Visiting cave experts will be illuminating the secret life of Bermuda's cave system in a special lecture to be held tonight at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

The lecture 'Protecting the Dark by Shedding Some Light', will highlight the work of a visiting team of cave experts from the US Cambrian Foundation and Texas A & M University.

The team is in Bermuda at the invitation of the Aquarium's Bermuda Biodiversity Project. The group has been working with local cave divers, scientists and educators to bring an interesting interdisciplinary programme of research and education to the Island.

The team has been taking students from CedarBridge and Berkeley Institute on virtual tours of Bermuda's submerged cave passages, teaching them about the biology, ecology, geology and hydrology of the underwater cave systems.

This unparalleled experience has provided the students with a firsthand view of the world beneath (quite literally) their homes as the team explored the submerged caves in Hamilton Parish.

With the help of LookBermuda Ltd and Gladwyn Doors, the experience was also broadcast to CedarBridge students so that the adventure could be shared with a larger class.

In addition to their educational outreach programme, the Cambrian Foundation scientists are also conducting research into the microbial communities found in the caves.

Dr. Tom Iliffe, a leading authority on Bermuda's cave fauna is also working with the team, trying to better understand the patterns and pathways of water flow through the cave system which will enable conservation goals to be more easily met.

The expedition is being supported through the generosity of Joe Smetana and his wife and the Bridge Charitable Trust. For tickets to the lecture, please contact the BUEI at 297-7314.