Discovery of Additional Mysterious Underground Cave System in Son Doong

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Expert Unearths More Hidden Underground Caverns in Son Doong

The expedition team initially planned to find a connection between Son Doong and Thung Cave but uncovered an entirely new underground cave system in reality.

Expert Unearths More Hidden Underground Caverns in Son Doong

On April 9, the People's Committee of Quang Binh Province, in collaboration with experts from the Royal British Cave Association (BCRA) and Oxalis Company, announced the results of an underwater exploration in Son Doong, the world's largest cave.

They discovered an underground cave system at a depth of 60 meters, expanding as it descended further. This revelation adds an air of mystery to Son Doong for experts and scientists. Consequently, the depth of the cave has been determined to be increased to 500 meters from the cave entrance, and this is not yet the final figure.

Son Doong is currently surveyed as a dry cave, with the underground river system remaining a mystery. Initially, experts believed that the survey results would prove the existence of a river within Son Doong connecting to Thung Cave, opening up opportunities for exploring the underground river system of this cave network.

A team of cave divers leading this survey consists of world-renowned cave diving experts, headed by Mr. Martin Holroyd – a BCRA specialist. Three members of the team were involved in the rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team in Chiang Rai (Thailand) last year, and they are also the coordinators of diving equipment.

While measuring the depth of the underground river with a rope, the expert team estimated the riverbed to be 93 meters, surpassing the limit of conventional scuba diving. Mr. Jason Mallison dove to 77 meters in search of a passage to Thung Cave but couldn't find a connection, as the cave continued to deepen.

“Our equipment operates only up to 70 meters, so we couldn't descend further. However, we observed that the depth could be more than 100 meters,” stated Jason.

Mr. Nguyen Chau A, the owner of the company operating tours to Son Doong Cave, remarked: “Below a depth of 60 meters lies another world. This is just the initial result, but Son Doong may be hiding unimaginable wonders. Next year, we will continue the survey diving.” The estimated cost for one diving session is around $53,000 with specialized equipment from the UK. Additionally, Vietnam Airlines sponsors the transportation for the entire team and waives all fees for equipment from the UK to Vietnam.

Cave experts noted that early April was the most suitable time for the expedition due to low river water levels, cool weather, and good underwater visibility. The team plans to use helium-based diving equipment to go deeper than 120 meters in the next dive. “We've been to many large cave systems, but none compare to Son Doong. I regret not being able to see the full scale of the underground cave,” remarked Jason Mallinson, a diving team member.

In addition to the underground river in Son Doong Cave, experts also conducted a survey of the Nuoc Mooc Stream area in Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park. At a depth of 74 meters, divers had to stop due to insufficient equipment to go deeper. Experts believe that the limestone cave system in Phong Nha – Ke Bang has three layers, including dry caves, water-filled caves with flowing streams, and an underground cave system at depths exceeding 93 meters.

Over 30 years of exploring caves in Quang Binh, BCRA cave experts rarely ventured into underwater caves. The results of this survey offer a fresh understanding of the subterranean cave system at depths exceeding 90 meters, enabling explorers to further investigate caves hidden deep beneath the earth's surface.

Son Doong Cave was discovered and declared the world's largest cave by the British Cave Research Association in 2010. Located in Son Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh, this cave system formed approximately 2-5 million years ago when a river eroded through limestone, creating a massive underground tunnel beneath the mountain range. The cave is 150 meters wide, over 200 meters tall, and nearly 9 kilometers long, with an estimated volume of 38.5 million cubic meters.

Source: Kieu Duong/Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel Guide Mytour

MytourApril 11, 2019

Frequently Asked Questions

What new discoveries were made in Son Doong Cave during the recent expedition?

The recent expedition revealed a previously unknown underground cave system at a depth of 60 meters, expanding further as it descends. This discovery adds mystery to Son Doong, prompting further exploration of its depths and potential underground rivers.

How deep is the newly discovered underground system in Son Doong Cave?

The underground system's depth has been determined to be 500 meters from the cave entrance, although experts believe this figure may increase with further exploration and measurements in the future.

What challenges did divers face while exploring Son Doong Cave?

Divers faced significant challenges due to equipment limitations. The deepest recorded depth was 93 meters, which surpassed conventional scuba diving limits, preventing them from fully exploring the deeper areas of the cave.

What equipment is needed for deeper dives in Son Doong Cave?

For deeper dives beyond 120 meters in Son Doong Cave, specialized helium-based diving equipment is necessary. The expedition team plans to use this advanced gear in future dives to further explore the cave's depths.

What makes Son Doong Cave unique compared to other caves?

Son Doong Cave is unique due to its massive size, being the largest cave in the world, with dimensions of 150 meters wide, over 200 meters tall, and nearly 9 kilometers long, creating an incredible subterranean environment.

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