![]() Seven of the POIs investigated with the ROV, including four on southwestern edge of the main platform and three on the eastern side of Challenger Bank, were found to have possible caves extending back from them. During six days of ROV dives, 25 of the highest potential POI’s were explored during 33 ROV dives totaling 25 cumulative hours. The second phase of this research involved of the use of an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) to conduct dives on potential deep-water caves. Image courtesy of Rikk Kvitek, Bermuda Deep Water Caves 2011 Exploration, NOAA-OER. Each of these features were inspected, measured and catalogued as potential candidates for ROV dive targets. Also note numerous “voids” or dark holes without data in the 3D point cloud view of the slope in the top frame. Profile slice is only a few meters across. Note deeply incised overhang with undercut floor in profile view (lower left) suggestive of a cave entrance. ![]() ROV ExplorationsĬhallenger Bank as seen in CARIS subset mode showing point cloud data in 3D mode, profile and plan views. The heads of several submarine landslides were discovered around the perimeter of the Bermuda shelf break suggestive of significant mass wasting activity down the flanks of the seamount (Fig. They included enclosed karstic sinkholes, numerous ledges, overhangs, possible cave entrances, and near vertical submarine cliff faces between ~80-160 m depths with vertical gullies, sand-floored ledges and landslides. These points of interest were primarily located at northwest, north, east and southwest sides of the main platform and on the southern and eastern margins of Challenger Bank. Numerous potential caves sites including 161 “points of interest” or potential cave locations were located by examining multibeam profiles of the sea bottom. The aim of the mapping was to locate potential deep water caves sites by examining multibeam profiles of the sea bottom to find consistent gaps in the data record which could indicate a void (Fig. More than 180 kilometers (112 miles) of sea floor around the 100 m contour (including ~60-200 m depths) were mapped around the entire perimeter of the main Bermuda Platform and ¾ of the Challenger Bank (Fig. This ship was intentionally sunk in 1930 and lies upright on the bottom in 18 m water depths of the North Lagoon. Download larger version (jpg, 905 KB).ĭuring the initial calibration of the multibeam, the wreck of the dredge ship King George was mapped in order to test the equipment (Fig. Note that the 180 m contour derived from nautical charts (light blue line) varies considerably in some locations from our more precisely mapped position (darker line). ![]() Contour lines are from current nautical charts. Points of Interest, indicating potential cave entrances, are marked by red triangles, while ROV dive sites are indicated by green circles. Multibeam map of the shelf edge of the Bermuda Platform and Challenger Bank overlaid on top of the nautical chart of the island.
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