Patrick Widmann

Patrick Widmann is an Austrian cave explorer, public speaker, entrepreneur, equipment designer, educator, and ultramarathon runner. A full-time diving professional since the age of 19, he has dedicated more than two and a half decades to exploration, technical diving, rebreather development, and diver education around the world.

His technical diving journey began in Egypt in 2003 before evolving into cave diving in Mexico in 2005. Since relocating permanently to Mexico in 2007, Patrick has established himself as one of the most recognized figures in modern cave and technical diving. He is the majority co-owner and Training Director of ProTec Dive Centers, one of the world’s leading facilities for cave diving, technical diving, and rebreather training.

Based in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, Patrick operates in a region containing more than 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) of surveyed underwater cave passages. The area is home to the world’s two longest submerged cave systems, measuring nearly 500 kilometers (311 miles) and 400 kilometers (249 miles) respectively. This unique environment has provided an unparalleled platform for exploration, training, research, and equipment development.

Patrick is also a partner and Training Director of KISS Rebreathers. Together with Piotr Czernik, founder of XDEEP, he conceived, designed, and developed the KISS Sidewinder 2 rebreather. The project was guided from concept through years of development, extensive field testing, CE certification, and production. Today Patrick remains actively involved in product development, testing, and strategic decision-making for KISS Rebreathers, XDEEP, SEAL Dry Suits, and Bigblue Technologies. Since 2009, he has worked closely with equipment manufacturers as a designer, field tester, consultant, and expedition diver, helping shape products used by cave divers and technical divers around the world.

As a member of the PSAI Board of Advisors and an Instructor Trainer Evaluator, Patrick has trained divers and instructors from around the world. Throughout his career he has helped develop advanced cave diving and rebreather training curricula while promoting practical, experience-based education that emphasizes competence, risk management, and personal responsibility.

Patrick is an internationally recognized cave explorer whose projects span North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. His exploration work has taken him to Mexico, the United States, Belize, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Spain, Mallorca, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, Sardinia, Zanzibar, Madagascar, Brazil, Laos, Thailand, China, Australia, and the Philippines.

Since 2014, Patrick has led annual expeditions to Madagascar, contributing to major discoveries in some of the world’s least explored underwater cave systems. Among these achievements is the exploration of the Anjanamba Cave System, now recognized as the longest submerged cave system in Africa with more than 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of surveyed passages. His teams have also documented significant paleontological discoveries that have helped shed light on Madagascar’s unique geological and biological history. Their work has received international attention from CNN, NBC, National Geographic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Red Bull, and has been featured by media outlets around the world.

Patrick has also participated in numerous exploration projects throughout Brazil and the Dominican Republic, including helping connect the famous Brejões 1 and Brejões 2 cave systems in Bahia, Brazil. In the Dominican Republic, he participated in exploration projects that established the deepest explored cave systems on Hispaniola, with depths exceeding 100 meters (328 feet) and extensive tunnel systems requiring bottom times exceeding one hour.

In Southeast Asia, Patrick became involved in the exploration of flooded mining systems in northern Thailand. During these projects he established new depth records for Asian mine diving and, in 2025, discovered a previously unknown level at a depth of 108 meters (354 feet). The exploration required more than 90 minutes below 70 meters (230 feet) and resulted in a total dive time approaching 11 hours, representing one of the most demanding mine exploration dives ever conducted in the region.

Additional exploration projects have taken Patrick to the cave systems of Laos, the springs and caves of the Philippines, and numerous remote locations where exploration, survey work, and documentation continue to expand the understanding of submerged environments.

Beyond exploration and equipment development, Patrick is a sought-after public speaker who regularly presents on cave exploration, expedition logistics, leadership, risk management, rebreather technology, equipment design, and the lessons learned from operating in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Outside of diving, Patrick is an avid ultramarathon runner and endurance athlete. He believes that physical fitness, mental resilience, and disciplined preparation are fundamental components of successful exploration. Whether preparing for a mountain ultramarathon, a remote expedition, or a multi-hour cave dive, he applies the same philosophy: push boundaries, embrace continuous learning, and never compromise on safety.

Today, Patrick continues to divide his time between exploration, equipment development, education, public speaking, and international expedition leadership, driven by an enduring passion for discovery and a commitment to advancing the future of cave diving, technical diving, and rebreather technology. He also enjoys sharing his adventures with his fiancée Lucie, who has become his trusted travel companion around the world, personal brand and community manager, and exploration partner on numerous dry caving expeditions and underground adventures. 

