Descent 254 is now available! The latest issue starts with a three page Newsdesk spread with a quick fire round up of news from around the world. Amongst other things, there’s a course on new ...

Lascaux IV was officially opened on 10th December 2016 by President Hollande of France, in a day of celebrations at the new Centre International de l’Art Pariétal in Montignac. The centre housing the replica cave ...

If a society wants to thrive nowadays, it is important that they have a good website. It is by far the best way to promote what you do, and to encourage others to get involved ...

The Tratman Award, 2015 The Tratman Award has been awarded annually since 1979 to a caving-related paper-based publication in memory of E.K. Tratman, who died in 1978. It covers books, journals and articles published in ...

This post follows up on some initial testing done on 5:1 mechanical advantage systems used to tension tyrolean crossings done a few months ago. I suggest anyone who has not read that report catch up ...

Ireland has long been a popular destination for cavers the world over. But there is much more to Irish caves than simply their sporting interest. Archaeologist Marion Dowd’s book, The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland, ...

Welcome to our February Darkness Below photo salon. We hope you enjoy these, and please do keep sending us your photos to share. Duncan's image was captured with just a Fuji X30 compact camera, handheld ...

The mysterious and dangerous Le Guen’s Cave near Marseille claims another victim, an experienced diver who has been studying the Upper Palaeolithic paintings and engravings found ten years previously. The man gets into trouble resurfacing ...

The Yorkshire coalfield is one part of a continuous coal measure that spreads across Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. As the seams nearer the surface were exhausted, collieries were forced to delve deeper. But in 2015, ...

Darkness Below plans to run a monthly photo salon so that a selection of readers’ photos can be enjoyed by everyone. As a trial, here are a few that were sent in to us in ...

  A big thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations to Dave King, winner of the December Caption Competition with his entry above! The two runners up in no particular order were Dave King again with Superted ...

More Press coverage A publicised visit by two Members of Parliament to Gaping Ghyll was reported here a few days ago. The press release was greeted with much enthusiasm by those cavers keen to see ...