By Jill Heinerth, Underwater Videographer - www.IntoThePlanet.com
June 14, 2011
Our second dive was conducted in Deep Blue Cave in Walsingham Forest. We hiked in from a parking spot behind the Tom Moore's Tavern. Its a bit of a hike so Graham, Sam and Kyle from Triangle Divers helped us lug all the gear down the trail. This cavern is the most spectacular opening on the island. The pool itself is under an overhanging cliff and the sun cascades down into the hole.
Silouhette of Tom Iliffe at Deep Blue Cave, Walsingham System. Image courtesy of Jill Heinerth, Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011 Exploration, NOAA-OER. Download larger version (jpg, 673 KB).
Brian Kakuk, Paul Heinerth, Brett Gonzalez and Tom Iliffe, all using sidemount system, swim in a Big Room of Deep Blue Cave, Walsingham System. Image courtesy of Jill Heinerth, Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011 Exploration, NOAA-OER. Download larger version (jpg, 577 KB).
The cavern is filled with interesting life including rare corals, coralline algae and colorful encrusting life. I get a few minutes to myself to shoot the cavern undisturbed before heading into the cave with Tom Iliffe in the lead. He runs a reel into squirrely small passage but the cave eventually yields into vast rooms with hanging speleothems.
Team following the line in Deep Blue Cave, Walsingham System. Image courtesy of Jill Heinerth, Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011 Exploration, NOAA-OER. Download larger version (jpg, 699 KB).
Bret Gonzalez and Gil Nolan surfacing from their dive using sidemount. Image courtesy of Jill Heinerth, Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011 Exploration, NOAA-OER. Download larger version (jpg, 229 KB).
Our photos are spectacular and I'm left with another long night of sorting and cataloging shots. I decided to skip the evening meal with the team so I could get to sleep before midnight for a change.
