Guardian Blue Hole
Map of Guardian Blue Hole: Brian Kakuk
Cave Type: Inland blue hole - fault line cave
Location: Behring Point, North Andros Island
Length: 700 m plus
Maximum depth: 133 m
Description: Guardian Blue Hole is one of the largest and deepest faultline caves in the Bahamas. It is the second deepest cave in the Bahamas with a maximum explored depth of 133 m. The cave has two entrances, the smaller being a very small gap between boulders on the floor of the jungle 425 m south of the main entrance pond. The cave was named for a solitary barracuda that at one time inhabited the main entrance pond. Some of the walls of the cave are highly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites. Several deep pits within the cave drop from 45 m depths to more than 130 m.
Hydrology: The surface pond is fresh, with a halocline occurring at about 10 m depth. A layer of hydrogen sulfide is sometimes present at the halocline.
Diving Mode: Standard cave scuba - trimix for deep dives.
History: First explored by Brian Kakuk in 1991. Maximum depth of 133 m reached by Brian Kakuk in 1995.
Fauna: Typhlatya shrimp have been collected but no other stygobitic animals have been observed. Several species of fish inhabit the entrance pond including Bahama Sheepshead Minnow Cyprinodon variegatus baconi, Crested Goby Lophogobius cyprinoides and Mosquito Fish Gambusia hubbsi.
Conservation status: The cave is occasionally visited by divers from a nearby resort.
Contributor: Brian Kakuk, Caribbean Marine Research Center, Bahamas
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