A.R.E.'s Search for Atlantis Project— Andros-Bimini Update
Andros
We returned to Andros Island on June 16, 2003 to investigate another possible underwater area that reportedly had a stone formation similar to the previously reported multi-tiered Stone Platform. In addition, we had planned on meeting a production crew at Andros, which was filming an Atlantis Search documentary for The Learning Channel. Upon our arrival at Andros however, a phone call informed us that the crew wanted us to immediately go to Bimini. This simply wasn't possible, so we remained on Andros for 2 days. During this time we interviewed Dino Keller, the former dive operator who had informed us about the underwater formation and also looked at several underwater sites. We discovered another area of gigantic, smooth stones not far from the original site. This area was huge and was not formed in levels. It was at the same depth as the original site (10 feet) and was at least 100 yards by 100 yards in extent, forming a massive, flat platform. We also looked at the original site and viewed areas we had not previously seen. All of these areas were quite impressive and showed the three tiers comprised of 2-foot thick stones, most of which were 25 by 30 feet. We now have a working hypothesis on both the Andros Platform and the Bimini Road, which we will present in October at the Ancient Mysteries conference as well in the book and video.
At Bimini we met the production crew and David Hatcher Childress, founder of the World Explorers Club and author of some of the most intriguing travel books ever written. The production crew was simultaneously filming two documentaries and David was the prime person involved in their Bermuda Triangle documentary. Greg scuba dived the Bimini Road with David for two hours, filming David the entire time for the documentary. In addition, David measured the area for electromagnetic anomalies using a meter Greg brought along.
Bimini Investigations—The Straight Lines Off NE Bimini
Two areas of Bimini were investigated for the Atlantis documentary. Both of these areas were chosen because the A.R.E.’s satellite survey project had identified possible sites with anomalies. With the production crew along we went to the area of the long underwater straight lines. At this site, located near NE Bimini, a host of interviews and other activities were filmed. We then snorkeled the area and looked at several of the lines. These all turned out to be simple formations of sand channels and seaweed made by consistent water movements. The dive operators were quite familiar with the lines. The brownish formation on the tops of the lines appeared, on the satellite images, to possibly be stones. But seaweed growing on the summits of several large sand channels was the culprit. The reason for the odd formations was explained by locals as relating to consistent water currents and how seaweed tends to form in places where currents are minimal.
Explanation Of The Mysterious 200-Foot Circle Off South Bimini
After the production crew returned to Miami, we immediately went back to South Bimini to search for the circle. An earlier effort to locate this circle with their research boat had failed. But following a dead-reckoning course we had previously made, we landed right on top of the circle within 10 minutes. The circle is elevated at least 5-feet off the bottom and has well-defined sides. It also has two large depressions within it. These depressions are about 4-5 feet deep and have vertical sides. The next morning we closely inspected and videotaped the circle while scuba diving it. Two quite interesting stone objects were removed from it, one of which was a reddish brick found about four feet down an outer wall. The other stone was found about a foot inside the bottom of one of the vertical walls forming one of the depressions inside the circle. Both of these were sent off to a chemical lab for testing.
Our working hypothesis about the circle was that it had been formed by a crashed plane. That does not appear to be the case. Results from the lab analysis showed that the brick had been produced after 1950s and the other stone was a common calcium formation. We conclude that the most likely solution to the mysterious elevated circle is that it is manmade. In brief, we think that a load of building materials was dumped there sometime in the mid-to-late 1900s.
