A&M Professor Descends Into Deepest Cave in the World

The old adage that there are still so many unexplored places on earth was proven once again on January 5 – 11, 2013. During that week, Tom Iliffe, professor of marine biology and one of the world’s most experienced cave diving scientists, and several others conducted an expedition into the Phantom Springs Cave.

Phantom Springs Cave, located in Jeff Davis Country, Texas, was considered the 14th deepest cave in the United States. However, this past January, Iliffe and his team proved that the west Texas cavern is actually the deepest cave in the country.

The Phantom Springs Cave consists of several natural springs that flow throughout a system of caves. The cave extends to unknown depths, but Iliffe and his team were able to dive 462 feet without finding the end.

In a press release Iliffe stated:

“There’s really no telling how deep it is or how far the cave goes. This is also one of the longest underwater cave systems in the country.” (1)

Sketching Out the Cave

The overall project started back in January 2012 with Read more…