Michael in Catacombs, Marion County, FL (left) and (above) in Dive Rite Optima rebreather in O'Leno Sinks System, FL. Photos by Sandra Poucher.
Michael Poucher:
Nerves of steel. Cave diving is Michael's passion. Exploring and mapping dry and submerged caves for more than 15 years, Mike led or participated in the mapping of Peacock Springs, Manatee Springs, Convict Springs, Indian Spring, various springs and siphons at O'Leno State Park, Buford Sink, Telford, Bathtub Spring, Weeki Wachee in Florida, Phantom Cave in Texas and Santa Rosa, New Mexico. He participated in expeditions to Briland's Blue Hole and White Ring in the Bahamas, and Sistema Camilo on the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. He contributed articles to numerous publications and consulted on a number of documentary projects. Mike also participates extensively in surveying and scientific diving. His maps are highly esteemed. Michael's diplomacy led cave diving to a new level of professional recognition among community and scientific leaders in the early 2000's.
Sandy enters DeLeon Spring (FL) during a sampling dive. Photo by Karl Shreeves, courtesy of the Cambrian Foundation.
Sandy in entrance at Roosevelt Cave, Marion County, FL. Photo by Mike Poucher.
Sandy caving in a dress in Muyil, Quintana Roo, Mexico 2008. Photo by Michael Poucher.
Sandra Poucher:
Sandy has explored and collected survey data at Indian Spring, O'Leno State Park, Harvey's Cave, Manatee Springs State Park, and Sistema Camilo near Akumal. She was the first woman to enter and survey in the Weeki Wachee main spring. Her hobbies include underwater cave exploration, survey, scientific diving, videography, writing and photography. Sandy's writing and photographs have been published in Underwater Speleology, NSS News, the NACD Journal, and Ocala Style. She is editor of Sheck Exley's The Taming of the Slough: a comprehensive history of Peacock Springs; co-compiler with Dr. Rick Copeland of the Florida Geological Survey on the Speleological and Karst Glossary of Florida and the Caribbean, published by the University Press of Florida; Wildlife of Florida's Springs: An Illustrated Guide to Over 150 Species, published by the Pineapple Press.
