17th European Cave Rescue Meeting – Third Circular

Introduction

The 17^th European Cave Rescue Meeting is going to take place in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina from 19 to 22 September 2024.

Pre-Meeting: 18-19 September 2024.

This meeting is organized by the Association of Mountain Rescue Service in Bosnia and Herzegovina (GSSuBiH) on behalf of the European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA).

During the Pre-Meeting you can enjoy caving, climbing and visits to tourist destinations – we are preparing several interesting locations.

Please also visit our website www.caverescue.eu for last minute changes or send us an email on info@caverescue.eu in case of any question.

Please note the date for ECRA meeting in your diary!

We look forward to meeting you in Mostar.

Dinko Novosel,
President of ECRA

Table of Contents

Time Schedule

PROGRAM

Subject to change.

Venue: Students Center, unless otherwise indicated.

MAIN TOPICS

Technical workshop

Theory/Practical: First response management.

Practical: Advance cave rescue technique and updates in communication.

Giuseppe CONTI, Chairperson of the Technical Commission
e-mail:  technical-commission@caverescue.eu

Medical workshop

Theory: First response management.

Practical: Medical topics according to MedCom agenda.

Denes Akos NAGY, Chairperson of the Medical Commission
e-mail:  medical-commission@caverescue.eu

Katrin HABEGGER, Vice Chairperson of the Medical Commission
e-mail:  medical-commission@caverescue.eu

Cave diving exercise

Theory: First response management.

Practical: Cave diving exercise.

Robert ANZIC, Chairperson of the Cave-diving Commission
e-mail:  cavediving-commission@caverescue.eu

Passage enlargement workshop

Theory: First response management.

Practical: Blasting.

Werner ZAGLER, Chairperson of the Passage Enlargement Commission
e-mail:  pec@caverescue.eu

General Assembly

Agenda will be distributed latest on 21 July 2024.

EXERCISES

Usually, no special equipment is needed for the training exercises during the meeting. If necessary, it will be announced in advance. Equipment necessary for excursions will be specified in Pre-Meeting section.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official language of the European Cave Rescue Meeting and Pre-Meeting is English.

Simultaneous translation into other languages will not be available.

PRESENTATIONS

All presentations and documents should be written in English.

Members / participants have opportunity to present important achievements in cave rescue and cave rescue operations.

Please Note: We especially encourage newcomers to ECRA to introduce their service, organisational structure, and operational history.

The time for each presentation will be max. 15 min. Should a presenter require more time to include a very important topic, the organisers will decide to allow more time.

For the smooth running of the meeting, we kindly ask that you send us a short summary and your presentations before 10 September 2024.

The e-mail for sending your presentations is info@caverescue.eu.

MEETING DOCUMENTATION

After the meeting you will receive the collected minutes, reports, and presentations.

VENUE

Student center, Mostar

• Google Maps: Studentski centar Mostar
• Google Map: Studentski centar Mostar to Filozofski fakultet u Mostaru, 400 m / 5 min

Amphitheater “Sokrat“ at Faculty in Philosophy

• Google Maps:  Filozofski fakultet u Mostaru

Mostar

Mostar is located at the place that naturally connects the Adriatic coast and the Bosnian hinterland. The city is characterised by a charming combination of karst topography and an abundance of watercourses. Various historical moments have left their mark on the city, shaping Mostar in a way that has won the affection of visitors from New Zealand to Canada and from Chile to Japan.

Mostar lies on the river Neretva and is the fifth largest city in the country. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari) who guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over the Neretva during the Ottoman era.

The Old Bridge is undoubtedly the highlight of a visit to Mostar. Stroll across it, take selfies with it and enjoy the view of the old town from the bridge. Mostar has more to offer than just a beautiful, fairytale bridge. The stone streets of the old town are almost as charming as the bridge itself

In the last ten years, Mostar has been included in most tourist itineraries. It would be difficult to find a reputable tour operator that covers the Balkans and does not offer Mostar in its travel programme. Mostar is located halfway between Sarajevo (BiH), Dubrovnik and Split (Croatia). Only 130 km and about 2 h – 2 h 15 min easy and comfortable drive will bring you to Mostar from any of these frequently visited and very popular destinations.

There are numerous places in the surroundings of Mostar that are suitable for various types of outdoor activities. Regardless of the level of athleticism and physical fitness, the nature of offer offers something for everyone.

On Fortica Hill, a part of Velež Mountain, there is an adventure park that offers such diverse activities as ziplining, climbing, abseiling (rappelling), via ferrata, mountain biking and mountain safari.

