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Bilpa

Slovenia

Bilpa

  • CertificationFull cave

What it looks like

All 3 videos and posts

Videos and posts

From other divers, via YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. They only load when you click; after that, Google's or Meta's privacy rules apply.

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Other people's footage, not advice: how someone else dives here says nothing about what suits your team. Dive within your training.

The dive

Bilpa is the karst spring where the Rinža re-emerges, after sinking a few kilometres downstream of Kočevje. Bilpa creek flows straight into the Kolpa.

After rain the spring gushes strongly: dive only at low water.
Profile and sections

Bilpa is the karst spring where the Rinža re-emerges, after sinking a few kilometres downstream of Kočevje. Bilpa creek flows straight into the Kolpa. In dry spells the flow drops sharply. A Slovenian dive school's cave team dives here year-round.

In May 1978 Slovenia's worst caving accident happened here: cavers blasting to widen a narrow passage ran into toxic gases. In January 2009 six Italian divers made a dive of several hours without notifying anyone; the cave rescue service was called out, and all six surfaced unharmed.

Depth and profile
Depth and length not published — ask Slovenian cave divers
Configuration
No published details on passage size or restrictions.
DPV: Not DPV-suitable
Motorised craft are banned in Slovenian caves; electric scooters only for sump research (ZVPJ art. 18).
Who can dive where
  • CaveAt least Full cave
  • Whole caveConfigurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
  • Whole caveConfiguration unknown — research beforehand · doesn't decide who may dive
Depends on water level or swellThrough a dive centre or guide

This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.

How to get there

Near the hamlet of Spodnja Bilpa on the Kolpa, the border river with Croatia. The spring flows from a cave below a high rock wall; inside you can kit up at the water's edge. Border area with police and army checks: carry your passport. Notify the police before diving and don't leave gear unattended — in 2009 gear and a buoy at the entrance triggered a rescue alert.

Plan your route ↗

Around Bilpa

Going to Slovenia with your team?

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Something wrong, or do you know more?Depth, access, parking, the current situation: let us know.
Sources, sharing and disclaimer

Sources

Current conditions

Visibility, flow and water levels change quickly. Right before your dive, check what other divers report:

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Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training. Compiled from web research (Drowning Protection Act ZVU, Uradni list RS 44/2000; Cave Protection Act ZVPJ via JZS; 24ur Jan 2009 and the JZS rescue archive; Svet24 Dec 2025; RTV SLO Jul 2026; Radio Ognjišče; the Slovenian diving federation's PAS atlas and emergency list (2021); Wikipedia; kraji.eu; Moja jezera; Kam na izlet; Dolenjski kras (JKNM); X-Ray Mag and InDEPTH (2020); wannadive.net; potapljanje.si; Norik-sub and watersports.si; visit-idrija.si; Sept 2026). Pins from Wikipedia, the SPZ atlas and Kam na izlet; three sites have no pin. ~ = estimate. Rules change — check locally.