📜 Skalka u Velimi is a natural monument in the Kolín District of the Czech Republic, established in 1986 to protect an exceptionally rich and uniquely preserved site of Mesozoic marine fauna.
🔍 This former amphibolite quarry is a significant paleontological site, featuring important stratotype profiles with tidal sediments from the Czech Cretaceous period, and is partially flooded, forming a lake.
🌿 Discover an extraordinary paleontological site with diverse Mesozoic marine fossils, including shark teeth, sea urchin spines, and oysters
🏞️ Explore a natural monument that also serves as a crucial refuge for amphibians and invertebrates in an intensively farmed landscape
🤿 Experience unique freshwater diving in a flooded quarry, navigating through dense hornwort forests and observing carp, catfish, and even turtles
🚶♀️ Enjoy free access to a quiet outdoor visit, with easy parking and water entry for divers
🚧 The site is currently threatened by a landfill and gravel crusher, impacting its natural state
🚫 Dense underwater vegetation (hornwort) can restrict free movement for divers, making it less suitable for full, extensive dives
⚠️ Not ideal if expecting a pristine natural park, due to its industrial past and current threats
The flooded quarry reaches a maximum depth of 3 meters. Divers can explore submerged trees and dense hornwort (Ceratophyllum) forests, which create an illusion of marine kelp forests. The site is home to carp (including koi), roach, American catfish, and invasive red-eared sliders. Parking is available by the road, with a square area on the eastern bank suitable for gear preparation and easy water entry. It's ideal for shorter dives or practicing skills rather than full, long explorations.