In the mountains of Velež, Čvrsnica, Čabulja and Prenj, there are numerous hiking trails with different levels of difficulty. For those who prefer an easy hike, the Hum hill or Mostarska bijela are great options.

Meeting Location: Student Center, Mostar

The student center in Mostar is the most modern student center in the region. The center has 179 student rooms, each of which has internet and cable connection, heating and hot water as well as a private bathroom. There is a Wi-Fi network in all common areas. The center has a large room where meals are served.

The Sokrat amphitheater has about 140-150 seats and lectures are offered throughout the day.

Exercise area

Podružje canyon

From Student center: 10 min by bus and 15 min walk. Limited space parking available.
Length of the Via ferrata: 1000 m several stations planned.

Prosječenica cave

The Prosječenica Cave is 347 meters long and 42 meters deep. The first 166 meters of the cave are easily accessible and until recently this was the only known part. After 166 meters of the cave channel, there is a narrowing of 4 meters, followed by a continuation of the channel with an average width of 4-5 meters, a height of 3-5 meters and a length of 181 meters. The constriction is difficult to pass and only possible for cavers of smaller stature. However, to protect the cave and the bats living in it and to prevent the cave decoration from breaking off, it is not advisable to widen the constriction. Even after the narrowing, the cave is richly decorated with numerous stalactites, stalagmites and lakes. Near the end of the cave there is a mural stalagmite. This is followed by a high and spacious hall from which no further passage could be observed. The only way to continue the exploration is to technically climb the high chimney at the end of the cave.

Vrelo Bune (Bruna Spring)

The Buna Spring is a natural and architectural ensemble at the source of the Buna River near Blagaj, southeast of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a strong karst spring that emerges from a huge karst cavern under a high vertical cliff. This region is characterised by the diversity of its surface and underground hydrography. The Buna spring is one of the largest springs in Europe, producing approximately 30 m3/s of extremely cold and clean water.

Crno oko (Black Eye Cave)

The Black Eye Cave is located in the village of Grabovica, north of Mostar. A completely new canal was found, which ends after about 200 meters in a dry gallery with a 4 meter high waterfall, at the top of which is a small lake. From this lake, the canal leads further into the depths, so further research is planned.

Crno vrelo (Black Spring)

The cave of the Black Spring is located in Lake Salakovac. Today, the entrance to the cave itself lies at a depth of 8-10 meters, depending on the height of the lake. The fall into the shaft itself is at an angle of 40˚ to 45˚, and the view is unreal. The opening through which the blue of the lake breaks through is monitored and traced to a depth of 25 meters. The depth of the black spring is about 80 meters.

Geology and geomorphology

The oldest rocks outcropping at or near the surface date from the Palaeozoic era and the geological history of the region from the Precambrian is still poorly known. Complex assemblages of flysch, ophiolite, mélange and igneous plutons together with thick sedimentary units are a characteristic feature of the Dinaric Alps, also known as the Dinarides, which characterise much of the country’s landscape.

The first extensive research in Bosnia was carried out in the 1880s by Austrian and Croatian geologists, who published maps in the 1910s. During the Yugoslavian period after the Second World War, extensive mining led to further exploration. French geologists took a leading role in research from the late 1960s until the 1970s.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a long mining tradition dating back over 2000 years to Illyrian and Roman times. In particular, metals are mined from the Palaeozoic-Triassic, which was formed during the Caledonian orogeny, the Hercynian orogeny and the Triassic. The rocks from the early Palaeozoic contain metapelite and metamorphosed sandstones as well as low quality hematite and magnetite. Siderite-ankerite deposits from The Carboniferous period, which are rich in iron, are traditionally mined in the Ljubija mines.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is largely mountainous. The Dinaric Alps dominate the western border with Croatia and numerous mountain ranges, including the Kozara, Vlašic, Plješevica, Grmeč, Cincar and Raduša, generally cross the country in a northwest-southeast direction. The highest peak, reaching 2,386 metres, is Maglić near the border with Montenegro. To the south and southwest is the Karst, a region of dry limestone plateaus containing caves, potholes and underground drains.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is recognized by numerous caves and mines. Only in the vicinity of Mostar there is a whole series of pits, and one of the deepest is hidden there, Mala Dželalija. It was found that the depth of Mala Dželalija is 468 m, with an entrance height of 380 m, which makes it the second deepest pit in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Near Mostar there is a famous cave, Vjetrenica. It is the largest cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range, which is known for its karstic and speleological features. The cave is located in the Popovo field in Ravno, Eastern Herzegovina. Vjetrenica is the richest cave in the world in terms of underground biodiversity: of the more than two hundred different species recorded in it, almost a hundred are troglophile, a large number of them are closely endemic, 15 are steno endemic and about 37 were discovered and described in Vjetrenica for the first time.

