To help you locate this place you remember so well, please tell me the location of the entrance where you visited frequently with your friends. How did you travel to get there, what was near it, was there a marked entrance, was there a guide who wanted to show it to you, and any other information you can recall.

This is of great interest since our group is familiar very with, and has explored or visited most known documented underground sites in the Naples area, and in many instances has diagrammed and surveyed many of these sites. Traveling from Torregaveta, how did you reach this cave or excavation inside a hill? Was there an area in which you parked? Do you remember any other notable structures or geologic features around it? Was it near the Cuma ruins? Anything you can remember will be useful.

Please let us know so we can help you retrieve this fond memory!

Larry Ray

Hi, Fas51--

I have nothing new to add except that I, too, used to dive on that submerged site in Baia in the early 1970s. At the time I belonged to the AFSouth Diving Club. Good times. I can't find a goofy emoticon to indicate that I am old and melancholy just thinking about it.--

We'll track down your Sibyl site soon, I hope.

Jeff

Hi Larry,

I'll try to answer your questions on location as soon as possible. I'm jogging my memory and waiting for an email from my cousin in Italy asking him if he has a memory of visits to Cuma with me.

Jeff,

I too have great memories of diving in Baia. While attending te University of Naples, I also worked part time at the "country store" on the NATO base. It was there I took a certification course in diving. I've dove in Florida prior to Naples so I knew what I was doing, but wanted to be certified. Most of my diving was with my Italian friend Vitaliano, owner of Baia Subaqua on the port.I met him filling my tanks and questioning him on the local archeology and dive spots for viewing. He was big on spearfishing and I would join his small group of fishermen in the port area and even off the coast of Cuma. He was well versed in the submerged ruins for he was part of dive teams commissioned to retrieve statues for the government. Other times, looking back now, I would foolishly park my car at Lido Lucino and dive off the beach on my own. Do you remember the small thermal cave near Lucrino? Odd situation, with a door where anyone could walk in and sit in the thermal stream. At times there were several people other times no one. Completely uncontrolled and open to anyone.

Hi fas51,
I think it could be the so-called "Sybil's Tomb". This structure is in reality an ancient thermal bath and it is situated in front of the Cumae archaeological park. Unfortunately it is in very poor repair!

Here there are some photos...let me know!

Hi Larry,

If I were to look for the entrance, it would be on the outside face of the mount on the West to North face with the farmers lands behind you. Cannot tell you the exact location, it's been since the early 1970's I last visited the cavern. The entrance was on level ground and no climbing involved. Vegetation and brush ground level and above the entrance as I recall. Imagine the overgrowth today after so many years. Again, they did not want tourists in there because of danger according to the locals. I'm sure if pursued, the older local farmers could help with the exact location.

One other thing, the cavern was definitly hollowed within the mount and not an external structure.