The Gaia Exploration Club was formed in 1996 as a SEC registered non-government organization by Mark Dia with the intention of finding like-minded individuals who wanted to do various outdoor sports activities such as caving, diving, hiking and rock climbing. The goal was to develop an organization devoted to the exploration, study and conservation of the environment. Initially having a few member
s, the group has now grown into a solid organization with caving projects in different parts of the country. The organization is composed of individuals with different expertise, all seeking to maximize their contribution to the ideals of the group and in the process discover their potential. From the vision of exploration and conservation, four subsections were formed – terra, sub-terra, hydro and anthro. Terra is the exploration of earth features and terrestrial flora and fauna. Sub-terra is the section devoted to the exploration of the caves and karst areas, pushing the frontiers of underground exploration including underwater cave systems. Hydro section is the exploration of water bodies and life within through SCUBA or through the use of kayaks. Anthro section is the study and exploration of human history and culture.
