Robbie Shone Photography

To celebrate this years Earth Day, here is a picture of the deepest point in the deepest-known cave on Earth. Similar to climbing Mount Everest (the highest mountain), there are permanently stocked camps along the route to the bottom of Veryovkina (cave), and it takes four days to get there, as it is at -2212 meters (7257 feet) beneath the surface. Happy Earth Day 2024! 🌍

All great adventures eventually come to an end. Our trip through Krem Chypme (Peilkleing Pouk) had taken us on an incredible adventure beneath the Jaintia Hills for over 5 km. We emerged at night into a lush green forest. Mosses and ferns fringe the rocks at the entrance marking the end of our journey. Following this emerald green river is really a privilege that very few will get to experience in person. Thanks to the team for assisting with the photography that allows more people to see this wonderful hidden landscape.
The end of an expedition is always a time of reflection. Often when I go away on these trips, there are people I didn’t know beforehand, but by the end we formed a close-knit team and bonds that will last for a lifetime. It’s such a privilege to get to see and experience these amazing places, the food, the culture the people and of course the beautiful caves. Meghalaya, you didn’t disappoint.
I hope you have all enjoyed reading about the amazing discoveries underground in Meghalaya and seeing the story of our expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish unfold.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Exploring a cave for the first time is always a special experience. The continuous question of “what’s around the next corner?” drives cave explorers further and further. As I swam through Krem Chypme (Peilkleing Pouk), I couldn’t help but marvel at this magnificent and beautifully stunning underground river, as it carved its way beneath the Jaintia hills in Meghalaya. Every so often we’d have to climb out of the water to negotiate a calcite dam made by nature over hundreds of thousands of years. We weren’t alone; thousands of bats lined the walls and ceilings, spectating our journey through their home.
After almost two decades of reading about the amazing discoveries underground in Meghalaya and watching stunning presentations, a few years ago I finally got the opportunity to go there myself. Tomorrow, I’ll conclude this story about our expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

On a ledge high above a small streamway, a carpet of delicate calcite crystals covers the floor of a lofty balcony. Simone Buchmann (Swiss), Nicky Bayley (UK) and Marie-José Gilbert (Swiss) fire flashlights to illuminate the streamway below. Krem Chypme (Peilkleing Pouk) is a stunning cave, just full of beautiful sights. Honestly, it’s a cave I could have spent days, maybe even weeks inside making photographs.
Over the next few days, I’ll upload the last few photos from the set, concluding the story of our expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Underground in Meghalaya, Krem Chypme (Peilkleing Pouk) is simply one of the finest river caves I’ve ever seen. There are more than 50 naturally formed dams along its main river passage, the largest of which is 12m (40ft) high. During the traverse of the cave, it was an absolute privilege and pleasure to swim through the idyllic turquoise waters admiring the many beautiful galleries and chambers all around. I envy the bats up in the roof, who can call this place home.
Over the next few days, I’ll upload a photo a day, concluding the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

In a side passage off Krem Chympe’s (Peilkleing Pouk) main underground river, Swiss caver Marie-José Gilbert strides past the camera on her way deeper into the cave. In the background of the photograph, giant stalagmites and calcite columns grow in a densely crowded forest of formations. There are many caves in Meghalaya full of breathtaking formations like these with several on a much larger scale.
Over the next week, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Underground in Meghalaya, Krem Chypme (or its Biate name Peilkleing Pouk) is simply one of the finest river caves I have ever seen. There are more than 50 naturally formed dams along its main river passage, the largest of which is 12m (40ft) high. Here the river passage splits and the water has carved two ways through the rock. After only a short distance downstream, they reconnect to form one large passage again.
Over the next week, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

In the East Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, Krem Chypme (or its Biate name Peilkleing Pouk) is well known for its magnificent river gallery. However, in side passages there are also beautiful formations to see. In one in particular, we found a carpet of delicate calcite crystals covering the floor of a lofty balcony. Swiss cavers, Simone Buchmann and Marie-José Gilbert illuminate the streamway below. Over the next week, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

There is something magical about swimming through a river cave in total darkness and up ahead seeing daylight filtering through the rocks from the surface above. These semi-dark rocky spaces are home to an abundance of wildlife that thrive on the moist vegetation. This photograph shows one of the two giant skylights that intercept the main river passage in Krem Chympe (or its Biate name Peilkleing Pouk).
Over the next week or so, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the worlds largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Locals have reported occasionally seeing the newfound cave fish in Krem Chympe (or its Biate name Peilkleing Pouk) seen here, where two spectacular waterfalls cascade into an enchanting entrance lake surrounded by lush green vegetation. I had heard so much about this magnificent cave that I could barely hold back my excitement. Joined by Swiss cavers, Marie-José Gilbert and Simone Buchmann, seen here wading through the water towards British caver Rich Hudson, busy packing his caving bag before heading underground. And along with Nicky Bayley, who is out of shot firing a flashbulb, the five of us set off on the most amazing journey through the cave to reach a lower entrance.
Over the next week or so, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

