Cave surveys of Jamaica

Potoo Hole

Jackson's Bay, Clarendon

WARNING

The air in Potoo Hole is of bad quality. The moment we entered the cave we began to sweat very hard, our breathing went three times faster and we felt very hot. We believe there are unusually high levels of carbon dioxide in some parts the cave. On the basis of our physiological reactions we can make an estimation of 2-5 % carbon dioxide. Normally this level is only 0.03 % (10 % C02 is considered deadly). But if we want to know it for sure, the real level has to be measured with analytical instruments.

"Potoo" or "Patoo" is the Jamaican patwa for "owl". Indeed, a large Barn owl (Tyo alba) is usually present on a ledge above the pit.

Potoo Hole is located in the thick bush in the low hills behind the salt pond to the immediate east of Jackson's Bay Club House. Take the roadway leading from the Club House along the coast towards Taylor's Hut. After 500 m turn to the left. With a bit of luck you will find a hidden path in the bush. This is the "Main Track" and is used by pigeon shooters and others. There is a junction after 200 m. The right track is the "Yellow Route" and leads to Jackson's Bay Cave. The left one is the "Red Route" and goes in the direction of Potoo Hole. A hundred metres further, after a steep rocky ascent, a small dead tree is found with a rusty iron tag (10 cm x 10 cm) nailed on it. Turn to the east and leave the track. After 25 m the big Entrance 1 of Potoo Hole is reached. Just before the dead tree there is a trail to the left. This was cleared by us in 1996 and leads to Entrance 2 of Potoo Hole and is marked with red-white tape. Starting from Entrance 2 there is another trail marked with yellow tape leading to Entrance 3.

Descending the 19 metres deep pit of Entrance 1, a large complex chamber is entered. This is the 120 metres long and 50 m wide Big Chamber. The Arawak pictographs are located to the NE of the bottom of the pit. To the SE of the Arawak Gallery there are some smaller chambers. Tarzan's Den is located to the SW of the entrance. Just two little chambers which can be reached by climbing a 4 m high guano hill.

To the NW there is utmost darkness, the continuation of the Big Chamber. 15 m further the chamber is split in two because a massive, strangely corroded, rock is standing in the middle. To the S a climb up over a 10 m high guano hill leads to the 70 m long Cable Room. Indeed, large roots like huge cables hang down from the ceiling and plunge 15 m lower in the guano in search of water. At the far end of the chamber there is a low passage leading to Hopeless Sump. Jackson's Bay Cave is now only 60 m away but the ceiling becomes lower till it is lost in a guano sump. Back in the Big Chamber continuing to the W is a 1 m high and 3 m wide passage. Immediately to the left there are two low passages leading to Crab Sump, a 30 m long lake filled with brackish water and home of a family of big blue crabs. But the main way is straight ahead along a low guano rich crawl leading to the Cross Roads. This is a chaotic zone which leads through some collapses to a higher part of the cave. Through the first collapse a big room is reached. To the west a blowing crawl leads to the next room. At the end of this room there are two possibilities, both leading through a collection of passages and other chambers and an ascending chaotic region to entrance 2 or Lightning Hole. This entrance is a squeeze through the boulders. From entrance 2 descending to the W, taking a 5 metre climb down and then going to the left, following the right wall, a small blowing hole is reached. This is the key passage to Adam's Den. From here on the cave has a different character. The air is much more comfortable and there is less guano. Continuing to the far end of Adam's Den there are two possibilities. The crawl to the W leads through a series of chaotic chambers to entrance 3. The long crawl to the S has one obstacle, the Belgian Squeeze. From here on the passages become wider again and soon there are some big chambers. The last chamber ends at a deep, 10 m wide lake, Hilde's Bathroom. To the S there is a low passage and it seems that the lake continues...