Dahna is also one of the famous caves in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dahna Cave is located above the village of Omerovići, in the western part of the Duvno field. It has a small entrance (1x1m), hidden in a hornbeam forest, under a rock overgrown with moss. Beyond the entrance is a larger hall that is 20 m long, 6 to 7 m wide and 1 to 4 m high. From there, the path leads to a narrow, low channel, which has a very damp floor and is also covered with small stones. The total length of the cave channels is 1100 m.

Nevidna voda is the deepest cave explored to date in the Dinaric Massif and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located 2 km from the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Croatia. The cave has two entrances that form the lowest part of the karst valley and are located about 1,200 meters above sea level. The research ended at a depth of -653 meters, where there is a lake deeper than 20 meters, consisting of two parts: the first with an elliptical surface of 40×15 meters and the second with a curved surface of 30×12 meters. The lakes are connected by a smaller, approximately 4 m long passage at water level and by a large 15×20 m opening in the ceiling of the last hall, so that the wall between them forms a natural bridge. The temperature of the lake is 8 °C. Submerged whitefish have been discovered in the lake, which indicates that the water in the lake comes from a depression on the edge of Livanjsko polje.

Hydrology

The most important rivers are the Sava, a tributary of the Danube, which forms the northern border with Croatia; the Bosna, the Vrbas and the Una, which flow northwards and flow into the Sava; the Drina, which flows northwards, forms part of the eastern border with Serbia and is also a tributary of the Sava; and the Neretva, which flows from the south-east but takes a sharp south-westerly course in the Karst region, flows through Croatia and flows into the Adriatic. Most of the rivers in the Karst region flow underground. Numerous glacial lakes dot the landscape. Bosnia and Herzegovina is also rich in natural springs, many of which are tapped for bottled mineral water or for the popular thermal baths.

Climate

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is close to the Mediterranean, it is largely cut off from its climatic influences by the Dinaric Alps. The weather in the Bosnian region is similar to that of the southern Austrian highlands — generally mild, but it can get bitterly cold in winter. Herzegovina is similar to the Croatian region of Dalmatia, where it can be oppressively hot in summer. In Mostar, which lies on the Neretva River, the coldest month is January with an average of 6 °C (42 °F) and the warmest month is July with an average of 26 °C (78 °F). Mostar has a relatively dry season from June to September. The rest of the year is humid, with the heaviest rainfall between October and January.

PARTICIPATION FEE

The participation fee is 60 EUR and must be paid when the participant checks in. Euros accepted.

We also offer the option of paying the registration fee in Convertible Marks. The amount of the fee depends on the current exchange rate from BAM to EUR.

The participation fee includes accommodation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the ECRA meeting.

Drinks are at your own expense.

The participation fee doesn’t include costs for the Pre-Meeting. Upon prior agreement, we can offer free accommodation.

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Registration form for the 17^th European Cave Rescue Meeting

Registration DEADLINE is 1 September 2024 (Pre-Meeting & ECRA Meeting).
Please note that online registration is not available after this deadline.
Please also register here for your excursions.

CHECK IN

For more details see “MEETING OFFICE, CHECK IN, INFO POINT”, page 23 in pdf file.

VISA

No visa is required from citizens of the European countries.
Visitors from other countries should contact their Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

LETTER OF INVITATION

If needed, the participants can request a Letter of Invitation by e-mail to:
helpdesk@caverescue.eu.

SECURITY WARNINGS

No specific warnings for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Public safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina is very high.

HEALTH

We recommend that participants bring the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or travel health insurance.

CURRENCY

Convertible Marks – BAM
EURO 1 = 1,95 BAM (January 19th, 2024)

Money withdrawal from ATM is possible:

• Unicredit Bank – 1,2 km (4 min by car or 10 min walk)
• Mercator Hypermarket – 0,6 km (2 min by car or 6 min walk)

POWER SUPPLY AND POWER PLUGS

For more details see – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mains_electricity_by_country

WI-FI

We are currently working towards being able to offer free Internet. Now, it is only possible to access web by paid local services, except at Student Center and Amphitheatre where it’s free.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Destination

Address:
Student Center
Stjepana Radića 84A
88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Coordinates: 43.348316 ˚N 17.795353 ˚E (Reference system WGS84)

Travel Options

All variations are possible for arrival – own car, bus, train, plane.

By Plane

By Bus        

There are regular bus lines from Sarajevo/Tuzla/Split to Mostar.

