Rick and Marty Lagina Investigate Flooded Garden Shaft and Aladdin’s Cave Clues | Oak Island S11E7

In The Curse of Oak Island Season 11, Episode 7, titled “The Great Flood,” which aired on December 19, 2023, brothers Rick and Marty Lagina revisit the Garden Shaft, where restoration efforts are being challenged by unexpected flooding. Alongside project manager Roger Fortin from Dumas Contracting Ltd, the team inspects Set 16—an area around 87 feet underground—where significant water infiltration is occurring.

Roger explains that while the water is not yet undermining the shaft structure, it poses a risk to ongoing exploration. Their solution: inject urethane foam, a fast-setting compound that expands to seal off water intrusion. Marty and Rick gear up to descend and see the issue firsthand. Rick reflects, “Water’s always been the problem on Oak Island… now we’re encountering it ourselves.”

As they reach the problematic zone, Roger outlines the plan to drill nine injection holes above the wet layer to stop the water using pressurized foam—what he describes in layman’s terms as “expanding spray foam”. They also note signs of timber stress and cracks, further justifying the urgency to stabilize the structure.

This restoration work is not just about safety—it’s about strategy. A 7-foot-high tunnel, discovered via core drilling and carbon-dated to the 17th century, lies just below this section of the Garden Shaft. The tunnel runs east to west, heading toward a zone dubbed the “Baby Blob,” known for its high concentrations of gold, silver, and other metals detected in groundwater tests. Reaching it could be pivotal.

Roger confirms the team is now four feet deeper than last year’s efforts, standing at 87 feet. They lift a hatch to reveal untouched soil—dirt no one has ever seen. This excites the team, who believe they may be just feet away from intersecting the fabled tunnel. Plans are in place to conduct horizontal probe drilling, which will allow exploration up to 40 feet in all directions. If access proves impossible, Dumas is prepared to build a new tunnel to reach any promising voids or anomalies.

Meanwhile, activity resumes near borehole KL-14.5, positioned to pierce the center of Aladdin’s Cave, approximately 150 feet underground. Geologist Terry Matheson and archaeologist Moya McDonald supervise as the team prepares to lower the Anton Spectrum 20, a high-definition camera capable of panning and tilting in lowlight environments.

As the camera is carefully lowered into the void, silt begins to cloud the lens—yet something catches their eye. A square-headed bolt, partially buried in sediment, becomes visible. The team is stunned. While not conclusive, it’s one of the strongest hints so far of human presence inside Aladdin’s Cave.

Marty, cautious as always, says it’s promising but not definitive. The team continues probing further down, noting strong current-like movements in the sediment. One team member comments that the shape of the cave appears wide and open, reinforcing the idea that it might be manmade or modified.

Due to limited visibility, they agree the next step is to run a full EchoLogger sonar scan, which will provide a three-dimensional map of the cavern. This scan will reveal the cave’s true dimensions, potential offshoots, and any hidden entrances. One team member remarks, “This is potentially a treasure location,” a rare and hopeful statement that underscores the significance of what they’ve seen.

Cast Highlighted in This Episode

• Rick Lagina – Field leader, inspects Garden Shaft and camera findings
• Marty Lagina – Oversees strategic drilling decisions and water management
• Roger Fortin – Dumas project lead managing the shaft repair operation
• Blaine Carr – Imaging expert supporting upcoming sonar scan
• Steve Guptill – Provides mapping and borehole targeting support
• Terry Matheson – Geologist supervising KL-14.5 core drilling
• Moya McDonald – Archaeologist interpreting cavern features and possible artifacts