# Are the "flood tunnels" man-made? · Oak Island money pit > Three answers have been proposed. The pit floods because it is dug below sea level into permeable, cavernous rock; no tunnel exists. leads, with evidence… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:19+00:00 --- **0** # Are the "flood tunnels" man-made? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the pit floods because it is dug below sea level into permeable, cavernous rock; no tunnel exists** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The pit floods because it is dug below sea level into permeable, cavernous rock; no tunnel exists. leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The engineered flood trap is the feature that turns a hole into a treasure vault, and it is the reason given for every failure since 1804. If the water is simply the island's water table in porous rock, the central claim of the legend falls⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WNPE3NH7/the-oak-island-folly)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WQWR005Z/money-pit-or-sinkhole-retired-geologist-digs-up-oak-islands). ## Answers 3 [**The pit floods because it is dug below sea level into permeable, cavernous rock; no tunnel exists.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/answers/ANS0D52X9F84E4C/the-pit-floods-because-it-is-dug-below-sea-level-into) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/answers/ANS0D52XA6P4VAC/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**One or more tunnels were cut from Smith's Cove (and the south shore) to flood the shaft when it was breached.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/answers/ANS0D52X8861XXJ/one-or-more-tunnels-were-cut-from-smiths-cove-and-the-south) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 3 against Disputed ## History 1. 1862[McCully puts forward: one or more tunnels were cut from Smith's Cove (and the south shore) to flood the shaft when it was breached.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WP62302N/the-oak-island-diggings) 1. 2000[Nickell puts forward: the pit floods because it is dug below sea level into permeable, cavernous rock; no tunnel exists.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WQ5A7JGY/the-secrets-of-oak-island) 1. 2020[CBC News: a 1995 Woods Hole dye study attributed the flooding to natural freshwater and tidal interaction.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D52WQWR005Z/money-pit-or-sinkhole-retired-geologist-digs-up-oak-islands)Against: One or more tunnels were cut from Smith's Cove (and the south shore) to flood the shaft when it was breached. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3443MBJ/are-the-flood-tunnels-man-made%23add-source) Where it fits Oak Island money pit **Are the "flood tunnels" man-made?** Key question · you're here [What are the stone and timber structures at Smith's Cove?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/oak-island/questions/QST0D52X3KR6V71/what-are-the-stone-and-timber-structures-at-smiths-cove)Most likely · the structures are wharves, slipways and coffer dams left by nineteenth- and twentieth-century searchers and… [ Ask a question under this one ]