Flix bus

By Train      

There is line from Sarajevo to Mostar every day on 07:15 am and 04:46 pm.

PICKUP SERVICE

We will provide transfer to the meeting location from:

• Mostar East bus station – 8 min
• Mostar West bus station – 4 min
• Mostar train station – 8 min
• Mostar Airport – 16 min

Request via: helpdesk@caverescue.eu.

ACCOMMODATION

Provided by the organisers: (included in the participation fee).

Details: The Student Center is an institution that provides accommodation and food services in Mostar and organizes cultural, sports and recreational activities for its guests. There are 179 rooms, gym and fitness center available to guests.

All guests are provided with a parking space and free internet access. Each room has 3 comfortable beds and it is equipped with bathroom (WC, shower, hair dryer …), air conditioning, work and living room facilities and other suitable amenities..

No sleeping bag needed.

Alternatives: (not included in the participation fee).

City Hotel Mostar
Web: https://www.city-hotel.ba/
E-mail: info@city-hotel.ba
City Hotel Mostar is the closest option to the Student Center.

Cheaper options you can check out here: Booking Mostar

MEAL AND DRINKS

Participants will eat in the restaurant in the same building where they sleep.

Also a “Speleo Bar” will be available during afternoon and evening.

HELP DESK

If you have any questions, please contact the Helpdesk.

Help Desk helpdesk@caverescue.eu

Nives BATISTA +387 63 736 868 nives.batista@gmail.com

Mirela STOJIĆ +387 63 171 748 mirelastojic0101@gmail.com

MEETING OFFICE, CHECK IN, INFO POINT

Participants check in at the Meeting Office.

Location: Entrance of the Student Center → Google Maps             

Attention: Friday morning exceptionally in the entrance hall of the Amphitheater “Sokrat” → Google Maps

Opening Hours

Pre-Meeting

Tuesday: 18:00 – 22:00 Check in Student Center
Wednesday: 08:00 – 10:00 Excursion check in Student Center
Thursday: 08:00 – 10:00 Excursion check in Student Center

ECRA Meeting

Thursday: 18:00 – 22:00 Check in Student Center
Friday: 07:30 – 08:30 Check in Amphitheater “Sokrat”; 13:30 – 20:00 Student Center
Saturday: 07:30 – 20:00 Student Center
Sunday: 07:30 – 12:00 Student Center

Payment: Euros are accepted

CITY MAP

PRE-MEETING

Time Schedule

Date	Tour ID	Excursion Title	Highlights
18.09.2024	Ex-01	Vjetrenica/Stolac/Mostar	Horizontal Tour
	Ex-02	Blagaj	Ferrata / Vertical Sporty Tour
19.09.2024	Ex-03	Dahna/Mali Samograd/Veliki Samograd	Horizontal Tour
	Ex-04	Herzegovina Day Tour	Landscapes
	Ex-05	Bunica spring	Dive Tour (FOR CAVE DIVERS ONLY)

General Information

Arrival:	See ‘ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE’, page 19 in pdf file
Pickup Service:	See ‘PICKUP SERVICE‘, page 20 in pdf file
Accommodation:	Same as for the main event – see Accommodation (pavilion, toilets, washroom, shower) or Alternative Accommodation (not included in the participation fee)
Food / Drink:	At participants own expense
Costs:	See at the events below
Included:	Student Center
Not Included:	See at the events below
	Alternative Accommodation
Booking:	Registration for excursions is required, please book together with registration for the ECRA meeting
Note:	The excursions can only be booked by conference participants.
	This year we are guests of a very small member organization. In order to be able to offer our traditional excursions, we will be accompanied by professional guides this time. Please understand that the price of the excursions is higher than usual this year.
	Later reservations for excursions can only be made by email:       helpdesk@caverescue.eu (only if you are already registered for the ECRA Meeting).
	Registration DEADLINE is 1 September 2024.
	Check-in for Excursions at the “Info Point” is required no later than 15 min before departure time.

For more questions send an e-mail to helpdesk@caverescue.eu.

