Bermuda: Search for Deep Water Caves 2009 on the R/V Endurance between 20090905 and 20090930

Deep-water marine caves are one of the Earth's last largely
unexplored frontiers of undiscovered fauna (animal life). More than 150
limestone caves are known to exist in or near the island of Bermuda. Many of
these caves have extensive but relatively shallow submerged portions that
connect to the sea via tidal springs along the coastline. These inland caves are
inhabited by a number of diverse eyeless and colorless crustaceans and other
invertebrates. Many of these organisms are "living fossils"; and some are most
closely related to deep-sea organisms. While previous investigations of marine
caves have been limited to those within shallow depths (less than 50 meters/164
feet), current research suggests that caves can occur at almost any depth within
the sea. The geological history of Bermuda, coupled with biological evidence
(cave-adapted species), indicates a strong possibility for the presence of
deep-water caves near the island. Thus, Bermuda offers an idea location to
search for and to study deep-water caves.