In January, Serenity Point published “Diving the Blue Holes of Abaco” about the fossil discovery in 2004 that led National Geographic to fund an exploration of Abaco’s blue holes and caves. Now the August 2010 issue of National Geographic reveals their most recent research and photography from their exploration.
The numerous caves and sinkholes in the Bahamas, and especially on Abaco, occasionally reach depths of 300 feet, representing the lowest sea level from the Pleistocene Ice Age. They yield a scientific trove that may even shed light on life before this time. Yet they are extremely dangerous to explore due to the depths.
The PHOTO OF THE MONTH by Wes C. Skiles, from the August 2010 story “Bahamas Caves.”
The Cascade Room, some 80 feet beneath the surface, leads divers deeper into Dan's Cave on Abaco Island.
Dan’s cave
Ralph’s Cave
Nancy’s Cave
Sawmill Sink
Reel Breaker Blue Hole
Starfish Blue Hole 1
Starfish Blue Hole 2
Glen’s Blue Hole North
Glen’s Blue Hole South
Quarry Blue Hole
Crossing Rocks Blue Hole
Little Vortex Blue Hole
Canal Blue Hole
Unfu-fu Blue Hole
Nowhere Blue Hole
Stingray Blue Hole
Stumble Blue Hole
To get a sense of diving a Blue Hole, watch Marc Laukien’s 16 minute video of cave diving in Dan’s Cave and Ralph’s Cave, Abaco, Bahamas.
Ask a Local is a series in our blog that looks at life in Abaco. Today’s local is Patti Gonsalves who writes Today in Abaco.
Patti Gonsalves is another perfect local to provide insight into our “Out Island” as she and her husband, Mark, have lived in Abaco for 10 years and are permanent residents of the Bahamas.
The couple owns and operates Cruise Abaco and Watercolours Cottages on Lubbers Quarters, an outer Cay off of Marsh Harbour. They volunteer with Friends of The Environment and help to preserve Abaco’s protected reef parks. Patti also owns Sea Gems Jewelry, which specializes in sterling and fine silver with reclaimed Abaco beach glass. “I sell to many local shops here — treasure hunting on beaches is my passion,” says Patti.
Patti and Mark were drawn to Abaco because of “the people and the lifestyle. The simplicity of living here is wonderful and crime is virtually non-existent.”
One of the Patti’s favorite local attractions is the Sea Of Abaco, which she explains as “a totally unique protected body of water that allows for boating almost any given day, surrounded by islands for exploring everywhere. Our reefs here are some of the most beautiful in the Caribbean as they are so alive and vibrant.”
And for guests coming in for a very brief time, Patti recommends a “daysail and a trip to one of our gorgeous reefs for snokeling. I also would suggest, if they are game, that a day offshore fishing or inland bonefishing would be fun.”
In general, Patti feels that “Abaco is the place for anyone looking for great boating, sailing, fishing, diving and snorkeling.”
“There are great resorts and restaurants to visit throughout Abaco. There are no cruise ships and there is no gambling, which is why they call this “The Family Islands.” Nightlife is available if you want it, but it’s not the focus,” remarks Patti.
As for events happening on the island, the best way to know what’s going on is to ask. “People are so friendly here and are more than happy to help you find the adventure you desire.”
People the world over come to Abaco (The Bahamas) to swim, snorkel and dive in Ababo’s Blue Holes. Now the beauty and tranquility that has drawn tourists to these spots for years have captured the attention of the scientific community.
(Photo credit: Bahamas Tourism)
A fossil discovery in 2004 has led to National Geographic funding an exploration of Abaco’s blue holes and caves.
The unusual discovery of well-preserved fossils in a water-filled sinkhole called a blue hole revealed the bones of landlubbing crocodiles and tortoises that did not survive human encroachment, said David Steadman, a UF ornithologist, in Science Daily.
The finding of the skeletons prove that animals never known to man lived in Abaco.
National Geographic is planning a television show on the holes and discoveries (scheduled for the summer of 2010), plus magazine articles and school materials.
The Blue Holes are, of course, still accessible to the public. And thanks to underwater camera gear and shutter-happy divers, you can see a bit of what the blue holes look like:
The National Geographic site offers a photo of the pre-human fossil treasures discovered in the Abaco sinkholes and an illustration of a sinkhole: Visit the National Geographic site.
On almost every dive we find more fossils, said Nancy Albury.
(Photo credit: Bahamas Tourism)
David Steadman, a University of Florida ornithologist, explains that the fossils from Sawmill Sink open up unparalleled opportunities for doing much more sophisticated work than ever before in reconstructing the ancient plant and animal communities of the Bahamas …
“It helps us to understand not only how individual species evolve on islands, but how these communities changed with the arrival of people because we know that changes in the ecosystem are much more dramatic on islands than they are on continents. In a typical vertebrate fossil site, you identify the species of vertebrates — reptiles, birds or mammals — and based on that identification you speculate what the habitat might have been … For the first time here in the West Indies, we have here on Abaco plant fossils right in with the vertebrates, so we can reconstruct the habitats in a much more sophisticated way.”
Abaco’s Blue Holes and cave systems are incredibly valuable in today’s scientific community as they hold the fossils of extinct animals, clues into global climate change, and new species which may provide the source for new biotechnological products.
In January, Serenity Point published “Diving the Blue Holes of Abaco” about the fossil discovery in 2004 that led National Geographic to fund an exploration of Abaco’s blue holes and caves. Now the August 2010 issue of National Geographic reveals their most recent research and photography from their exploration.
Patti Gonsalves is another perfect local to provide insight into our “Out Island” as she and her husband, Mark, have lived in Abaco for 10 years and are permanent residents of the Bahamas.