Ex-01  Vjetrenica/Stolac/Mostar – Horizontal Tour

Tour-Id:	Ex-01
Excursion Title:	Vjetrenica Cave/Stolac/Mostar
Date:	Wednesday, 18.09.2024 Check-in for Excursions no later than 15 min before Departure Time
Difficulty:	Easy tour
Duration (total):	9 h
Highlights:	Speleothems, crystals
Meeting point:	Student Center – Info Point
Departure Time:	09:00 h
Back at the starting point:	17:00 h (tour of Mostar upon return)
Min. number of participants:	8 people minimum
Max. number of participants:	32 people maximum
Price:	EUR 38, Included – guide service and collective material, transport            EUR 33, Included – guide service and collective material
Alternative:	+ EUR 40, for alternative boat tour in the cave
Food and drinks:	optional lunch at Orhideja – women association (eco homemade food and drinks) (surcharge 15 EUR)
Transfer:	Transport provided by organizers              From Student Center to the parking place – 83,5 km
Payment:	At check in before tour, cash only
Registration:	Book together with registration for the ECRA meeting
Cave Tour:
Walk time to the cave	Approx. 5 min from the parking
Time in cave	1 h
Temperature in cave	13 ˚C
Equipment needed:	Included
GPS:	Реference system WGS84 Parking: 42.8475 ˚N   17.9794 ˚E                                                                                                          Vjetrenica Cave, Entrance: 42.8539 ˚N   17.9796 ˚E            Stolac: 43.0848 ˚N   17.9607 ˚E                                                    Mostar: 43.3437 ˚N   17.8053 ˚E
Links for Google Maps:	Vjetrenica Cave Stolac Mostar

Short description

Departure at HŠK Zrinjski stadium at 09.00 h to Vjetrenica cave. Upon arrival a 1 hour tourist tour through the cave by a local guide is organized (possibility of a longer 2:30 hour, 3 km tour over the underground lake by a boat with a surcharge of 40 euro). After the Vjetrenica cave tour, free time to visit biospeleological museum and Zavala monastery. After the free time we depart for Stolac where there will be optional lunch organised with homemade eco food and drinks (15 euro per person) or free time for lunch elsewhere, sightseeing the old town and Radimlja necropolis (tickets 3 euro, not included). After sightseeing and lunch we depart for Mostar where the local guide is waiting for us to take us to the tour of Mostar old town, buildings dating from Ottoman empire like the Old Bridge, Crooked Bridge, old bazaar, etc.

Ex-02  Blagaj – Vertical Sporty Tour

Tour-Id:	Ex-02
Excursion Title:	Blagaj Via Ferrata-Vulin potok
Date:	Wednesday, 18.09.2024 Check-in for Excursions no later than 15 min before Departure Time
Difficulty:	Challenging – Suitable for those that are physically active
Duration (total):	7 h
Highlights:	Canyon, rock for climbing
Meeting point:	Student Center – Info Point
Departure Time:	09:00 h
Back at the starting point:	17:00 h
Max. number of participants:	15 people maximum
Price:	EUR 30, Included – guide service and collective material, transport EUR 25, Included – guide service and collective material
Food and drinks:	Not included. At your own expense. Water in cave is not drinkable
Transfer:	Transport provided by guides. From Student Center to the parking place – 74 km
Payment:	At check in before tour, cash only
Registration:	Book together with registration for the ECRA meeting
Ferrata Tour:
Walk time to the ferrata	Approx. 10 min from the parking
Time in ferrata	06:00-07:00 h
Temperature	25 °C
Equipment needed:	Technical equipment included in the price, gloves, sunscreen
GPS:	Reference system WGS84 Parking: 43.2582°N 17.8897°E Entrance of the ferrata: 43.2537°N 17.9045°E
Link for Google Maps:	Blagaj Via Ferrata

Short description

Ferrata Vulin potok is located in Blagaj near the source of the Buna river, which is the largest karst spring in Europe, where Tekija, a dervish house from the 16th century, was built at the very source, at the foot of a 200 m high stone cliff, on top of which is the fortress of Herceg Stjepan Kosača. from the 15th century the ferrata runs through the canyon of the Vula stream, which has almost stopped flowing for many years, but has left behind fantastic geological formations along the entire canyon. The area of the canyon is rich in plant and animal life, which is almost impossible to see when using the ferrata. This ferrata is certainly among the most popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina. When moving through the canyon, you come across narrow gorges with wedged boulders, but also numerous vertical obstacles that once in history were water falls over which we move today, and most of them are over 30 m high. Also one of the main attractions of the canyon are certainly the climbing shelters that are located there. One of them is located high up in inaccessible stone cliffs like a temple, while the other is located at the very end of the ferrata at the famous climbing location Rebro. On the way back from Rebro, we visit the already mentioned fortress of Stjepan Kosača, which offers an unforgettable view of the meanders of the Buna and Bunica rivers, which merge with the Neretva and continue their way to the sea.

