It looks like I'm stuck...

[Felix Purcell]

I have come a long way with being good at working out how to get past the parts in videogames that used to just keep me stuck for ever.

But...I admit defeat with that first place with the swimming section (not the tutorial, the cave).

I found both the levers and that gold idol. I can see there is a third door with a switch but Lara just keeps telling me "no". I'm just wandering in circles otherwise.

I don't want to look up a walk-through...

Could I just get a little hint? Please?

Thank you in advance!

[Groen90]

What you're describing sounds more like the City of Vilcabamba level rather than the caves; is this the door with the switch you're talking about?
https://tombraiders.net/stella/walks/TR1walk/screenshots/vilcabamba-88.jpg
If you have the gold idol you should be able to use it on the mechanism to open the last door, are you sure you activated both levers in that section?

On a side note, I completely understand wanting to find the solution on your own, but don't be ashamed to look up walkthroughs of these games in particular when you get seemingly stuck. They won't hold your hand much if at all, and can border on the needlessly obscure. No shortage of labiryinthine levels, particularly convoluted platform sequences, and puzzles that can get extremely cryptic.

[Felix Purcell]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm describing, I just think of it as more caves.

I have activated both the levers you find in the swimming section. I have the gold idol but when I use it, Lara just tells me "no".

I have double checked that both levers are flipped and they are and still no results. I think I might be redy to just check a walk-through if no one has a another little hint for me.

Thanks for taking the time.

[Calmly Frenetic]

The underwater levers each open doors to optional secret areas.

To proceed to the 2nd half of the level, you need another item,
which is found in a place you have been before,
near to where the gold idol was found.

[Felix Purcell]

I am mad at myself...

I thought it might be something really oblique but...I cannot believe I overlooked something so open.

If I'd simply just retraced my steps with a mind to dot the Is and cross the Ts then I'd have been golden.