gourgouthakas, -1208)- you will find on the west side of the island.

If you make up your mind about going to Crete, it would probably be best, if you came in contact with the guys from SPOK, a caving club there, at spokcret@in.gr

Cheers,

Crete is a wonderful place to spend summer vacation

I'll second that - plenty of culture with both a small and a capital "c", and natural beauty too.

Stelios

Thanks for the help guys. I've now got email addresses for 3 different Cretian caving clubs. Once our flight reservations are made I'll contact them. If I don't hear from them I'll bug you guys again.

Once any trips are set up, I'll post here again in case any of you would like to go.

Thanks again for all the help!

Bruce

If you make up your mind about going to Crete, it would probably be best, if you came in contact with the guys from SPOK, a caving club there, at spokcret@in.gr

Έρη,

I tried contacting SPOK through that email address, but it bounced back to me. Do you have any other SPOK contact info?

Thanks,

Bruce

Bruce,

you have an "e" missing - should have noticed earlier, apologies. Try:

spokcrete@in.gr

Stelios

Bruce,

you have an "e" missing - should have noticed earlier, apologies. Try:

spokcrete@in.gr

Stelios

Thanks Stelios... I later thought the same thing and tried that address. No bounce, but no reply from anyone as of yet...

Bruce

Dear Bruce,

the email address that I had, was wrong. After having requested contact information again, please note:

email: sPOkcrete@in.gr
tel.no.: +30 2810 283160

Hope this helps
Eri

Well, it's been two weeks and I have not received a reply from any of the three Crete caving clubs that I emailed:

H.S.S. Cretian Branch: esekriti@in.gr
West Crete H.S.S Branch: oadykret@otenet.gr
SPOK: spokcrete@in.gr

Do you guys have any other addresses for getting in touch with these groups?

Thanks,

Bruce

Well, it's been two weeks and I have not received a reply from any of the three Crete caving clubs that I emailed:

H.S.S. Cretian Branch: esekriti@in.gr
West Crete H.S.S Branch: oadykret@otenet.gr
SPOK: spokcrete@in.gr

Do you guys have any other addresses for getting in touch with these groups?

Thanks,

Bruce

Hi Bruce,

Maybe they replied and bounced.
What is your email address?

SPOK
Telephone/Fax of Spok: (+30) 2810-283160
Address: Tsouderon 6 - Iraklio Crete - 71 202 Greece

For the HSS branches, you can call or e-mail H.S.S. Headoffices:
HELLENIC SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Address: Sina 31 - Athens - 10672 Greece
email: ellspe@otenet.gr
Τel: (+30) 210-36.17.824
Fax: (+30) 210-36.43.476

also you can contact Babis Skepetzakis, a member of
West Crete HSS Branch: email eteokrhths@yahoo.gr

You may also contact the EOS Chanion, its a cretian
mountaineering club but they do caving also.
Address: St.Tzanakaki 90 - Chania, Crete - 73134 Greece
http://www.eoshanion.gr
email:eoshania@otenet.gr
Tel: (+30) 28210-44.647
Fax:(+30) 28210-54.903

Regards,
Yannis Zenas

Thanks for the info Yannis. I will try the other addresses again, as well as the new ones you have posted.

The address I originally sent from was moho(at)mohodisco.com, but I think this time I will try from my mohodisco(at)gmail.com address.

Thanks,

Bruce

Update:

Ese Kritis responded to my second email and said a weekend eastern Crete caving trip was definitely in order. Was also given the phone number of Kostas Fotinakis to call when we arrive in Greece. So plans are still not totally solidified, but I feel confident a trip will happen now. Thanks for all of your help! If any of you would like to go on the trip, post your number here and I'll call and let you know what's happening when I get to Greece. But I'd say if you already know Ese or Kostas, give them a call because they'll probably know what's going on better than I will.

Thanks again for all your help,

Bruce

And if any of you are coming to the USA, and California specifically, and would like to go caving, don't hesitate to email me (mohodisco(at)gmail.com). Most of our caves are kind of crappy, but some are nice.

Well Done B-ruce, thanx.

So, only 1.5 weeks before my wife and I leave for Greece! I am very excited...

One last question - I read that the average temperature on Crete is 19C, leading me to believe that is the also the cave temperature there. Is this correct? If it is, then those are some warm caves! Do you think it would be reasonable to cave in shorts and T-shirt (assuming the cave is dry)?

I once explored a cave that was 20C, and even with only shorts and T-shirt I was very sweaty and hot.

Thanks for any info...

Bruce

Ο άνθρωπος φορτώθηκε όλο τον εξοπλισμό του και ταξίδεψε τόσες ώρες από Αμερική και δεν βρέθηκε ούτε ένας χριστιανός στην Κρήτη να τον εξυπηρετήσει?

http://www.caves.org/soapbox/showthread.php?t=1522

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