Ex-03  Dahna – Horizontal Tour

Tour-Id:	Ex-03
Excursion Title:	Dahna/Mali Samograd/Veliki Samograd
Date:	Thursday, 19.09.2024 Check-in for Excursions no later than 15 min before Departure Time
Difficulty:	Easy tour
Duration (total):	9 h
Highlights:	Geomorphological and paleontological phenomenon with over 300 bear dens (Ursus spelaeus)
Meeting point:	Student Center – Info Point
Departure Time:	07:00 h
Back at the starting point:	20:00 h
Max. number of participants:	15 people maximum
Price:	EUR 40, Included – guide service and collective material, transport EUR 35, Included – guide service and collective material
Food and drinks:	One meal included (dinner)
Transfer:	Transport provided by organizers From Student Center to the parking place – 74 km From parking place to the cave entrance – 300 m
Payment:	At check in before tour, cash only
Registration:	Book together with registration for the ECRA meeting
Cave Tour:
Walk time to the cave	Approx. 10 min from the parking
Time on tour	Mali and Veliki Samograd – 1,5 h Franciscan Museum Tomislavgrad – 2,5 h Ponor Kovači – 1 h Dahna Cave – 3 h
Temperature in cave	12-2 °C
Equipment needed:	Caving suit, helmet with lighting, boots, gloves, sunscreen
GPS:	Reference system WGS84 Parking: 43.6368°N 17.2387°E Mali and Veliki Samograd, Entrance: 43.662402 ˚N 17.185498 ˚E Dahna Cave: 43.65654 ˚N 17.20898 ˚E Ponor Kovači: 43.6773 ˚N 17.1863 ˚E Franciscan Museum Tomislavgrad: 43.7221 ˚N 17.2284 ˚E
Link for Google Maps:	Dahna cave Mali and Veliki Samograd Ponor Kovači Franciscan Museum Tomislavgrad

Short description

At 09:00 a.m., we’ll meet at the parking lot in Brišnik and then proceed together towards Mali and Veliki Samograd. Mali and Veliki Samograd are collapsed sinkholes located on the plateau of the Grabovica mountain. After that, we’ll visit the Franciscan Museum in Tomislavgrad, where we’ll see the collection about the Duvanj Pass and the African collection. We’ll also visit the Kovači Sinkhole, sinkhole of the Šujica River where water from the Duvno Field disappears into the Livanjsko Field. Following that, we’ll enter the Dahna Cave, which is a geomorphological and paleontological phenomenon with over 300 bear dens (Ursus spelaeus). After Dahna, dinner and socializing with homemade specialties will follow.
Dahna Cave is located above Omerovići village, at the western part of Duvno field. It has a small entrance (1 x 1 m), hidden in a hornbeam tree forest, under a rock covered with moss. Beyond the entrance space, there is a larger hall 20 m long, 6 to 7 m wide and 1 to 4 meters high. The ground is covered with dirt and small stones. From there, the route drops to a low, wet, stony crawl, at the end which opens to a 720 m long channel, called a main or a major channel, and a smaller one 60 m long, where pottery artefacts from the Roman period were found. The total length of the cave channels is 1100m. The cave has not yet been arranged for tourist purposes, but is very attractive to archeologists, paleontologists and biospeleologists.

Mali Samograd is a deep pit that has an enormous vertical drop at the beginning, and is linked with a large sinkhole called Arnautovac. The vertical entrance is a 80 x 45 m hole, from where it goes down to the first floor of the pit, which is about 40 m deep. The first floor has extremely steep walls covered with hornbeam trees. This leads directly to the underground entrance, which locals call Rogoševac. The entrance to Rogoševac, which is 16 m long and 12 m high, is underneath the rocky cliffs 90 m below the karst plateau. The length of the main channel of the cave is 135 m, while the other side channels are over 250 m long. The depth of the pit is 150 m.

In the area of Duvno karst, on the karst plateau of Grabovička mountain, there is a deep hidden sinkhole 19 m long, 110 m wide and 40-60 m deep. It’s called Veliki Samograd. It is a huge oval sinkhole with very steep cliffs vertically descending from the karst plateau. At the bottom, at the foot of the eastern cliffs, there is a cave entrance 3 m high and 7-10 m long. The cave itself is 15-20 m long and it has one 5-7 m long hall.

