A far more formal expedition that the initial 2013 exploration, this was the first formal MKEP (Madagascar Karst Exploration Project) supported and co-sponsored by National Geographic and the National Science Foundation.

Three key projects were on the agenda with a fourth possible lead on a new cave to be explored.

1. Survey, record in situ, document and sample the fossil depository discovered in Aven in conjunction with Palaeontologists and with collaboration from three Universities, University of Massachusetts Amherst, City University of New York and University of Antananarivo.
2. Push and explore Mitoho the first flooded cave discovered by the team in 2013
3. Push and explore Malazamanga, including developing an understanding of the massive room, now known a ‘Ryans room’ discovered again in 2013.
4. Build relationships with the local community and try to gain access to Andakatomivola, a cave regarded as sacred by locals and unknown in terms of potential.

Aven

On returning Aven proved to be a far richer depository than realised. Both in quality and quantity of the fossil record. Conducting in situ recordings before team members began collection under the supervision of the palaeontologists a proper survey and location grid was established. The fossils themselves were of incredible quality, many fully intact and a window into the ecological past of the unique region.

Mitoho

Pushing further in this cave the team moved through a number of small restrictions, only possible to pass through by using sidemount configurations. Although the cave ended in dead end walls, it offered up compensation for the teams efforts in three fully intact and perfectly preserved Cryptoprocta spelea or giant Fossa fossils, an extinct cat like predator as big as the Grey wolf. Potentially with one pair of these fossils identifying the cave as their lair in eons past when the system would have been dry. Working again with the University experts responsible collection was conducted revealing the possibility of new species from the deeper section of the cave.

Malazamanga

The process of exploring a flooded cave system can be challenging not just from the remoteness of the location, the logistics of getting gas, safety and more, but simply in the scale of the task. Characterised by large rooms and long passageways, often separated by small restrictions requiring partial removal of the divers equipment, quantifying and understanding of the size of the Malazamanga cave in the pitch dark, lit only by the divers lights is immense. In fact until filming quality lighting systems of many tens of thousands of lumen were brought into the cave, what at first were tought to be walls turned into massive columns of rock. In addition what were thought to be additional passageways revealed themselves at a single, 200 meter plus wide chamber.

As the scale and depth of this cave literally came to light, the need to push past and onwards at 50m of depth and beyond the 15,000 feet penetration already achieved highlighted the need for a different equipment driven approach. Closed Circuit Rebreathers were needed.

Andakatomivola

There was a rumour of caves existing 80 km north of Tulear in Madagascar. Once the initial projects were completed and the rest of the team returned home, Philip, Ryan and Patrick braved a nine hour 4x4 drive through Madagascar’s most remote, although beautiful deserts. Not knowing if they would have to sleep in the cars the team managed to connect with Pierrot, a swiss national who was the epitome of hospitality. Pierrot was also able to introduce the team to Chief Fahazoa who would be key to being allowed to enter the sacred caves.

Much consternation and loud arguments ensued once the Chief and locals understood that the team was looking to access the caves. Until Phillip pulled out his phone and shared a video of cave diving, at which point the strong arguments and conflict resolved into curiosity and wonderment.

After a sacred ceremony performed by the Chief, permission was granted. Access though was tough, small dry cave restrictions, sharp, spiny forest and boulder collapses finally open up into a dry cave with a slope down to the water. This cave is home to many bats and the water is slimy, full of rotting dead bats, roaches, centipedes and more. A quick free dive to 5m by Ryan suggests it may go.

Usually the coin toss winner goes first in exploration, not this time and Philip ‘lost’ only to win after a 22m dive through the surface detritus, down through tannic water into what was described as ‘the most decorated cave anyone has ever seen’.