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ROPALA: Cave Diving Internships Training for Indonesia’s Next Generation of underwater cave explorers

Indonesia is home to some of the most spectacular and unexplored karst and underwater cave systems in the world. For decades, much of this exploration has been carried out by Mahasiswa Pecinta Alam (MAPALA) — university student clubs passionate about adventure, caving, and conservation. Since the eighties, these groups have made invaluable contributions to cave exploration and conservation across Indonesia, yet when it comes to flooded cave passages, they face a barrier: training and equipment costs are simply out of reach for young students and explorers.

Published

3 months ago

September 3, 2025

Stratis Kas

This is where “Ropala“ steps in. Ropala means “to tear the boundaries of exploration,” inspired by Robek Pecinta Alam — literally “tear” (robek) and “nature lovers” (pecinta alam).

Launched in Sulawesi, Ropala is a non-profit initiative that offers free of charge cave diving training and mentorship to Mapala members. By removing financial obstacles, the program enables young Indonesians to continue their exploration from dry caves into submerged systems.

Beyond technical skills, participants learn safety protocols, teamwork, and conservation practices, laying a foundation not just for exploration but also for future careers in science, tourism, and environmental protection.

The program is supported logistically by Sulawesi Dive Trek, a local cave diving operator dedicated to advancing cave diving in the region. ROPALA also relies on international partnerships with equipment brands and training organizations, ensuring participants gain experience with world-class gear and standards such as: Shearwater, Fourth Element, and Java Sidemount, but also local partners like Kadena Glamping Resort, and foundations; for example, Alopias Foundation.

The vision is simple: to give the next generation of Indonesian explorers the tools to tell the stories of their own caves, to safeguard fragile karst environments, and to create local leadership in a field long dominated by outsiders.