The EHCP was very pleased to host Mr. Brian Kakuk, world renowned cave diver, researcher, and photographer, for our 2nd annual fundraising event. Brian has explored and mapped many of the now famous blue holes of The Bahamas, and had much to share on the biology, ecology, geology, and archeology of these beautiful, but often overlooked ecosystems.

Tuesday, Brian led an up close and fascinating tour of a few of the blue holes of Elizabeth Harbour with Dive Exuma. The group visited Angelfish Blue Hole and Mystery Cave on Stocking Island as well as a little known cave near Crab Cay.

On Tuesday evening, Brian stunned the audience with his photos of crystals, enormous underwater caverns, fossilized remains of animals that existed in The Bahamas thousands of years ago, and the oldest dated remains of a Lucayan Indian. There are very few people in the world who get to see the wonders found beneath and within the limestone rock of The Bahamas, so it was great opportunity to experience it through the eyes of someone who is as passionate and skilled about exploring, documenting, and protecting blue holes as Brian is.

A highlight of the evening was his gift of a speleothem taken from one of the blue holes of Great Exuma, which he first explored with the local knowledge of Mr. Basil Minns, a founder and director of the EHCP. Mr. Minns was happy to add to the evening a bit of story-telling about a mermaid that guards a treasure in “Mystery Cave”. A crowd enjoyed the celebration with a Bar B Que and dancing afterward at the Peace and Plenty Inn in George Town.

We owe many thanks to those that supported the EHCP event this year including Brian Kakuk, the Peace and Plenty Inn, the Exuma Foundation, Dive Exuma, Audley Dames and the Sweet Love Band, St. Andrews Anglican Church and the folks that joined us on the blue hole tour.