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Exploring the Longest Underwater Cave in Russia

Ordinskaya or the Orda Cave is the longest underwater cave in Russia. Accoridng to the Orda Cave Awareness Project it is the first and only underwater gypsum excursion cave in the world. The two founders of the project are Vitya Lyagushkin, a famous underwater photographer, journalist and dive-instructor; and Bogdana Vashchenko, a diving journalist.

The cave is located in the western Urals region of Russia and consists of almost 5 kilometers (3 miles) of dramatic natural channels with water so clear divers can see over 45 meters (50 yards) ahead of them.

The Awareness Project includes the publication of a book dedicated to the Orda Cave (size 235×275 mm, full color, hard cover, 160 pages, circulation 3,000 issues, with Russian and English text). Besides pictures, the book contains articles about the Cave origin and history, discovery of the cave, and interviews with the cave pioneers. The technique of cave diving and tech-diving education are also discussed. Famous cave-divers who have done the Orda Cave such as: Lamar Hires, Pascal Bernabe, Reggie Ross – also share their personal experience.

The book can be ordered on the official webiste at: http://ordacave.ru/en/order/

Below you will find a selection from the site’s online gallery where you can find nearly 40 published photos from the book.

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