Dive more often 2025 program

Cave Diving: Lessons Learned

Saturday

15:00

Stage 2

This is what you can expect

Your topic on Duikvaker is The lessons we can learn from cave diving.
What have you personally learned from cave diving?

In diving we have already talked about this a bit, I think it has made me a much better diver. In daily life and work I notice that I also often fall back on things like: stop, stabilize and check your line when things seem difficult and threaten to get out of hand. I think that I have started to focus more than before on directly and step by step analyzing and solving problems when they occur instead of endlessly and aggrievedly dwelling on the question why this is happening to me again and who I can blame for my own failure.

Can you already give us a sneak preview of your presentation at Duikvaker? What can I expect as a visitor?
I learned that adventure is right in front of (or under) our feet; caves are the last places on earth, or even the universe, that cannot (yet) be explored by robots. To see beautiful and unique things, you don't have to leave this planet at all, a car ride to the Ardennes is enough, as long as you know what you're doing and are willing to invest the time and effort.

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Cave Diving: Lessons Learned

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Anton van Rosmalen

Deep underground, in the cold darkness of a French cave complex, Anton van Rosmalen feels like a fish in water. For over forty years, he has been exploring places where no one has ever been before. What started as a hobby in the 1980s has grown into a lifelong passion for exploring subterranean passageways.

In the world of technical diving, Anton is known for his exceptional experience and precision. His work at the Évent de Coudoulière in the South of France shows what he is all about: with patience and precision, he maps these underwater labyrinths. He does this not just for the adventure - his knowledge helps local communities protect their precious water resources.

When you ask Anton about his secret, he always emphasizes the importance of teamwork and thorough preparation. There is no room for egos in a cave, he often says. This is a lesson he passes on to new generations of divers, along with his passion for innovation and safety. What once started as a personal adventure has now taken on a much greater meaning - for science, the environment and the diving community worldwide.