Bayahibe
PADRE NUESTRO

Directly across the street form the pumping station is a small sink with a big tree trunk. this goes down to about 10 meters and directly in front a few meters past the warning sign the mainline starts. The first part of the cave is highly decorated and very wide, after swimming a while the line passes through a small restriction were depending on the rains you may or may not feel a flow.
After this the cave opens into a huge room with giant stalactites every were, if it has been raining there will be multicolored tannic water on the ceiling. The line eventually goes up into a breakdown area and the cave chokes out. Swimming back to the cavern zone, if you follow the cavern walls straight you will get to the downstream side of the cave, which was first found by Dave Pratt and Cristian Pittaro in Feb 2008, this area is radically different and is dark tannic stained rock with less decorations and very silty, here you will feel the flow as the water is siphoned out through the tunnel.

This section of the cave was surveyed and line placed in May 2010 as part the proyect of exploring Manantial La Oculta, and to identify the source of the water to it. It was surveyed by Cristian Pittaro and Dave Pratt, the downstream has a total of 225' and ends in a round and silty room with a nice column in the center.

The cave can be seen using two AL80's and due to the easy access and large size tunnels is suitable to BM.

As with all caves in the Bayahibe area you need to register with the Medio Ambiente office in Bayahibe and pay the park fee before diving.
Locals at the pumping station will carry your tanks down and watch the car for a fee.

Click for large version of Padre Nuestro map

Please check the links section for this area's dive shops, hotels and filling stations.

Photos Phillip Lehman