Ocizeljska Cave

18 July 2021 Caves

The Beka–Ocizla cave system developed in the contact zone between Palaeocene limestone and Eocene flysch at an elevation of 350 m in south-western Slovenia.

The cave system connects Ocizeljska Cave, Blažev Spodmol, Maletova Cave with its waterfall, the Cave with a Natural Bridge, Jurjeva Cave in Loke and Cave S-4/Socerb; the entrances to four of these act as occasional sinks. The two outermost entrances are 500 m apart.

Ana, Cyril and I entered the system through Blažev Spodmol, then briefly emerged at the surface before continuing into Ocizeljska Cave. We went as far as the fault. This beautiful and not overly deep cave is suitable for practising rigging and derigging ropes.

On the way out, Ana slipped badly at the top of the shaft (where she is pictured) and fell back into it, but fortunately not far because she was secured twice, and she did not hit anything.

A caver in a yellow helmet crawls through a narrow wet passage in Ocizeljska jama as water catches the light.

Two helmeted cavers squeeze through a steep, wet limestone fissure in Ocizeljska Cave, guided by headlamp light.

Cyril Mayaud squeezes through a narrow angular passage in Ocizeljska jama, surrounded by wet brown rock.

A caver stands beside smooth, deeply carved erosion pots in the dark passage of Ocizeljska jama.

A caver ascends a rope through a narrow wet fissure in Ocizeljska Cave, lit by a headlamp from below.

Cyril climbs a rope through a narrow, wet shaft in Ocizeljska Cave, dwarfed by steep orange-brown limestone walls.

Cyril crouches among shallow rimstone pools in Ocizeljska jama, surrounded by dark layered limestone walls.

A caver ascends a rope through a narrow polished shaft in Ocizeljska Cave, surrounded by pale scalloped rock.