Morské oko (Tornaľa) – barlangként védett / protected as a cave
Diving here is administratively restricted: since 2006 this small lake behind the Tornaľa swimming-pool lake has been registered as a cave, and a Slovak diver notes that diving is now administratively limited after a fatal accident some years ago. It is fed by thermal mineral springs and shaped like an upturned hourglass – narrowing to a throat at 6 m and then widening towards the bottom at about 36–38 m. Under the overhanging rock ceiling the dive feels like cave diving. Visibility varies, up to 12 m in ideal conditions.
Facts
- Region: Slovakia – Caves, Sumps & Karst Springs
- Area: Gemer (Tornaľa)
- Depth: 0–38 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: low
- Type: cave, wall
- Coordinates: 48.40348, 20.30583
- Highlights: thermal springs (mineral water), hourglass shape: narrows at 6 m, widens towards the bottom, rock walls and overhangs, cave-like diving under the rock ceiling, visibility up to 12 m in ideal conditions
- Permit: The site has been registered as a cave since 2006 (diver database), so the cave rules apply: In Slovakia every cave is a natural monument (Nature Protection Act 543/2002, §24(3)); entering or penetrating a cave that is not open to the public is prohibited (§24(4)a), exploration and research need the consent of the nature-protection authority (§24(5)a), and research may only be done by a qualified authorised person notified to the State Nature Conservancy 7 days ahead (§56). In practice consent comes from the district office's environment department (e.g. Okresný úrad Prešov, 2015); the cave custodian is the Slovak Caves Administration (SSJ). There is no tourist or commercial cave diving – only permitted expeditions of caving clubs, with Full Cave / sump-diver qualification.
- Issuer / contact: State Nature Conservancy of the SR – Slovak Caves Administration (Správa slovenských jaskýň, cave custodian); consent is issued by the nature-protection authority (district office, environment department)
- Phone: +421445536411
- Email: caves@ssj.sk
- Website: https://www.ssj.sk/sk/kontakty
- Unverified: The exact restriction and today's procedure are described only by diver sources (entry from 2013, undated private site); the old registration page (marekdudas.eu) is unreachable.
- Tips: Formerly: descend only along the shot line, ascend in a spiral along the wall, keep away from the wall and do not go under the overhangs; a dive cost 15 EUR and had to be registered in advance. Today ask the town of Tornaľa and the nature-protection authority whether and how diving is allowed – do not dive without consent.