Can't remember title, author

[Hereford Eye]

I went to sleep again and lost the title and author's name for a series that took place in the Mediterranean basin, literally. The hero woke up in this land, bacme partner with a big cat, solved the puzzles, saved the day, and eventually climbed out before the sea came in. Anyone remember?

[Rumfuddle]

I picked up a book a while back which I haven't read yet, but it's set in a dried up Mediterranean basin -
it's an alternative history novel by Harry Turtledove and L.Sprague de Camp called Down in the bottom lands.

[Hereford Eye]

Thanks, Rum! But that isn't it. This story happened before there was water in the basin, not after. You knew this because each book opened with a scene above the water.