C.A.K.E.S. Foundation
Cave and Karst Exploration Science Foundation
Who We Are
C.A.K.E.S. Foundation (Cave and Karst Exploration & Science Foundation) is India’s first expedition-led research initiative dedicated to discovering, documenting, and protecting the country’s hidden cave and karst environments. Our multidisciplinary team of scientific divers, researchers, engineers, and conservationists works to explore the unseen worlds beneath India’s surface.
Our Mission
To explore, map, and document India’s submerged and terrestrial cave systems through safe, systematic expeditions that combine science, training, and conservation. We aim to create open-source datasets and foster collaboration with universities, institutes, and government agencies.
Our Vision
To establish India as a global hub for cave and karst research — where exploration fuels knowledge, conservation, and public awareness of the underground environment.
Our Core Values
- Exploration: Venturing into the unknown to expand human knowledge.
- Documentation: Precise mapping, photography, and data recording of every expedition.
- Safety: Every dive and survey follows rigorous medical and technical protocols.
- Education: Training the next generation of divers, scientists, and explorers.
- Conservation: Protecting fragile subterranean ecosystems through awareness and research.
Milestones
- 2025: Formation of C.A.K.E.S. and baseline expedition planning.
- 2026: Meghalaya reconnaissance dives; first photogrammetry datasets recorded.
- 2027: Andaman limestone system surveys and tidal mapping initiatives.
Join the Mission
Be part of India’s first national cave exploration and research movement.
Our Team
C.A.K.E.S. Foundation (Cave and Karst Exploration & Science Foundation) is India’s first expedition-led research initiative dedicated to discovering, documenting, and protecting the country’s hidden cave and karst environments.
Our multidisciplinary team of scientific divers, researchers, engineers, and conservationists works to explore the unseen worlds beneath India’s surface.
Founding Team
Donarun Das
Diving | Photography | Electronics | Food
Multi-agency instructor in CCR, Trimix, Sidemount, and Cave Diving. Builder of multi-gas analysers and dive systems. Donarun’s engineering precision, instructional expertise, and innovation drive the team’s technical depth, ensuring complex exploration projects are executed safely and efficiently.
Vishwanath Rajan
Diving | Medic | Mapping | Safety
Navy veteran with 25+ years of diving and expedition experience with Full Cave, Trimix, and CCR credentials, Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, and certified Critical Care Paramedic. Vish leads safety and standards on extreme expeditions, combining discipline, experience, and medical expertise to ensure flawless operations.
Manavi Jadhav
Scientist | Data Collection | Safety | Research
Earth and Planetary Scientist specialising in meteoritic stardust and planetary geology. NSF Fellow and Antarctic researcher with ANSMET. Experienced in austere expeditions, she’s also a certified Diver Emergency Medical and Wilderness First Responder. Manavi ensures scientific integrity and safety through rigorous methodology and interdisciplinary coordination during expeditions.
Current Team Members
Viki
Camp Expert | Photography
Heibor
Meghalaya | Camp Expert | Diving Support | Gas Blender