TheLedge
Master Guide
Reged: 01/30/06
Posts: 11484
Loc: East London. UK
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Crystal Cave is one of the most spectacular and best known caves in Bermuda. It was discovered in March 1904 by a 13 year old boy named Carl Gibbons, while playing with his brothers and a friend named Edgar Hollis.
The boys found a hole in the ground and after pulling aside some rocks, they found the cave. On 17th March 1907, Percy Wilkinson, his father Julian and Percy's three brothers Stephen, Bernard and Kenneth were shown the entrance to the cave by a young boy named John Hollis. The Wilkinsons returned the next day and set about exploring the cave. What they found was a silent world of delicate and incredible splendour - magnificent crystal stalactites and stalagmites surrounding a clear lake extending to depths over 16m. The father and his four sons formed a partnership and proceeded to develop the cave. A much travelled American friend of Percy Wilkinson told him about pontoon bridges that he had seen in Europe and Asia and prepared plans. The pontoon bridge was built and the cave was opened to the public on 8th January 1908. In 1912 the existing tunnel was excavated to provide better access, as the attraction was so popular with visitors that it was necessary to abandon the original access and create an easier method of entry. The cave has been kept open continuously by the Wilkinson Family since 8th January 1908. These caves had such a great effect on one young visitor that later, when he became Jim Henson's creative director, he used it as the basis for Fraggle Rock.
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One day you may be the Bug, another you may be the Windshield
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marcfx51
Tourist
Reged: 03/16/06
Posts: 17
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An exellent post and with such a boyhood's dream of discovery.
Nice one 
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TheLedge
Master Guide
Reged: 01/30/06
Posts: 11484
Loc: East London. UK
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Thanks, I must admit, that while down there you can just imagine what they must have been thinking.
Unfortunately there is no disabled access and it is a very steep climb down some steps carved out of the rock. So my Father-in-law couldn't see it when he visited.
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One day you may be the Bug, another you may be the Windshield
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TheLedge
Master Guide
Reged: 01/30/06
Posts: 11484
Loc: East London. UK
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More than $10,000 of specialist cave diving equipment was stolen from Crystal Cave on Thursday night, stalling a three-month study into the unexplored submerged caverns beneath us.
Researcher Terrence Tysall and his team are now appealing to the public to return the equipment — with no questions asked. As the gear is solely for use among cave divers, it is of no use to the average scuba diver and could even do them harm.
Mr. Tysall is one of the world's cave diving experts but is also a US Army intelligence officer who has recently returned from Iraq. "I've been away from my wife and son since May 15 and I just got back from Iraq prior to that, so every day away from my family is precious," said Mr. Tysall.
"This project is also important for Bermuda. We would like to help Bermudians appreciate these beautiful caves."
The team have been exploring the Walsingham cave system, mapping submerged tunnels and caverns never before seen by man.
They have even discovered a passage between Crystal Cave and Deep Blue — a pool in Tom Moore's jungle.
Source
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One day you may be the Bug, another you may be the Windshield
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