Participant in the following exploration, expeditions and projects:

 2005 
– Reef Formation Study on Gorgonian Reef (-100M/-330FT to -85M/-280FT) Hurghada, Egypt
– Black Canyon Mapping Project (-120M/-400FT) Hurghada, Egypt

 2006
– Mapping the Interiors of the Wreck Hebat Allah (-45MSW), Hurghada Egypt

 2007
– Cave Exploration in Akumal and South of Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– National Geographic video documentary production safety diver, Playa del Carmen, Mexcio

 2008
– “The Pit” Deep Cave Diving Project (105MSW/350FT) Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– AIDA sponsored international free diving competition deep safety diver, Bacalar, Mexico

 2009
– “The Pit” Deep Cave Diving Project, one hour bottom time at an average depth of 90MSW/300FT with use of decompression habitat, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Cenote 307 Exploration Project, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Polish distance record 17km, Diving Safety Officer, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Diving Safety Officer for Tube Inspection Project, Toluca, Mexico

 2010
– Exploration Project Cenote Balan Ak, Chemuyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Cenote Palomita, Chemuyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Lycka, Tulum, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Lorenzo, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Under the Bridge, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Designed Cave Diving Specific Sidemount Equipment named Stealth

 2011
– Exploration Project Sistema Lycka, Tulum, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Ek Be, Akumal, Chemuyil, Mexico
– Deep Cave Exploration (230ft/70m) and archeological research project, Cara Blanca, Belize
– Exploration Project Cenote Sand Crack, Tulum, Mexico
– Exploration Project Cenote Rojo, Tulum, Mexico
– Exploration Project, Systema Maya, Tulum, Mexico
– Together with Polish Equipment Manufacturer XDeep designed and developed the STEALTH 2.0

2012
– Exploration Project, Cenote Ak Tulum, Tulum, Mexico
– Exploration Project, Cenote Caterpillar, Muyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Cueva Mulata, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

2013
– Exploration Project Cenote Caterpillar, Muyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Cenote Drunken Snake, Muyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Chi Keen, Muyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Choko Pek, Tulum, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Nohoch Pek, Muyil, Mexico
-Exploration Project Sistema Doggi, Muyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Escalera, Cabarete, Dominican Republic
– Exploration Project El Torro, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic (extended cave to over 10.000ft in a 9h sump project)
– Exploration Project Cenote la Bajada, Sistema Caterpillar, Muyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Cenote Style, Sistema Doggi, Muyil Mexico

 2014
– Exploration Project Sarodrano, Tulear, Madagascar
– Exploration Project Binabe, Tulear, Madagascar
– Exploration Project Aven, Anakao, Madagascar
– Exploration Project Vintany, Itampolo, Madagascar
– Exploration Project Malaza Manga, Anakao, Madagascar
– Exploration Project Cenote El Mango, Tulum, Mexico
– Exploration Project Cenote The Nest, Muyil, Mexico
– Team Expedition to Mahafaly Karst, Nat Geo Film and Science Project, Anakao, Madagascar

 2015 
– Exploration Project Cueva Negra, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic
– Exploration Project Cueva Taina, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
– Exploration Project El Toro, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic (climbed 2nd dry cave in 11h sump project)
– Exploration Project Hoyo Binet, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic
– Exploration Project Cenote Galaxian, Muyil, Mexico
– Exploration Project Sistema Tres Rios, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Exploration Project Nacimiento del Rio Sonador, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (deepest cave of the DR 330ft/100m)
– Exploration Project Nacimiento del Rio Balata, Los Haitises, Dominican Republic (max 170ft/52m)

 2016 
– Exploration Project El Zebu, Secret Location, Africa
– Exploration Project Parazyte Lake, Secret Location, Africa
– Exploration Project Malaza Manga, Anakao, Madagascar (expanded cave to 13.000ft, max depth 158ft/48m, on CCR)
– Instalment of first under water paleontology museum in Aven cave, Anakao, Madagascar

 2017
– Exploration Project Anjanamba, Tulear, Madagascar filmed Spirits of the cave One (https://youtu.be/eDYdchsrLEo)
– Various small Projects in Muyil, Q.Roo, Mexico

 2018
– Exploration Project Haiti, found deepest cave of Hispaniola currently 110m/360ft deep with more depth potential and strong flow
– Exploration Project Anjanamba, Tulear, Madagascar filmed Spirits of the cave Two (https://youtu.be/A_4OO5kNhGg), made Anjanamba the longest submerged cave of Africa
– Various small Projects in Muyil, Q.Roo, Mexico

 2019 
– Exploration Project Anjanamba, Tulear, Madagascar filmed Spirits of the cave Three (https://youtu.be/_O5gLZzPZbU), cave is now over 10km/33k ft long with a single entrance!
– Various small Projects in Muyil, Q.Roo, Mexico 

Articles published by or with Patrick:

 Hebat Allah – The Gift of Allah in the German and English version of the H2O Magazine 

 Into the Pit – UWS Magazine

 Various Articles – Quiet Diver

 An Ancient Watery Underworld – New York Times

 Der Hoehlentaucher – Kronen Zeitung

 Sidemount 1×1 – Wetnotes Magazine

 CNN – Mahafaly Project 

 NBC – Mahafaly Project

 Learning to Sidemount – UWS Magazine 

 Washington Post – Mahafaly Project

 National Geographic – Mahafaly Project 

 Red Bull – Exploring the deepest cave of the Dominican Republic 

 Scuba Diving Magazine – To Parts Unknown

Click Here for a Q & A with Patrick