FOR FOREIGNERS

Introduction

Slovenia is the cradle of historic cave exploration and karst science. Though small, it has a large number of caves (currently already numbered over 11.000) and a well-developed caving scene. There are currently 50 active caving clubs/societies which are joined in Speleological Association of Slovenia.
Speleological Association of Slovenia is an organization constituted by caving clubs/societies. Association functions based on (principles of) non-profit, amateurism, volunteerism and public service. The purpose and tasks of the Association are: developing and promoting organized caving activities (exploration and documentation of caves), organizing complex speleological expeditions at home and abroad, setting of technical and safety standards, which relate to visiting caves, providing technical assistance for members/clubs/societies in their performance, coordination of clubs’/societies’ activities, caving popularisation, organization and management of educational activities, implementation of caving publicity activity, security and protection of karst and karst phenomena and the implementation of humanitarian activities.
 Association forms 9 permanent commissions:
Cave Rescue Commission,
Cave Registry,
Commission for Education,
Commission for Cave Protection,
Commission for Technique and Safety,
Library,
Editorial board of journal Naše Jame,
Editorial board of journal Jamar,
Mailing list with Home page service.

Cave register

Cave Registry is a professional service of Speleological association of Slovenia. Its purpose is to keep a record of caves and caving clubs activities in Slovenia. The premises are shared with JZS Library that holds a significant amount of domestic and foreign cave and caving, geological, archaeological, biological, ecological, sports and similar literature.
Data is obtained from caving clubs, Karst Research Institute, foreign caving expeditions to Slovenia, various individuals etc. There are currently 11138 caves registered in Slovenia; about 200 new ones are registered every year.

Visit Cave Registry

Cave Registry is located in Ljubljana in an underground shelter in Trnovo residential area on Zelena pot (see the map). It is open during office hours every Thursday from 18.00 to 20.00. During this time staff is reachable by phone; an answering machine is available the rest of the time.
Members of JZS caving clubs have free entry, right to free access to the entire collection and free photocopying. At the request of staff visitors are required to present a valid caving identity card.
Members of caving clubs outside JZS need to procure a signed statement (pdf) certified by their club and a valid caving identity card. Photocopying costs are charged per price list.
 
Our address:
Jamarska zveza Slovenije
(za Kataster jam)
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenija
Phone, fax:
+386 142-93-440
Head of Cave Registry:
kataster@jamarska-zveza.si
See also:
Overview map of caves in Slovenia
List of longest and deepest caves in Slovenia

Permit for independent caving

For serious caving and visiting caves using ropes in Slovenia, every caver must possess a Certificate of qualification for independent caving confirming that he is appropriately trained and that he has basic knowledge about cave and Karst protection and knows the guidelines for Minimal Impact Caving (has completed training for independent caving).

You have the option to download the Application for Certificate template in either DOCX (Word) format or Adobe PDF Form format. Rest assured; you won’t need to worry about the Slovenian language. In the Word document, simply replace the text highlighted in “yellow & italic” with your own information and then sign the printed copy. In the PDF Form, just follow the instructions provided in the form fields.

The following items must be submitted along with the request:
1. Certified (by the public notary) copy of a valid personal document (for instance, the copy of the main page of the passport or identity card).
2. Statement by the caving club that You are a member of the club and that You are suitably trained for caving, that You are proficient in single rope technique (SRT) and that You have basic knowledge about caves and Karst protection (one statement should suffice for all the listed club members).
3. Statement by the caving club that the club is a member of an international federation of caving societies or that the club is a member of the national federation, which is a member of an international federation of caving societies (e.g., UIS).
Originals of the documents with handwritten signature are requested, so they must be sent by classic mail to the address on the application template.

The certificate is issued free of charge and does not expire.
Send required items to:
Ministrstvo za naravne vire in prostor
Dunajska cesta 48
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenija
Website
Contact email