Speleologist Paulo Rocha explores underground heritage in Portugal and Mexico

Paulo Rocha, a Portuguese speleologist, manages the interpretation center for the Soprador do Carvalho cave in Portugal.

He describes his lifelong dedication to exploring caves and underground systems, a passion that began during his time in a scout group in Aveiro at age 14 or 15. After joining the Speleology Nucleus at the University of Aveiro, he pursued a degree in Physics, which he credits with providing the mental discipline needed for his work.

Rocha explains that Portugal possesses a rich underground heritage with between 6,000 and 7,000 referenced caves. He notes that much of this inventory is compiled by volunteer amateurs who spend their weekends exploring and documenting these sites for free. While some caves are well known, such as those in the Aire e Candeeiros mountains, others remain less explored. Rocha currently focuses on cave tourism and the promotion of underground heritage, leading commercial visits to the Soprador do Carvalho cave.

This site features 9 km of galleries and a navigable underground river bed extending nearly 1 km. During his international expeditions, Rocha has explored caves in Eastern Europe and Mexico. In Mexico, he and his team discovered 28 new caves in a single zone within 15 days. He shares a personal story of navigating a narrow passage at a depth of 143 meters in Mexico, where he pushed past safety concerns to find a way through.

He also recounts his experiences traveling to Patagonia, Russia, and China, noting the logistical challenges of navigating international borders and the physical demands of subglacial cave exploration.