Documentary:  4Caves – 4Seasons “Journey into the Veins of the Earth” 

When we began this project back in 2018, our vision was simple yet ambitious: to reveal the hidden veins of the Peloponnese—four caves, four seasons, four stories etched into the heart of the earth. We wanted the caves to speak for themselves: to become storytellers of deep time and living water.

“Through karstic springs, submerged chambers, siphons, and hidden rooms, the film captures not only the astonishing geological formations but also the timeless dialogue between water, stone, and life.” Nikolas Margaritis (Director)

For more info, visit the official page here: top2bottom.tech/4caves-4seasons

The journey was far from easy. We self-funded every expedition, hauled tons of diving and filming equipment through mountains and seas, and endured the interruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. While on lockdown, as we were forced to pause for two years, some teammates left. Still, we refused to give up. By 2024, after countless dives and countless hours of editing, 4Caves – 4Seasons was finally complete.

Since then, the film has taken us further than we could have imagined: Eighteen  international festival selections, sixfirst-place awards, and screenings in the US, UK, Netherlands, India, Canada, and Serbia, among other locations. One of our proudest moments was standing at the 15th BCN Sports Film Festival in Barcelona, under the patronage of the Olympic Foundation, watching our work presented at the International Olympic Committee Museum.

Festival	Award
European Cinematography AWARDS (Netherlands)	Best Underwater Cinematography
Indie Cine Tube Awards (India)	Best Underwater Film
International Underwater Film Festival Belgrade (Serbia)	Best Independent Production
Travel Beyond Film Festival (Canada)	Best Underwater Film
Roma Short Film Festival (Italy)	Best Sports Films
Pag International Underwater Film Festival (Croatia)	Best Director

Now, we are thrilled to bring the film home. The Greek premiere will take place at the 11th Peloponnese International Documentary Festival (November 21-30, 2025), and soon after we will share it with the global diving community at DiveExpo in Antwerp (December 6-7, 2025).

4Caves – 4 Seasons: Journey into the Veins of the Earth has already completed one year on the international festival circuit, participating in 18 international festivals.

Behind the Film: The Journey of the Top2Bottom Diving Team

Our story began in 2016, when three friends—Andreas, Nikolas, and Stratis—driven by a passion for exploration and discovery, organized a diving expedition to Antiparos. Hidden beneath the waters of the Aegean, we located and explored the Amphitrite Cave, an extraordinary site first brought to light only a few years earlier. The images and results of that expedition were warmly received by the global diving community, and, in 2017, we were invited by Stefan Panis to present our work at TEKDive Europe in Belgium. That invitation became the spark that gave birth to the Top2Bottom Diving Team—with the mission of showcasing Greece as a new and compelling destination for cave diving.

The Team

From 2018 onwards, our group grew to five members—three Greeks, one Italo-Greek, and one Italian—each bringing unique expertise and countless hours of diving experience.

• Matteo Ratto (Italy), a cave diving and technical diving instructor with extensive experience in deep diving, oversaw dive planning and safety during the early stages of the project.
• Stratis Kas (Greece/Italy), a cave and technical diving instructor, was deeply involved in the film’s production until 2019, coordinating with industry sponsors and representing the project internationally.
• Vassilis Tsairis (Greece), a cave diving instructor and underwater archaeologist, contributed as underwater cinematographer until 2020, also supporting the team with his Nautilus Dive Center in Athens.
• Andreas Andrikopoulos (Greece), a technical and cave diver, co-produced the film, managed expedition planning, and wrote the final script.
• Nikolas Margaritis (Greece), a technical and cave diver, served as director and principal underwater cinematographer; he also co-produced and led the post-production phase.

In post-production, script editor Magda Georgiadou and editor Minto Argyropoulos provided essential contributions to the film’s final form.

A Timeline of Exploration

• Spring 2018 – Filming began at Sintzi, the deepest underwater cave in Greece, near Mount Mainalo, passing by the mythic Lake Stymphalia
• Summer 2018 – Expedition to Korfos Cave in the Saronic Gulf, home of the endangered monk seal
• Autumn 2018 – Filming at Arcadian Village Cave in northern Kynouria, a hidden cathedral of stalagmites and stalactites
• December 2018 – Presentation of the project at EUROTEK 2018 Advanced Diving Conference in Birmingham
• Winter 2020 – Filming at Kefalovryso Cave Spring, source of the ancient Inachos River beneath Mount Lyrkeio
• 2020-2022 – Production halted by the COVID-19 pandemic
• July 2024 – World festival premiere at Golden Short Film Festival in Avezzano, Italy

What We Learned Along the Way

The challenges were immense: hauling heavy equipment through mountains and seas, aligning schedules across countries, and pushing forward despite the pandemic and the departure of three team members. Yet, the rewards were just as great: the joy of seeing the first footage after a long dive, the warmth of local communities who welcomed us with coffee and cake after exhausting days, and the recognition of our work by international festivals and the diving industry.

Looking Ahead

With 4Caves – 4Seasons complete, our mission continues. We aim to document the shipwrecks of the Greek seas with the same passion and precision, producing high-quality audiovisual records that highlight their historical significance. At the same time, we remain committed to sharing the beauty and scientific value of caves—not only as geological wonders, but as vital archives of the planet’s climate history.

“For us, exploration is more than discovery; it is about giving voice to the hidden stories of water, stone, and time—and sharing them with the world.” Andreas Andrikopoulos

Links:
Website: https://top2bottom.tech/4caves-4seasons/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t2b.diving.team
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/T2B.DivingTeam
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@t2bdivingteam

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