The team explored other caves in the Jaintia and Khasi hills of Meghalaya. Although Krem Rupa (pictured) contained beautiful pools of water, galleries containing spectacular crystal formations and pristine nests of cave pearls, there was no sign of the elusive giant blind fish. For whatever reason, they are only present in a small number of caves in the region.
Over the next week or so, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the worlds largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Marine biologist Dan Harries, who is based at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, is seen here admiring the newfound cave fish, which appear quite similar in anatomy to surface-dwelling golden mahseers. The only observable differences between the two animals, are that the cave fish lack pigmentation, appearing a white, almost translucent colour and their eyes are poorly developed or even non-existent. It is most likely that the fish feed on vegetation washed underground by rain during the monsoon season. Vegetation like those tree branches floating on the surface of the pool behind Dan in this photograph.
Over the next week or so, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

The discovery of these fish raises many questions, such as how the fish can grow to be so big? What do they feed on? Although having seen the flood debris floating around in the pools, I imagine food is carried in during the monsoon season. Like most other troglobites, the creature is basically blind and eyeless, though it apparently has some ability to sense light. I remember seeing one fish that had something that resembled an eye on one side but there was nothing on the other side. Part way through adaptation.
Over the next week or so, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

At the bottom of the vertical shafts, Krem Um Ladaw changes character and breaks into a horizontal river passage containing moderately sized pools of water where dozens and dozens of fish have evolved to live in complete darkness. Finding the fish is one thing, catching them is another matter altogether. When marine biologist Dan Harries (centre) first discovered the fish during the February 2019 expedition, he was amazed and perplexed. “My first reaction upon seeing the fish myself was, I’m going to need a bigger net.” And a bigger net he got.
Over the next week or so, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

As we descend deeper into Krem Um Ladaw, I pause for a moment and look up to see my two teammates following me down the ropes. Swiss caver Simone Buchmann (left) and British caver Nicky Bayley (back right) are as keen as I am to see the newly discovered blind fish that have made this cave their home.
Over the next week or so I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Deeper underground inside Krem Um Ladaw, huge amounts of fast flowing water have carved out this perfectly sculpted circular shaft in the rock. After experiencing what we did a year previous in Veryovkina, the deepest-known cave in the world, I imagine this must be a terrifying and dangerous place during the Monsoon season. Brown water carrying flood debris from the forest above will come crashing down, engulfing the void, making it almost certainly impassable.
Over the next week or so I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the worlds largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Inside Krem Um Ladaw, the cave immediately falls away down a number of short vertical drops before reaching an underground river 105m (350ft) below the surface. The smooth walls are a real telltale sign that at some point Um Ladaw takes a huge amount of water. In fact, we noticed whilst rigging the cave, that every bolt at the top of every pitch had been bent over in the direction of the flow of water!
Over the next two weeks, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

The entrance of Krem Um Ladaw (cave) lies at one side of a giant river bed. The black void is surrounded by huge waterworn boulders, all eroded from weeks and weeks of ferocious waters tumbling them along the rocky floor. At a particular time of the day, a sun beam fires through a gap in the forest canopy and enters the cave. It’s a wondrous and magical sight that warms everything in its path. Swiss caver Marie-José Gilbert enjoyed a brief rest whilst I took this photograph.
Over the next two weeks, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Meghalaya is home to so many spectacular caves, which are continuously being eroded and sculpted by rainwater. And there’s a lot of it, as the state is one of the rainiest places on Earth. In the Monsoon season, this dry river bed (pictured) will become a ferocious raging torrent of water, Thankfully, during our visit, it was dry. The river bed is part of the trail leading down to Krem Um Ladaw (cave) - Home to the newly discovered largest cave fish.
Over the next two weeks, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

