Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011: Dives of Discovery

Ask an Explorer

Questions answered during the expedition are below.

On the way out to Whalebone Bay from B.I.O.S. there is the small Lover’s Pond. It has a tidal flux and a small anemone lined opening. Is it known if this opening is associated with a larger cave system that has been explored?

Question from: Lance, Tolland, Connecticut

Answer from: Tom Iliffe and Brett Gonzalez, Marine Biospeleology Lab, Texas A&M University

Since the deep water caves were at one time above sea level, is there any expectation of finding terrestrial fossils that could be dated to increase our knowledge of early Bermuda ecology?

Question from: Lance, Tolland, Connecticut

Answer from: Tom Iliffe and Brett Gonzalez, Marine Biospeleology Lab, Texas A&M University

How can I get data on the exact location of the water line in the caves over time?

Question from: Jim

Answer from: Tom Iliffe, Director, Marine Biospeleology Lab, Texas A&M University

I got the idea that you are saying the ocean was ~5 degrees cooler 18,000 years ago. So, what does the data say knowing you can't directly measure oxygen isotopes in the ocean of 18,000 years ago? Is there any other way to estimate ocean temperatures of the old days?

Question from: Jim

Answer from: Tom Iliffe, Director, Marine Biospeleology Lab, Texas A&M University

Do you know how far under water the cave floor that was dry ~18,000 years ago is now? It seems that some allowance should be made for the increased weight of water on the sea floor, too. The result could be that more water is needed to cause a rise in sea level due to more pressure depressing the sea bed. Maybe the sea level cannot change as much as believed because the sea floor flexes under an increased load.

Question from: Jim

Answer from: Tom Iliffe, Director, Marine Biospeleology Lab, Texas A&M University