Mine and cave diving in Czechia
One flooded mine you can dive legally — the Důl Hraničná iron-ore mine in the Rychlebské hory (levels from ~-20 to ~-120 m, 8 °C, via the operator) — plus Moravia's famous caves that are closed to visitors: the Hranice Abyss (at least 450 m deep underwater, research only) and the sumps of the Moravian Karst (Amatérská jeskyně, Macocha, the Punkva resurgence), dived only by the Czech caving federation with permits.
5 sites · down to 450 m
All 5 sites
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amatérská jeskyně | – | Not known yet | Full cave |
| Důl Hraničná | 120 m | Backmount | Full cave |
| Hranická propast⛔ Closed to divers | 450 m | Backmount | Full cave |
| Propast Macocha (Horní a Dolní jezírko) | 50 m | Sidemount | Full cave |
| Vývěr Punkvy (Punkevní jeskyně) | – | Not known yet | Full cave |
Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.
Practical info: rules, fills and emergency numbers
Emergencies
- 112 (ambulance 155). In cave accidents the fire service, police and the cave rescue service (Speleologická záchranná služba) work together. Hyperbaric chamber: Centrum hyperbarické medicíny, Městská nemocnice Ostrava, Nemocniční 20, 728 80 Ostrava — 24 h service for all of Moravia; hospital +420 599 444 444 (~2.5 h from Javorník, ~45 min from Hranice). Always call ahead. DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685.
Access and rules
- Access: of these sites, visitors can only dive Důl Hraničná, through the operator (association Rychlebská báňsko-historická z.s. / Mine Diving CZ): book by e-mail or phone, free dates in their online calendar.
- Caves: cave diving in the Moravian Karst needs a permit from the Moravský kras PLA administration (usually valid 5 years); at Macocha (national nature reserve) you may only leave the paths with a legal exemption. In practice only groups of the Czech caving federation ČSS dive there. The Hranice Abyss is closed to recreational divers: research by ZO ČSS 7-02 Hranický kras only.
- Paperwork for Hraničná: dive medical, insurance that covers cave diving (e.g. DAN) and a certification for your dive and gas (trimix card for trimix); you sign a dive plan and rescue plan on site. Helmet and light are mandatory in the mine.
Gas and fills
- Gas: no fill station at the mine — bring all your gas. Closest: Zero Gravity in Otmuchów (PL, ~30 min from Javorník; air 300 bar, nitrox up to 40%, trimix announced). Trimix and O₂: Divecentrum in Hradec Králové (~2 h; trimix by arrangement) and Trygon in Brno (~3 h; O₂, trimix: ask). Sofnolime and CCR support: no address known in the region — bring your own.
Water and season
- Water: the mine is 8 °C year-round (mine air max 11 °C): drysuit with good undergarments. The Hranice Abyss has CO₂-rich water of 15–22 °C, the Macocha lakes ~8–9 °C.
Getting around
- Bases: Javorník (~20 min to the mine) or Jeseník (~35 min); a cottage at the mine sleeps up to 11 (~CZK 350 pp). Olomouc is central for Hranice (~40 min) and the Moravian Karst (~1 h).
Rest day
- Rest day: a tour of Důl Hraničná (45 min, max 12 people, by appointment, CZK 50 pp); the Hranice Abyss from the viewing platform; the Punkevní jeskyně with a boat trip and the bottom of Macocha.
Plan a cave diving trip to Czechia
Enter your team, with certifications, gas and configurations, and see right away which caves fit. With driving times from your stay, fill stations and an AI instructor who thinks along.
Compiled from web research (Mine Diving CZ/minehraniczna.cz and HP Diving: Nov 2018 diving conditions and safety rules; Javorník town, Kudy z nudy, Deník 2019–2023, DIVE Magazine 2022, minediving.de, dark-team.de, Speleoaquanaut; hranickapropast.cz, Hranice town, Ochrana přírody 2023, ČT24 2019 and 2020, České noviny/ČTK, iROZHLAS and Hanácká Drbna 2026; speleo.cz (ČSS), Czech Geological Survey, Advanced Diver Magazine, turistika.cz, Deník 2023 and 2025; Wikipedia; stranypotapecske.cz; Divecentrum Hradec Králové, Trygon Brno, Zero Gravity; Ostrava City Hospital and Ostrava city; Sept 2026). Pins from Wikipedia, stranypotapecske.cz, HP Diving and turistika.cz. ~ = estimate. Rules change — check locally.