This is a sketch I made in my field diary from the expedition to Meghalaya. It shows the beauty of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills from the trail down to Krem Um Ladaw (cave). The Khasi and Jaintia Hills form the central and eastern part of Meghalaya, an imposing plateau with rolling grassland, hills and river valleys. 79.3% of the total land in Meghalaya is under forest cover and provides a natural habitat for various wildlife. This steep sided clearing was the only point along the trail where we had a view out over the canopy.
Over the next two weeks, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Underground in Meghalaya in NE India, Krem Chypme (or its Biate name Peilkleing Pouk) is simply one of the finest river caves I’ve ever seen. There are more than 50 naturally formed dams along its main river passage, the largest of which is 12m (40ft) high. The cave is also home to a giant colony of bats, which roost close to the downstream entrance. They produce guano that feeds cave creatures such as blind fish. In this photograph, several bats can be seen circling high up, whilst the rest hang on the ceiling.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Over the next two weeks, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish. For the article, follow link in bio. Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Over the last 30 years, extensive and impressive river caves containing massive and richly decorated passages have been explored and mapped in the NE Indian state of Meghalaya. The caves are found in both limestone and sandstone, with the latter also holding the record in Krem Puri for the world’s longest sandstone cave. Besides their beauty, the limestone caves have also yielded scientifically important finds. Numerous new species of bats, fish and insects have been discovered during the history of the expedition, and even the most recently ratified geological period, ‘The Meghalayan Age’ has its Global Boundary Marker inside a stalagmite from Meghalaya. Together, the size, beauty and scientific relevance of the limestone and sandstone caves makes Meghalaya a very significant region for virgin exploration.
After almost two decades of reading about the amazing discoveries and watching stunning presentations, a few years ago I finally got the opportunity to go there myself. Over the next two weeks, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Enormous thanks to Thomas Arbenz and the entire team from the ‘Caving in the Abode of Clouds Project’.

Meghalaya in northeast India had always been on my radar as I’d heard loads of fantastic stories about this great caving region, dubbed The Abode of the Clouds. A few years ago, I was excited to be invited to join the expedition. The main aim was to collect DNA samples from the world’s largest blind cave fish. The region did not disappoint. As you can see here, I was lucky enough to visit a highly decorated stunning side gallery in Krem Chympe (or its Biate name Peilkleing Pouk).
Link here to the Nat Geo assignment article that followed.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/worlds-largest-cave-fish-found-in-india

Over the next two weeks, I’ll upload a photo a day, unraveling the story of the expedition and the discovery of the world’s largest cave fish.

The Industrial Rope Access Industry (IRATA) has had a long serving synergy with caving and rock climbing since the industry began in the 1980’s. I was fortunate to be involved in this exciting industry for over a ten year period, whilst practicing my cave photography in England and around the world. Learning such crucial rope skills at a young age helped me focus on my cave photography in giant vertical shaft systems like this one pictured. At 509 meters deep and taller than the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Miao Keng in China is one of the largest natural vertical shafts ever discovered, and thanks to Rob Eavis, who captured this image of me, we see some of the difficulties we faced in making the photograph, whilst hanging for several hours in the dark and daunting space. Team work has never been so important!

Deforestation caused by the logging industry threatens rainforests and wildlife all over the world. Palm Oil plantations are no substitute. Home to one of the oldest tropical rainforests in the world, Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo is well known for its rich biodiversity. More than 280 butterfly species have been recorded. Within the park boundaries, 262 species of bird (including all eight varieties of hornbill), 67 mammalian species, 50 species of reptile and 75 amphibian species have been recorded; a true testament to the exceptional nature of this area. The Melinau River (pictured) in Mulu marks the boundary between the protected National Park and the areas of forest hit by deforestation to the west of the park. Today is international day of forests. Please respect them!🌳

I’m really excited to be visiting Switzerland this weekend, where Gina and I are both speaking at the Quaternary Annual Meeting in Bern. This years topic is about ‘Frozen Worlds’ and I’ll be sharing stories about scientists and explorers who work underground inside European mountain glaciers and Alpine ice caves. This photograph is from an expedition documenting an Italian team of explorers known as La Venta La Venta Esplorazioni Geografiche, who are mapping and monitoring a cave in the Italian Dolomites using 3D LiDAR technology. They are recording the change in melt within the ice plug blocking a giant chasm high on a mountain top, to see how climate change effects it.

Danke, Tiroler Tageszeitung, wir hatten einen tollen Abend!
Danke an alle, die gekommen sind und dazu beigetragen haben, dass es so voll war. Es war toll zu sehen.

Der Höhlenfotograf und Wahltiroler ist für seine spektakulären Aufnahmen weltweit unterwegs. Mehr dazu: https://news.tt.com/UrCAom

Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, Borneo, is very well known for its spectacular caves, which host a thriving ecosystem of bats, birds, snakes, spiders and various creepy crawlies. The surface is equally as spectacular and home to a diverse array of flora and fauna. When trekking through the jungle on the way to the caves, I love taking it all in. Carnivorous Pitcher plants live in this jungle, but they are rare and not so common to find. Where they are found, they are normally on the ground, but on one occasion I was lucky enough to find them clinging to a cliff face many hundreds of metres up in the air. Pitcher plants have evolved to trap their prey with specialist leaves called pitfall traps in which they drown in digestive liquid.

I am absolutely appalled by this!!

Tren Maya: Mexico's Yucatán railway project ‘horrifies’ environmentalists – BBC News Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is unveiling a new multi-billion-dollar rail network called the 'Tren Maya'. The network will stretch for 1,500...