SCKPP – South China karst – 2016-2019

The Area

South China Karst is one of the world’s most spectacular examples of humid tropical to subtropical karst landscapes. It is a serial site spread over the provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, Yunnan and Chongqing and covers 176,228 hectares. It contains the most significant types of karst landforms, including tower karst, pinnacle karst and cone karst formations, along with other spectacular characteristics such as natural bridges, gorges and large cave systems. The stone forests of Shilin are considered superlative natural phenomena and a world reference. The cone and tower karsts of Libo, also considered the world reference site for these types of karst, form a distinctive and beautiful landscape. Wulong Karst has been inscribed for its giant dolines (sinkholes), natural bridges and caves.

The Project

In September of 2016 an international team of UTD Cave explorers will participate in the first of many expeditions to this area. Our mission will be to:

Exploring new cave sites, laying line (permanant and exploration) in them, surveying and building diving maps
Setting up logistics to support Cave training (Dive centers, hotels, New cave training sites).
Setting up and ensuring safety items for training in the caves.
Helping setting up and coordinate a local association to explore future caves, map and survey the caves and ultimately maintain the lines and signs, ensuring safety in the caves (SCKPP.ORG)
Supporting our local UTD instructors in that region
Documenting cave through video and pictures for long term project

The Team

Andrew Georgitsis (Director of the Project)
Poh Chang Chew (Coordinator)
Max Wang (Coordinator)
Sergi Perez (Exploration Diver)
Juan Naval (Exploration Diver)
Ben Bos (Exploration Diver)
Jason Park (Exploration Diver)
Kim Cardenas (Exploration Diver)
Kelvin Yu (Exploration Diver)
Ray (Exploration Diver)
Adam (Exploration Diver)
Jeff Seckendorf (Documentation)