Crystal Caves
Now if our cricket ball falls down a hole in the ground, the last thing we are going to do is go underground to retrieve it. A simple visit to the shop and purchase of a replacement would suffice. However, we are the products of a throwaway society, something that Carl Gibbons and Edgar Hollis were blissfully unaware of. In 1905, when their ball disappeared, they delved into the ground and discovered what is now known as the Crystal Caves.
The Crystal Caves are the most famous of many caves in Bermuda and are named after the crystal clear water that fills the caves. The clarity is so perfect that it is possible to see the cave floor, which at one point lies 55 feet below the water’s surface. Guided tours begin every 30 minutes and visitors will be relieved to know they enter the cave via an entrance carved into the rock (the guide will point out the hole the boys used) and down a series of steps. From here, visitors take a tour of the cave walking on a wooden pontoon constructed over the water.
The guide provides a running commentary on the history and geology of the cave. Visitors are shown formations that resemble the Manhattan Skyline, the face of Bob Marley and other familiar images. The cave is full of illuminated stalagmites and stalactites that have taken millions of years to form. Sometimes they join to form a single column from floor to ceiling.
In 2001, the Fantasy Cave was re-opened. It was discovered and opened to the public around the same time as the Crystal Cave but closed by the owners in the 1940’s. It includes a fossilised tree root protruding from the cave’s roof. Combination tickets for both caves are available.
Café Ole, located at the caves, serves light meals, snacks and drinks and the attraction also has a gift shop.
Reviews / Comments / Additional Information
During my brief 3-day vacation in Bermuda in July, 2009, the country was on holiday for cricket matches between rival parishes. Crystal & Fantasy Caves was one of the few attractions that were open. These were among the most beautiful caves I visited. Got many beautiful shots inside. The admission price for the 2 caves was worth every penny.