The Molnár János cave
ArticleThe most famous dive spot of Hungary is located in the heart of the city.
The Molnár János cave is uniqe in many ways: it's in the heart of Hungary's lively capital Budapest. The total length of the system is more than 6 kilometers and they still don't know where is the end of it. There is warm water in the cave which is the source of the healing water of a famous thermal bath. Molnár János discovered the cave in the 19th century, but nobody tried to explore the underwater parts until 1953. The first real expeditions started in 1972, and they explored all the cave in a few years- at least they thought they knew all of it. But in 2003 a diver accidentally found a new route and later the explorers discovered a whole new system which was much longer than the old parts. A decade wasn't enough to explore the new parts, they still have many place to discover in the cave.
In Hungary we don't have too much interesting dive spots. This cave with its crystal clear water was an attraction and if I want to be honest I confess in the past many people participated in guided dives there although they didn't have any cave diver certification. But it's a real cave with real dangers. I've been there once so I know what I'm talking about. It wasn't my favorite diving experience, I learned a life saving lesson: do dives only what you qualified to. I wasn't but I survived. But I know many other divers who didn't have the same dangerous experience so they went to guided trips often. They changed the rules only a few years ago and since then cave divers allowed to enter the Molnar Janos cave. But it didn't mean it became less dangerous place.
After a tragic accident the authorities forbade all diving activities in the cave. We heard they had plans to allow recretional divers' visits by a new entrance to the largest part of the cave where they don't need cave certification, while the real cave divers can continue exploring in the deepest parts of the system. It would be an exciting dive spots for both open water and cave divers if they can separate them. Until then we can watch some interesting movies from the most exciting parts of the Molnár János cave.
Official Website: Molnar Janos Cave Diving
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