Ex-04  Herzegovina Day Tour – Landscape

Tour-Id:	Ex-04
Excursion Title:	Herzegovina Day Tour
Date:	Thursday, 19.09.2024 Check-in for Excursions no later than 15 min before departure time
Difficulty:	Easy tour
Duration (total):	8 h
Highlights:	The excursion is dedicated to the historical and natural beauties of Herzegovina. Accompanied by a local guide, the group will visit the Kravica and Koćuša waterfall, the tower of Herceg Stjepan (Old Town), the oldest Franciscan museum and the archaeological site in Gračine.
Meeting point:	Student Center – Info Point
Departure Time:	09:00 h
Back at the starting point:	18:00 h
Max. number of participants:	50 people maximum
Price:	EUR 50, Included – guide service and collective material, transport
Food and drinks:	Included one meal (lunch), drinks on own expense
Transfer:	Transport provided by organizers
	From Student Center to the Koćuša Waterfall – 48 km
	From Koćuša waterfall to the Gračine (archaeological site) – 13 km
	From Gračine to Humac museum – 2 km
	From Humac museum to Old Town Ljubuški – 5 km
	From Old Town Ljubuški to Kravice waterfall – 11 km
Payment:	At check in before tour, cash only
Registration:	Book together with registration for the ECRA meeting
Tour:
Walk time:	Approx. 10 min from the parking
Time on tour:	09:00 h
Temperature:	25 °C
Equipment needed:	Sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and swimsuit
GPS:	Reference system WGS84 Parking: 43.1584 ˚N 17.6085 ˚E Entrance: 43.1562 ˚N 17.6079 ˚E
Link for Google Maps:	Koćuša Waterfall Gračine (archaeological site) Humac muzeum Old Town Kravica

Short description

The plan of the Herzegovina day tour is a tour of the sights and archaeological sites of the town of Ljubuški. Departure from Mostar is planned at 9:00 a.m., and around 10:00 a.m. we are at the Koćuša waterfall. Around 11:30 a.m. we go to the old Gračine military camp, a former Roman military camp.

The old Gračine military camp, known as Bigeste, is located in the Humac area, 2 km southwest of Ljubuski. The military camp dates from the 1st to 3rd centuries and was partially researched and restored between 1977 and 1988. Remains of a Roman military complex have been excavated at the site. During the excavation, numerous remains of ceramics, jugs, vases, coins, jewellery, rings, glass, tools and weapons were found. A small part of the exhibits is in the museum of the Franciscan monastery of St. Ante. As the only partially explored military complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this archaeological site was declared as national monument in 2003.

After that, you go to the oldest Herzegovinian museum on Humac, and then the Tower of Herceg Stjepan Kosača, which was built on a solid, rocky position, at 396 meters above sea level. In the period after the war in BiH from 1992 to 1996, a macadam road was built to the foothills. The fortress consists of buildings from two different eras. The first fort was created during the Bosnian medieval state, which continued to develop in the Ottoman period. Inside the walls are the remains of various buildings, such as a guardhouse, a granary, a bakery, a powder room, and 4 cisterns have been identified, three of which are still in their original form in the country.

The last point of tour is at the Kravice waterfall, where lunch is organized and possible swimming.

Ex-05  Bunica spring – Dive Tour – For Cave divers only

Tour-Id:	Ex-05
Excursion Title:	Bunica spring
Date:	Thursday, 19.09.2024 Check-in for Excursions no later than 15 min before Departure Time
Difficulty:	Challenging – Suitable for those who are physically active and are fully acquainted with diving procedures
Duration (total):	5 h
Highlights:	Bunica spring was declared the deepest spring in Europe
Meeting point:	Student Center – Info Point
Departure Time:	09:00 h
Back at the starting point:	15:00 h
Max. number of participants:	8 people maximum
Price:	EUR 40, Included – guide service and collective material, transport EUR 35, Included – guide service and collective material
Food and drinks:	Not included. At your own expense. Water in cave is not drinkable.
Transfer:	By own cars / transport provided by organizers
	From Student Center to the parking place – 18 km
	From parking place to the entrance – 200 m
Payment:	At check in before tour, cash only
Registration:	Book together with registration for the ECRA meeting
Diving Tour:
Walk time to the spring:	Approx. 5 min from the parking
Time in spring:	50 min
Temperature in spring:	8-9 °C
Equipment needed:	Full personal equipment for diving
GPS:	Reference system WGS84 Parking: 43.2225 ˚N 17.8865 ˚E Entrance of the cave: 43.2214 ˚N 17.8898 ˚E
Link for Google Maps:	Bunica spring

Short description

Bunica spring was declared the deepest spring in Europe. It is known for its iodine water. His visibility is half. It is a very deep and strong karst spring and it is difficult to access. The spring of Bunice is located under sharp cliffs between the villages of Hodbina and Malo Polje. The excursion plan is to dive to a depth of about 30 meters, otherwise the depth is 100 meters.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

To participate in excursions, attendance at the conference is compulsory. Participation in excursions is at the participant’s own risk and responsibility. The excursion leaders provide local knowledge and additional information.

