Πηγη Σιντζι

Sintzi Spring

Useful Information

Location:	Sintiki 623 00. From Kandila 66 south, turn right at Church Agios Athanasios, stay on the paved road. (37.761681, 22.341144)
Open:	No restrictions. [2022]
Fee:	free. [2022]
Classification:	Karstquelle vom Vaucluse-Typ
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=1,4 km, VR=186 m, T=10-12 °C, A=700 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Sintzi Spring, Sintiki 623 00.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1996	karst spring first explored by cave divers of the Hellenic Speleological and Exploration Club.
2009	depth record of -153 m reached.
2015	depth record of -186 m reached.

Description

Πηγη Σιντζι (Sintzi Spring), one of the sources of the polje near Limni. The spring is actually quite spectacular, definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. The water emerges from a water-filled cave system which was explored by cave divers and currently 1.4 km of passages is known. But the special thing of this spring, is that it reaches a depth of -186 m which makes it the deepest water-filled cave in Greece. The water emerges from the cave at the far end below a limestone cliff which hase a cave opening. The spring was surrounded by a wall and has a dam which raises the water level probably 1 m and creates a trapezoid pool. The site was developed with benches, barbecue area, and a playground.

The cave became the deepest known water-filled cave in Greece in 2009 when the cave diver Giorgos Tzavelas reached a depth of -153 m. The current end of the exploration was the dive by Fontas Pitsinelis in 2015 who reached -186 m. In 2017 the divers of Antonis Grafas filmed the cave, the film is available on youTube.

Like always there are numerous transliterations of the Greek name Πηγη Σιντζι, Shintzi, Shinji, or most commonly Sintzi. The spring is signposted Καρστική πηγή which means karst spring, and while there is no Wikipedia page for the spring, we linked the Greek page for karst spring, which has a photo of this spring.