At Expedition 3, the team of FCD's Bernil and Doc and guest, Lou discovered the blockage of all accesses to Mayor's Chamber by what is now determined as mounds of coarsely granular limestone. A cave-in deep in the area of Mayor's Chamber was suspected. Dive #2 of Expedition 5 was done solely to look for … Continue reading REDESIGN OF HINATUAN’S ENCHANTED RIVER UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM – A NATURAL CAVE IN?
NATURE’S REDESIGN OF ENCHANTED RIVER UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM
MAD Cavers had the grand design of intensive exploration of Hinatuan's Enchanted River Underwater Cave System (HERUC) at Expedition 3 on June 11-14, 2011. However, the team met an unpleasant surprise - all entrances to Mayor's Chamber were blocked by mounds of either sand or limestone. A couple of theories were entertained as to the … Continue reading NATURE’S REDESIGN OF ENCHANTED RIVER UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM
CAVE DIVING PROPULSION TECHNIQUES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ld4chqQl_8 The two underwater propulsion techniques used in cave diving are the modified frog kick and the modified flutter kick. Technically, these are achieved by bending the knees at 90 degrees with the body in horizontal trim. These techniques are solely intended to avoid the fin wash from hitting the silty bottom of most caves. … Continue reading CAVE DIVING PROPULSION TECHNIQUES
OUT OF CASILI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqkAevcEuU0 When we first picked up Casili on the net, all we had to work with are a couple of youtube videos. I remember very well the one that really intrigued me. Going to the spring, you drive on the riverbed part of the way. That we did.
PAWOD AND RA 10066
(This is a rather lengthy article. However, this may serve as reference to any questions regarding the legality of activities in and around the Pawod Underwater Cave system) Since the discovery of Pawod Underwater Cave System in 2002, there has been lots of changes due to unregulated diving activities inside the cave. Some changes are detrimental … Continue reading PAWOD AND RA 10066
PREHISTORIC DAO-DAO FROM PAWOD
Millions of years old dao-dao from Doc's Chamber of Pawod Underwater Cave. I wonder if those homo erectus Oponganons then were smart enough to knock the tip of the shell off and suck the meat out? The specimen was discovered by Bernil; Photography by Doc Amores.
PAWOD – A TREASURE TROVE FOR SCIENTISTS
Q & AHow old are these specimens?What geologic events and forces brought about the possible widespread scorching?If these coral skeletons are indeed scorched, what intense flash burn occurred? Super volcano (nearest one is in Carmen, Cebu)? Meteor/asteroid?If these are scorched, then the specimen were surface located..and eons older than Pawod cave.Pawod cave is a mute … Continue reading PAWOD – A TREASURE TROVE FOR SCIENTISTS
PAWOD COMPREHENSIVE PHOTO DOCUMENTATION PROJECT: PHASE I – NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF DOC’S CHAMBER
The staged comprehensive documentation project of Pawod Underwater Cave System (PUWCS) is underway. Phase I was done on May 31, 2013. Cave divers: FCD's Bernil and Doc Amores. Photographer: Doc Amores. Photography was done using Nikon DSLR in housing, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens, Nikonos SB 105 strobe. Phase I covers the northwest quadrant of Doc's … Continue reading PAWOD COMPREHENSIVE PHOTO DOCUMENTATION PROJECT: PHASE I – NORTHWEST QUADRANT OF DOC’S CHAMBER
Multi-tank capacity of Hollis SMS 100 (R)
Multi-tank capacity of Hollis SMS 100 (R) Owing to certain characteristics of underwater caves, proficiency in sidemount diving is emerging as a necessary skill. Of particular importance is multi-tank carrying especially in long complicated dives. The last FCD expedition (VI) of Casili Underwater Cave required 4 bottom tanks.
HOW ARE SEA CAVES FORMED?
Mactan remains a popular dive destination despite massive coral reef destruction. Human activities impact, i.e. dynamite and cyanide fishing, coral harvesting, gleaning, boat hull and push stick (tukon), pollution from Mactan Channel, scuba and hookah spearfishing, and Koreans have reduced the Mactan reefs to a tiny fraction of what they were decades ago. This has … Continue reading HOW ARE SEA CAVES FORMED?
PAWOD – A JEWEL IN OUR MIDST
"A jewel in our midst" - FCD Bernil on Pawod. Pawod, by the fact that it was left undisturbed until its discovery by Doc Amores in 2002, is a repository of timeline changes in the history of Mactan Island..changes accumulated over thousands and maybe millions of years. There are many observations that need scientific cataloguing. … Continue reading PAWOD – A JEWEL IN OUR MIDST
THE PAWOD UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM
INTRODUCTION The Pawod Underwater Cave System (PUWCS) is one of Lapu-Lapu City's most precious natural resources. It is a dissolution cave formed over thousands, maybe millions of years. It is located in Barangay [bar-ang-gai] Agus [Ah-gus] along Mactan Island's circumferential highway. "Agus" is the local term for spring. The barangay is named after the springs … Continue reading THE PAWOD UNDERWATER CAVE SYSTEM
Filipino Cave Divers 