We go into natural caves with possible objective dangers such as falling rocks or the risk of falling. Participants are responsible for their own safety and for the use of the built-in safety devices. Where special skills such as climbing, single rope technique or squeezing through narrow passages are required, this is indicated in the excursion description.
It is the responsibility of each participant to assess honestly whether they have the necessary physical, technical, health and mental fitness to participate in a particular tour.
For all tours except the show caves, the participants must bring their own personal caving equipment (oversuit, helmet, lamp, spare lamp, personal safety equipment, cold protection and rescue blanket).

Should difficulties arise during the tour, for whatever reason, the excursion leaders will actively support and accompany those concerned in returning to the cave entrance.
The excursion leaders also reserve the right to deny participation in the tour, anyone with inadequate equipment or inexperience of caving techniques.
For participation in the exercises and excursions, the participant is responsible for his/her personal equipment, see relevant chapters. He/she is also responsible for arranging adequate insurance.

In case of late booking, the organizers will generally try to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, we ask for your understanding if this is not possible. Out of fairness to the host, preference will be given to those guests who booked online by the stated deadline.

ORGANISING COMMITTEE, CONTACTS

PARTNERS

Civil Protection and Fire Fighting Administration of Herzegovina – Neretva Canton

This organisation was established to oversee administrative, professional, and related responsibilities in the realm of protection and rescue within the cantonal jurisdiction. This mandate aligns with the Herzegovina – Neretva Canton’s organizational laws (Official Gazette of HNC, No. 9 / 09), as well as broader legislation such as the Law on protection and rescue of people and material goods from natural and other disasters in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) (Official Gazette of BiH numbers 39/03, 22/06, and 43/10), the Law on fire protection and fire service of the FBiH (Official Gazette of BiH number 64/09) and Law on Fire Protection and fire service of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (Official Gazette of HNC number 3/23), along with pertinent by-laws and regulations.

Comprising three core departments, the Civil Protection and Fire Fighting Administration of Herzegovina Neretva Canton functions as follows:

• The Civil Defense Department;
• Department of Fire Protection and Fire Fighting;
• Department for Administrative and Legal, General, and Material-Financial Affairs

The Operational Civil Defense Center of HNC operates under the purview of the Department of Civil Protection.

This administration is tasked with various duties, including:

• Organizing, preparing, and overseeing the functioning of protection and rescue efforts within HNC;
• Conducting threat assessments for the region;
• Developing and proposing plans and programs for protection and rescue from natural and other disasters;
• Monitoring readiness for protection and rescue, suggesting improvements to organizational structures and training within municipal civil protection and the broader Herzegovina-Neretva Canton;
• Arranging and overseeing the training of civil protection administrators;
• Coordinating the implementation of protection and rescue measures;
• Suggesting joint and independent exercise programs, and preparing studies for civil protection members and administrative bodies.

SPONSORS       

• Mostar City / Grad Mostar

SUPPORTERS

• Student Center Mostar
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of University Mostar

FIGURES AND PHOTOS BY

• Municipality of Mostar
• Google Maps
• Mihovil Čuljak, GSSuBiH (Association of Mountain Rescue Service in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Mirela Stojić, GSSuBiH
• Nermin Ribić, GSSuBiH
• Balkan Cave Summit
• Martin Strmiska, GSSuBiH
• Speleological society Herceg
• Speleological society Mijatovi Dvori
• Blagaj climbing
• Camp Sutjeska
• Adventure park Peć Mlini
• Adi Tanović, Blagaj climbing
• Marin Maruža
• Damir Basara, Speleological society Mijatovi Dvori
• Domagoj Madunić, Speleological society Mijatovi Dvori
• Boris Marić, Speleological society Herceg
• Maja Stojić

ABBREVIATIONS

DivCom – Cave Diving Rescue Commission
MedCom – Medical Commission
PEnCom – Passage Enlargement Commission
TechCom – Technical Commission

COPYRIGHT

Unless otherwise stated, the copyright for the concept of this conference lies with the European Cave Rescue Association. This also applies to the accompanying documents, photos and images.

Permission for use, even in extracts, must be obtained in writing without exception.

Change Notes

Changes compared to version 2 have an orange bar on the left-hand side:

• Page 4:    PROGRAM – updated
• Page 12:  Podružje canyon – new
• Page 17:  PARTICIPATION FEE – updated:  Euros accepted
• Page 21:  ACCOMMODATION – updated:  Sleeping bag not needed
• Page 23:  MEETING OFFICE, CHECK IN, INFO POINT – updated:  Euros accepted

Mirela STOJIĆ, Editorial Office of the Local Organizing Committee
Kurt DENNSTEDT, General Secretary of ECRA

September 7^th, 2024