Exploring The Mysteries Of Blue Hole, Belize: A Diver's Guide

The Great Blue Hole in Belize is one of the most famous dive sites in the world. It is a giant marine sinkhole near the centre of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, a small atoll off the coast of Belize, in the easternmost part of its barrier reef. The Blue Hole is about 122 metres deep and 300 metres across, so big that it can be seen from space.

The Blue Hole is not for beginners. It is dark and deep and can be dangerous if divers don't have the right training and experience. Divers need to be able to equalise easily and have good physical health, and it is recommended that they have dived within the last 6 months.

There are two ways to dive the Blue Hole. You can book a day boat or dive off a liveaboard. The Blue Hole is roughly 70 km offshore. From Ambergris Caye, it’s a three-hour boat ride. If you're staying in Placencia, it's a four-hour trip.

How to get to the Blue Hole

There are two ways to get to the Blue Hole in Belize: by boat or by small aircraft. If you opt for the boat, you can depart from either Ambergris Caye or Placencia. From Ambergris Caye, it's a three-hour boat ride, while from Placencia, it takes about four hours to reach the Blue Hole.

If you're prone to seasickness, you may want to consider staying offshore at Glover's or Turneffe Atoll the night before, or booking a liveaboard instead, as larger vessels are more stable.

If you're looking for a more scenic journey, a flight over the Great Blue Hole is a great way to see this amazing site.

What to expect when diving the Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole in Belize is one of the world's most famous dive sites. It is a giant marine sinkhole, almost perfectly circular, stretching 300 metres (984 ft) across and with a depth of about 122 metres (400 ft). It is the only blue hole that can be seen from outer space.

The Blue Hole is not a beginner's dive. It is dark and deep, and if you don't have the right training and experience, it is dangerous. You will need to be at least Open Water certified, and it is recommended that you have completed a few dives to familiarise yourself with the fundamentals of scuba diving. Divers should be very comfortable with their gear, have good buoyancy control, be able to equalise easily, be in good physical health, and ideally have dived within the last six months.

The dive begins on the shallow reef that rings the Blue Hole, about 10 metres (30 ft) below the surface. You will then descend down the inner wall of the hole. There won't be any coral, but you may see some feather duster worms and other plants. Your dive guide will point out interesting rock formations and may show you a recessed cave.

At about 60 feet, you may start to see the silhouettes of one of the ocean's most fascinating predators: Caribbean Reef Sharks. Your descent is continuous until about 100 ft, where you veer off toward the stalactites.

The Blue Hole is a "karst-eroded sinkhole". It was once a limestone cave at the centre of an underground tunnel complex whose ceiling collapsed when the sea level rose and flooded the caves thousands of years ago. The Blue Hole is the opening to a system of caves and passageways that penetrate this undersea mountain.

The Blue Hole dive is about 30 minutes long, with 25 to 27 minutes being the norm. This may be a disappointment for divers who prefer longer dives.

If you are diving from a day boat, you will have a surface interval followed by two additional dives on the Belize Barrier Reef.

The history of the Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It is located near the centre of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 60 to 70 kilometres from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is almost perfectly circular in shape, measuring over 300 metres across and about 125 metres deep. It is the largest natural formation of its kind and is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Blue Hole was formed during several phases of the Quaternary glaciation when sea levels were much lower. Analysis of stalactites found in the Great Blue Hole shows that formation took place 153,000, 66,000, 60,000, and 15,000 years ago. As the ocean began to rise again, the cave was flooded.

The site was made famous by Jacques Cousteau, who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. In 1971, he brought his ship, the Calypso, to the hole to chart its depths. Investigations by this expedition confirmed the hole's origin as typical karst limestone formations, formed before rises in sea level in at least four stages, leaving ledges at depths of 21 metres, 49 metres, and 91 metres.

The name "Great Blue Hole" was coined by British diver and author Ned Middleton in his 1988 book "Ten Years Underwater". Middleton reasoned that if Australia could have 'The Great Barrier Reef', then Belize could have 'The Great Blue Hole'.

The marine life of the Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole in Belize is a haven for a diverse range of marine life, from coral reefs to mangroves and a multitude of fish species. Its walls are adorned with colourful coral formations, including brain coral, elkhorn coral, and pillar coral. These coral reefs provide a habitat for a variety of marine creatures, such as:

• Nurse sharks—These docile sharks are commonly found resting on the sandy bottom or patrolling the walls of the sinkhole.
• Reef sharks—As divers descend, they may encounter Caribbean reef sharks circling in the watery void.
• Eels—Moray eels, garden eels, and the elusive spotted garden eel are among the eel species that inhabit the Blue Hole, slithering through crevices and shadows.
• Crustaceans—A wide array of crustaceans, including shrimp, crabs, and lobsters, can be found scurrying along the bottom and clinging to the walls.
• Fish—The Blue Hole is home to a multitude of fish species, from colourful reef fish darting among coral formations to larger predators like grouper and jacks patrolling the open expanse.

The unique conditions of the Blue Hole have led to fascinating adaptations among its inhabitants. Many creatures have developed enhanced senses of touch and hearing to navigate the darkness, while others rely on bioluminescence to attract prey or communicate.

How much does it cost to dive the Blue Hole?

The cost of diving in the Blue Hole in Belize varies depending on the company you choose to dive with. The price seems to range from $240 to $499 for a full-day diving experience. Some companies offer packages that include additional dives and equipment rental, which can affect the price.

For example, Frenchie's Diving charges $340 for divers, including a $40 park fee, and $175 for snorkelers, also including the park fee. This includes snorkel or scuba gear, a light breakfast, and a homemade Belizean lunch.

Another company, Ambergris Divers, offers a three-day dive package that includes two days of diving along the Barrier Reef and a full-day dive adventure to Lighthouse Reef Atoll with the Blue Hole dive highlight. This package costs $499 per diver without gear rental and $555 with gear rental.

It is important to note that prices may change over time, and it is always best to check directly with the diving companies for the most up-to-date information.

Frequently asked questions