Lee Bay (Great Camanoe): Exploring the Lava Tube Cave, British Virgin Islands

Dropping into Lee Bay on the south side of Great Camanoe, the immediate impression is one of gentle exploration, an invitation to a sheltered world. The dive begins with a clear visual line towards the island, where the most distinctive feature of this site, a lava-formed 'grotte', awaits. This underwater cave is not merely a recess but a geological window, offering insight into the volcanic past that sculpted these islands and now provides a unique habitat for a variety of marine life.

As you approach the entrance of the cave, situated at a comfortable 6 meters, the light plays on the volcanic rock formations. This entrance acts as a natural beacon, guiding you into a darker, yet equally vibrant, interior where the true residents of this unique structure reveal themselves. The transition from the open reef to the cave interior is subtle, requiring a mindful adjustment to the shifting ambient light and the confined space, enhancing the sense of discovery as you penetrate deeper.

Within the protected confines of this subterranean world, life thrives on the cave walls and ceiling. Here, you'll encounter numerous lobsters, often tucked into crevices, their antennae waving tentatively from their hidden perches. The striped coral shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) are particularly prominent, their distinctive patterns making them easy to spot as they meticulously clean the rocks, offering a moment of quiet observation as they go about their relentless work.

Further inside, or sometimes just at the entrance, you'll be enveloped by shimmering schools of glassy sweepers (Pempheris schomburgkii). These fish congregate in dense formations, their bodies reflecting the limited light, creating a mesmerising, living curtain that parts and closes with your passage. Their presence adds a dynamic element to the cave, transforming it from a static geological feature into a bustling, vibrant ecosystem, alive with constant motion and subtle interactions.

The maximum depth achievable at Lee Bay is 15 meters, keeping the dive well within the scope of a relaxed exploration, even for newer divers. The gentle slope of the bay combined with the structured environment of the cave provides an ideal setting for honing buoyancy control while observing the intricate details of a specific microhabitat. This depth range ensures ample bottom time to truly absorb the distinct atmosphere and biological richness of this unique lava formation.