Get ready to hear about our latest guided cavern dive! We plunged into the depths of one of our favourite dive sites - the incredible Cueva de Los Cerebros "Cave of brains" (aka "Abama Cave"), nestled near the luxurious Abama hotel in the sun-drenched southwest corner of Tenerife. The dive was challenging, but oh-so-rewarding - we had an absolute blast exploring this underwater wonderland!
Prepare to be amazed! The cave is formed by mesmerising volcanic tubes that will leave you in awe. And that's not all - it's also declared a Special Area of Conservation due to its incredibly rare and fragile ecosystem. And get this: it's one of the largest and most impressive caves in the archipelago!
You won't believe the incredible creatures lurking in the depths of this cave! Aptly named for its eerie inhabitants - brain-shaped sponges - this place is truly a sight to behold. In fact, these fascinating sponges are so unique and special that they've made it into the Canary Islands Catalogue of Endangered Species! It's just one more reason why this dive site is an absolute must-see. Dive into the unknown and discover the hidden treasures of this magnificent cave!
Picture this:
The sun is shining, the warm breeze is caressing your skin, and you're about to dive into the crystal-clear waters... Or are you? Unfortunately, the weather wasn't on our side, and a pesky rainstorm the day before made for less-than-perfect conditions underwater. The visibility wasn't quite what we hoped for, but that didn't stop us from having a great time exploring this incredible cave!
Get ready to gear up and dive deep!
We had quite the task ahead of us, as we all opted for the sidemount configuration and brought along extra stage bottles. But hey, nothing worth doing is ever easy, right? Once we prepared all our equipment, we jumped into the water and carefully performed all the necessary safety checks. Then, it was time to take the plunge and head towards the cave, brimming with excitement and anticipation for what lay ahead.
The journey to the cave was anything but smooth sailing - with the underwater visibility even worse than when we started, we found ourselves a little disoriented, but after a bit of a struggle, we finally stumbled upon the entrance to the cave, nestled at a depth of 12 metres. With excitement building, we fixed our stage bottles onto a line and prepared to enter this mysterious and alluring underwater world!
Safety measures
First things first - we need to secure our entry point. We tie off a line outside the cave, making sure we have a clear path to the surface in case things get hairy. Armed with a 120-metre-long line on a trusty reel, we make our way into the cave. It's time to light up the darkness and capture some amazing footage! We come prepared with not one, not two, but THREE powerful lights each - a trusty primary light and two backup lights for good measure. And just in case that wasn't enough, we also brought along some camera lights to record every breathtaking moment of our journey through the cave. Along the way, we strategically tie off the line to ensure our safety as we venture further and further into the mysterious "unknown". It's all part of the adventure - and we wouldn't have it any other way!
Mother Nature may not have been on our side that day, but we didn't let that dampen our spirits! As we mentioned earlier, the underwater visibility wasn't exactly ideal, and the swirling particles in the water made for some slightly blurry footage on our cameras. But well, that's just how it is sometimes! We didn't let a little bad luck ruin our dive, and we still managed to have an absolute blast exploring the depths of the cave. After all, sometimes it's the unexpected twists and turns that make the journey all the more exciting!
Ready to meet the locals?
The cave is teeming with all sorts of fascinating creatures! We saw some nimble little shrimps, scuttling crabs and a majestic lobster; this cave is just bursting with life! We were lucky to catch a glimpse of a few mysterious and graceful stingrays as they glided effortlessly through the water. It's like stepping into an alien world - one where the creatures are strange and wondrous - and where every turn brings a new and unexpected surprise.
When it’s time to leave…
It's always a bittersweet moment when we hit our turning pressure - on one hand, it's a reminder that our time in this magical underwater world is limited. On the other hand, it's a sign that it's time to start heading back to the surface and sharing our incredible experiences with the world. After exploring the cave, one of our team reached their turning pressure, so we all agreed to leave this incredible place behind and make our way back to open water. We reeled our line back as we exited the cave, picked up our stage bottles and started to swim to our exit point.
Just when we thought our dive couldn't get any better, we were greeted by some of the friendliest cuttlefish we've ever seen! These curious creatures swam right up to us, seemingly eager to say hello and show off their mesmerising colours and patterns. It was an unexpected and delightful surprise - the kind of magical moment that makes diving so special. After spending some quality time with our new friends, we eventually made our way back to the surface, feeling exhilarated and grateful for yet another incredible underwater adventure. It was certainly a journey we'll never forget!
The serious part!
When it comes to cave diving, safety is always the number one priority. Even caves that are considered "small" or "easy" can present unique challenges and risks that require the same level of caution and preparedness as more complex systems. That's why, despite the relative simplicity of the Cueva de Los Cerebros (aka Abama Cave), we take our procedures just as seriously as we would in any other underwater overhead environment.
First and foremost, we always make sure to carefully plan and prepare for our dives, taking into account factors such as the weather, tides, and currents. We ensure that all of our equipment is in top working order and that we have backup gear and redundant systems in place. Before entering the water, we conduct a thorough pre-dive safety check and review our communication and emergency procedures.
Once we're in the cave, we maintain constant awareness of our surroundings, monitoring our air supply and depth, and watching for potential issues such as narrow passageways, low visibility, or entanglement hazards. We always dive with a minimum of two people and maintain continuous communication with each other, using hand or light signals to stay in contact and ensure each other's safety.
In short, even though Cueva de Los Cerebros is a relatively small and straightforward cave, we never let our guard down when it comes to safety. By following strict procedures and protocols, we can enjoy the beauty and wonder of the underwater world while minimising the risks and ensuring that we all make it safely back to the surface.
Cavern and cave diving is a highly specialised form of scuba diving that requires a different set of skills, knowledge, and equipment than recreational diving. Unlike open water diving, where the diver can always swim to the surface in case of an emergency, cavern and cave diving involves diving in an overhead environment, where the diver cannot directly ascend to the surface.
To ensure safe and enjoyable dives, it is crucial to have the proper training and equipment for cavern and cave diving. This includes obtaining a specialised certification, such as the Cavern or Cave Diver, which teaches divers how to navigate and dive safely in an overhead environment. It also requires specialised equipment, such as redundant air supply, reels, lines, and multiple sources of light, which are necessary for maintaining communication and ensuring safety in low visibility conditions.
Unfortunately, many divers underestimate the risks and dangers of diving in an overhead environment. We see many open-water divers entering caves without the necessary training and equipment, even professional divers (instructors) that should know better - but for some reason, they are ignoring the standards and procedures - taking other divers inside caverns or caves. It is extremely dangerous, as unexpected events can occur at any time, such as equipment failure or disorientation, and divers may not know how to react and safely exit the cave.
It is crucial to remember that cave diving accidents can happen to experienced divers, and it’s not worth taking the risk to dive in a cave. So, if you are interested in cavern or cave diving, take the time to get the right training and equipment, and always plan your dives carefully and responsibly.
Would you like to join our next Guided Cavern dive? Check out the DETAILS RIGHT HERE.
TOTAL RUNTIME: 119 minutes
MAX. DEPTH: 16 meters / 52ft
NUM. OF DIVERS: 3
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