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Exploration and Discovery Editorials |
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| Beneath the White Sea: Diving Russia's Arctic |
| Text by By Michael Salvarezza & Christopher P. Weaver |
| We had come to this remote spot a week earlier filled with both excitement and anxiety over the prospects of exploring the icy waters of the White Sea. Nestled alongside the Kola Peninsula, and straddling the Arctic Circle, the White Sea, technically part of the Barents Sea, is the only inland sea to completely freeze in the winter. |
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| Blue Holes of Cay Sal Bank |
Text by Brock Brinkerhoff
Photography by Curt Bowen |
The wall itself was a constant reminder of the tremendous processes that created it. Some areas contained enormous breakdown piles, while others were sheer faces – not unlike those seen in the Grand Canyon.
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| Crocodile Cave • Abaco Bahama |
Text by Brian Kakuk
Photography by Curt Bowen |
| The cave associated with this sink is an interesting mix of solutional passages, eroded speleothems, and unique, deep mud banks that show evidence of drying and cracking during ancient low sea levels, the latter item being found as deep as 170 feet in some parts of the system. |
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| Discovery of Sacred Waters |
Text by Rusty Farst
Photography by Curt Bowen |
| One of the most magnificently decorated cenotes ever discovered in the state of the Yucatan revealed itself for the first time to Explorer Brett Hemphill. Squeezing through a small hole he dropped through the roof of an immense crystal clear chamber filled with enormous stalactites and the Yucatan’s largest standing stalagmite measuring over 15 feet in diameter and standing over 40 feet tall. |
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| Iglesia • Hidden Passages Expose Mayan History |
Text by Tracy Raz
Photography by Jeff Toorish and Curt Bowen |
| The Maya participated in human sacrifice and brutal games in which the loser (or, some would argue, the winner) would pay the ultimate price of death. During these religious events, the Maya offered special sacrifices into these cenotes in an effort to satisfy their gods. |
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| Lago De Yojoa • Where water accumlates on the earth |
Text by Chris Borgen
Photography by Erik Foreman and Chris Borgen |
| It is easily one of the most picturesque places in all of Central America. With unsurpassed amounts of fresh water and local fishing, it’s no wonder the families in this area date back to the pre classic period. |
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| Mayans, Myths, and Monsters |
Text by Jeff Toorish
Photography by Curt Bowen and Jeff Toorish |
| As with so many deep lakes, Atitlan is home to an alleged monster. The myth goes something like this: During mid-day when the winds whip around the volcanoes and high mountains, the water of the lake becomes angry. The fabled lake monster, a serpent, lures boats to the center of the lake where it sucks them to the depths, never to be seen again. |
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| Mystical Faces Escape from Captive Places |
Text by Jeff Toorish
Photography by Curt Bowen and Jeff Toorish |
| There have long been rumors of an underwater city beneath the waves of the lake. One theory holds that an earthquake pushed an existing Mayan city into the lake; the other notion suggests a city built close to the lake was flooded when the waters rose tens of thousands of years ago. |
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| New Cave - Old Species • Dominican Republic Cave Exploration |
Text by Lindsey Pickel
Photography by Curt Bowen |
| We “power snorkeled” the sump in teams of two in order to maximize visibility. Like the other caves, we were met with bone-white limestone and perfect visibility, but that is where the similarities ended. Once we reached the cave’s dry passage, we were amazed by the pristine dry formations that stretched as far as you could see. |
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| Osprey Reef • Close to the Edge |
Text by Ross Isaacs
Photography by Lance Robb and Ross Isaacs |
| Discovered in 1803, Osprey Reef is located 120 nautical miles east of the Australian mainland, beyond the Great Barrier Reef. The reef is perched on top of an isolated seamount in the Coral Sea and is not part of the Great Barrier Reef system itself. It rises over a kilometre up from the deep-sea floor to the ocean’s surface. |
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| Peten Itza • Discovery Beneath the Emerald Waters |
Text by Keith Ambrose
Photography by Curt Bowen |
| Searching the shoreline, we quickly discover specific locations where the locals still come to the water’s edge to wash, collect water, and fish. Since many of these cultures have changed very little over the last few thousand years, we figured that the paths they follow today are more than likely the same paths followed for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. |
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| Quilotoa • Ecuador's Volcanic Crater |
Text by ADM Explorer Erik Foreman
Photography by Luis Ya Lamuaya |
| Extreme solo diving is not for everyone; but for me, this only added to the challenge. How would I know my mix at altitude in the thin air of the Ecuadorian Andes? Mathematics. |
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| Thats why they call it Exploration and not Discovery • Yucatan 2007 |
Text by Jeff Toorish
Photography by Curt Bowen and Jeff Toorish |
A strange sight for any passing cattle rancher, diver Matt Mandzieuk dresses in full side-mount and climbing equipment, makes his way through the Yucatan scrub jungle to be the first to explore the bottom of Cenote Cutzi.
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| Virgins, Violence, and Videotape |
Text by Jeff Toorish
Photography by Curt Bowen and Jeff Toorish |
| More than a dozen human remains are hidden beneath the waters of San Antonia Excucul (abbreviated to San Antonia). To enter, we must rappel through a narrow well shaft and drop about 40 feet to the water, after which it is a relatively straightforward dive. |
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| Yucatan 2010 Expedition "Get on Rope" |
Text by Jeff Toorish
Photography by Curt Bowen, Walter Pickel, and Jeff Toorish |
| At the bottom of the debris pile was what looked like an old teapot; but, upon further examination, Bowen realized it was far from a teapot. It was unique, pristine, and a very important find. |
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