2001 was the year of  rediscovery of Lucy's Cave, one of the Lens caves on Sweetings Cay.  Nitrox was first used by the Team during the Lucy's push in the summer of 2001.  Also, for the first time, portable compressors are used in the pine forest, reducing the amount of tank hauling during the two week period. 

2001 Highlights:

  The first Americans in Lucy's?  We think so.

Pictures and survey data taken at Lucy's cave.  Over 3000' of additional surveyed passage was added to the 900' of original Palmer survey.  A new, somewhat easier entrance was found into this large system.  

Water sample taken from a depth of 12 feet into Lucy's cave, with Hubert Tate, a town councilman present.  The verdict: Not suitable for human consumption.  This is significant since there existed some threat  that water supply wells may approach this area of the island.  Sweetings Cay currently has no source of enough potable water to pipe to every household.    

Initial surface survey and some limited penetration was performed in 5 blue holes contained in a tidal lake, situated between Big Creek and Thrift Harbour.  These locations were coarsely determined during an aerial GPS survey the year before.  

The dingy dock nearest the lens caves.

Gary poses with the replenishment reel, originally holding 5000 feet of knotted line.

Chris monitors a tank fill at Mr. Coopers hotel in Sweetings Cay.  Half of the team stayed in the hotel, the balance aboard Islander. 

Life aboard Islander, August 2001