The key focus for this expedition was to drive deeper into Anjanamba, pushing the exploration using technologies never before brought to bear in this region.

Previous expeditions had revealed two significant limits for further exploration, the first being the open circuit scuba technologies, which in context of the depth and distance native to this cave were now maxed out. The second was the way forward meant passing through small holes and passages that larger backmounted closed circut technologies could not fit through. A new approach was required.

Patrick and Phillip decided to use a sidemounted CCR where the units key components are mounted on the side of the divers body, along with its gas supply tanks, thereby reducing the overall size and profile of the diver, allowing for penetration into the small tight restrictive passages identified.

Immediately this approach paid off with several reels of line being laid in the southern aspect of the cave, the area the team felt most likely to develop given the cave had not previosuly revealed any key directional trends. Soon though the cave would issue a challenge to those who wished to reveal its secrets.

After hours of working all possible ways on in the cave the team exhausted the obvious southbound options. Resolving to look at the less promising north aspects Patrick pushed through a sidemount restriction, handed the reel to Phillip and emergeged into what at first look was a dead end room, however a small vertical passage past the boulders turned south and although the passage was very small continued for an entire reel.

Adding a second reel a small opening in crystal clear waters opened up into the largest space yet seen in Ananjamba. Combining both flooded cave to a depth of 24m as well as dry cave sections it is so large that even in crystal clear waters the extent of the space and it’s distant walls cannot be seen.

Exploring this room no obvious way on was revelaed and the team was bordering on 6 hours of dive time and still had several hours left to exit. Now named Fahzoa’s chamber in memory of the Chief Fahzoa who passed away earlier in 2019 the room had one small possibility for further exploration, a small, tight and insignificant looking lead in the floor of the room, that was at least heading south.

The following day the entire team head to explore a new lead and after filming for the ‘spirits of the cave 3’ Phillip and Patrick head back to Fahzoa’s chamber filming with cameras mounte don their scooters (diver propulsion vehicles). Returning to the potential led Phillip had marked, Patrick descened vertically down 30m into this dark hole in the floor. Levelling off into an unusually eroded passage Patrcik returns so that Phillip cn join in the push forward. Only a few ties offs later the passage opens out in another huge and highly decorted room with multiple options for future exploration.

The breakthrough has been made, 35,000 feet of passage surveyed and cave of incredible scale and potential, with incredible decoration has been found.