Sometimes the best experiences are unplanned. The Greig’s Caves were no exception. On Wednesday I had sprained my lower back and I was supposed to be doing some shore dives in Tobermory Friday afternoon. It was a tough call but I knew I was going to be diving shipwrecks on Saturday and Sunday so I made the call to sit out and rest my back on Friday.
On a previous trip to Tobermory I tried to find a spot in Lion’s Head called Greig’s Caves. They are located about 40-45 minutes from Tobermory. I had no luck the first time around but managed to find it no problem the second time around. Mark and I travelled along a dirt road through the forest until we came across a small little hut with a trailer attached to it. There was a waiver to sign and a $10 entrance fee per person. I asked the guy attending the entrance for some tips on where to go. He didn’t give too much information other than to follow the path. He added that he was reluctant to give more information because part of the fun is exploring. I liked the philosophy he tried to apply to the place. It made it more interesting not knowing where to go, it made you be more aware of your surroundings and really take in the beautiful nature trail as well as the formations around you. I took a walking stick which were free to use to help support my lower back while climbing and exploring.
We made our way down the path and started to explore. We left no cave unexplored, equipt with our scuba diving lights we were in full cave mode. Lots of the caves were hollowed out without any passageways or tunnels. There were a few that had some tunnels that we had explored but they all seemed to be very narrow and eventually lead to a dead-end. Regardless, the formations were amazing. The caves were mostly formed of dolomite limestone. It’s incredible to think that long ago these caves were all underwater and inhabited by life in the form of plant-life, crustaceans, living corals and mollusks. Currently these caves sit 250ft above the water.
What fascinated me the most (and I’m sure Mark too) was the similarity between Greig’s Caves and the Florida Spring’s caves. Despite being dry, it was very reminiscent of the Caves we dove in Ginnie Springs and Blue Grotto. You could see where the water had eroded the cave, carving out little pockets and passageways. The whole time we were just imagining what it would be like if they were submerged underwater.
It was a great detour and the perfect way to spend an afternoon hiking and exploring caves. I’d highly recommend it if you are in the area or want a detour on the way to Tobermory. I’d suggest bringing a flashlight and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty if you plan to crawl through any spaces or climb rocks.
You can find more information about the Greig’s Caves by visiting their website.
Thanks again for reading and keep an eye out for my recap of the shipwreck diving mentioned earlier in the post. I’m hoping to have it available next week!
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Justin Steele
The Green Ranger