Into Kortia - Exploration, Research & Conservation of an Anchialine System
A multidisciplinary project developed in partnership with the cave diver and Explorers Club member Stratis Kas, together with researchers from the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (Greece), the Water Research Institute (Verbania, Italy), and the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (Barcelona, Spain), Bahamas Caves Research Foundation (U.S, and Bahamas) and the University of Miami (Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Sciences). Scientific coordination led by Marysia Trepat Borecka.
Project status: awaiting for permits approval
Purpose
The project will explore, map and carry out the first assessment of a large anchialine system that has never been dived before. It will combine exploration with broad biological and environmental sampling using state-of-the-art techniques. This will allow the team to document the system's biodiversity for the first time, understand its distribution, and assess its ecological value.
Into Kortia aims not only to reveal what lies beneath the surface, but also to raise awareness of these fragile and largely overlooked ecosystems.