EXPEDITION BUTENG
OCTOBER 2024
By invitation from the local government and the PJ Bupati Kabupaten of Buton Tengah, this multidisciplinary expedition will study the underground water reservoir and the caves around it on the island of Pulau Muna, Indonesia.
Expedition Buteng brings together a renowned international and Indonesian team of underwater cave explorers, cartographers, scientists, speleologists and photographers to work closely with the Indonesian government, the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) and locals to conserve and protect the freshwater aquifer
The extensive science will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Gadjah Mada, led by Dr. Eko Haryono and a handpicked team of specialist scientists from UGM.
The cave divers and speleologists will become the hands and eyes of the scientists inside both the dry and the submerged caves, to help them study areas that have never been accessed before. Together, the teams will investigate and study the following, but not limited to:
- eDNA
- Climate changes
- Microplastics in groundwater
- Hydrology
- Karst morphology
- Cave biology and evolution
WHY THIS LOCATION?
In 2020, our team discovered what may be Southeast Asia’s longest underwater cave on Pulau Muna.
This underwater cave, or aquifer, is hidden in an ancient fossilised coral reef.
The freshwater is abundant and uniquely pristine, as are the geological formations within.
This discovery brings hope to the local government as they now aim to safeguard the area by pursuing recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark, such recognition will contribute positively by bringing sustainable eco-tourism on the island.
For nearby villages, it will offer a much-needed alternative to bottled drinking water and plastic waste.
What makes this opportunity unique?
Caves are the final frontier of exploration on our planet – holding answers to environmental challenges and medicinal revolutions.
By employing a ‘citizen-science’ collaborative approach, explorers extend the hands and eyes of scientists, collecting previously inaccessible-and rare data.
Expedition Buteng intends to provide the specific documentation and evidence required for Geopark accreditation.
The dive team hopes to explore and survey the longest submerged cave in Southeast Asia by extending the map which currently sits at over 4 km in length.
Led by two female explorers, we aim to inspire and empower women worldwide.