In Mayotte Deep Blue Exploration resumes the path to the submerged cave

In one of our previous issues (see Dive! No. 46), the team from Deep Blue Exploration invited us to discover a submerged cave in the heart of the waters of Mayotte. A year later, they return to the site, this time to complete a full model. Gaby Barathieu shares their experience with us.

In January 2023, our first mission, named Gumbo La Baharini, aimed to extract a stalagmite over twenty thousand years old, at a depth of 75 meters. An unprecedented feat! Buoyed by this success, we donned our fins again at the beginning of the year for a second, equally innovative mission.

Almost a year after our first adventure, we once again set course for this karst-origin cave, situated 50 meters deep near Bateau Passe, in the south of Mayotte lagoon. This time, our goal is to collect all the data necessary for a 3D model of the cave. For 12 days, we will dive between 50 and 80 meters in this maze, with the hope of achieving a new world first.

A significant challenge

The underwater structure of the cave is particularly complex, with winding paths, several large rooms, constrictions, collapsed blocks, and stalagmites and stalactites, many of which have fallen to the ground following ancient earthquakes. Moreover, very volatile sediment deposit areas add to the complexity. This geological formation, over 130 meters long and unique to Mayotte and the Indian Ocean, captures the attention of many scientists.