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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 60-70 miles from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is almost perfectly circular, stretching 300 metres across and 124-125 metres deep. It is the largest natural formation of its kind in the world and is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What You'll Learn
Location
The Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole located near the centre of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll off the coast of Belize. It is situated approximately 60-70 miles from the mainland and Belize City.
The Blue Hole is almost perfectly circular in shape, measuring around 300 metres across and 124-125 metres deep. It is the largest natural formation of its kind in the world.
The Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is recognised as one of the top diving sites in the world, attracting divers from across the globe.
The Blue Hole is also easily recognisable from space, with its deep blue hue encircled by the lighter shades of the surrounding reef.
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Size and shape
The Belize Blue Hole, or Great Blue Hole, is almost perfectly circular in shape, with a circumference of 3,140 feet (over 300 metres) and a depth of 407–410 feet (124–125 metres). It has a surface area of 70,650 square metres.
The Blue Hole is the largest natural formation of its kind in the world. It is a vast expanse of interconnected underwater caverns adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, dripstone sheets, and columns. These awe-inspiring structures are believed to have formed in a dry cavern above sea level during the last Ice Age.
The Blue Hole is located in the centre of an offshore atoll called Lighthouse Reef, an island of coral 60–70 miles from Belize City. The atoll that surrounds the Blue Hole showcases a myriad of blue-green tones, ranging from peacock blue and turquoise to aquamarine.
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How it was formed
The Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole located off the coast of Belize. It is situated near the centre of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 70km (43 miles) from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, measuring 318 metres (1,043 feet) across and 124 metres (407 feet) deep.
The Great Blue Hole was formed during several phases of the Quaternary glaciation when sea levels were much lower. Analysis of stalactites found in the hole indicates that its formation took place 153,000, 66,000, 60,000, and 15,000 years ago. As the ocean levels began to rise, the cave system flooded and eventually collapsed, resulting in the creation of a "vertical cave" in the ocean.
Investigations by Jacques Cousteau's 1971 expedition confirmed the hole's origin as typical karst limestone formations, formed in at least four stages before the rise in sea levels. This left ledges at depths of 21 metres (69 feet), 49 metres (161 feet), and 91 metres (299 feet). The tilt of some stalactites also indicated past geological shifts and tilting of the underlying plateau, suggesting movement of the land rather than a rise in sea level alone.
The Great Blue Hole is believed to be the largest natural formation of its kind, and it is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Marine life
The Great Blue Hole is a popular destination for recreational scuba divers, who are attracted by the opportunity to observe the myriad species of marine life that inhabit the area. The Hole is home to a variety of tropical fish, coral formations, and sharks.
Divers can expect to encounter nurse sharks, known for their docile nature, which often congregate in groups, resting on the sandy bottom or patrolling the walls of the sinkhole. The Hole is also home to several types of reef sharks, including Caribbean reef sharks and Blacktip sharks. Other shark species spotted in the Hole include lemon sharks, hammerheads, bull sharks, and the elusive midnight parrotfish.
The Hole's walls are adorned with stunning coral formations, including brain coral, elkhorn coral, and pillar coral. These colourful reefs provide a habitat for a variety of marine life, including crustaceans such as shrimp, crabs, and lobsters, as well as various fish species.
The unique conditions of the Great Blue Hole have led to fascinating adaptations among its inhabitants. Many creatures have developed keen senses of touch and hearing to navigate the darkness, while others rely on bioluminescence to attract prey or communicate with mates.
The Great Blue Hole also serves as a breeding ground for pelagic fish species, which congregate in its depths to escape predators from above, making for a unique diving experience.
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Diving experience
The Great Blue Hole is a popular diving destination for experienced divers. It is located near the centre of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 60-70 miles from the mainland and Belize City. The Blue Hole is a vast expanse of interconnected underwater caverns adorned with stalactites, stalagmites, dripstone sheets, and columns. It is the world's largest natural formation of its kind.
The dive begins with a descent of 40 feet to a sandy limestone shelf that surrounds the Blue Hole. Divers are given a minute or two to descend and equalise before being led to the drop-off, where they will descend freely into the darkness. At about 60 feet, Caribbean Reef Sharks can be seen circling in the watery void. The descent continues until about 100 feet, where divers veer off towards the stalactites and stalagmites in the cavern. The reduced light levels at this depth add a gothic atmosphere to the dive.
The Blue Hole dive is an advanced dive, considered more technical in nature. It is recommended to have at least three dive masters present when diving in a group of ten or more. Despite this, thousands of divers with varying levels of experience have successfully completed this dive. The dive entails a quick descent, a brief stay at maximum depth (around 130-140 feet), and a cautious ascent.
The Blue Hole is known for its excellent visibility, crystal-clear waters, and myriad species of marine life, including tropical fish, spectacular coral formations, nurse sharks, giant groupers, and several types of reef sharks. However, some divers have reported being disappointed by the lack of colourful coral and marine life during the Blue Hole dive. It is important for divers to manage their expectations and be aware that this dive site is better suited for those interested in cave diving rather than colourful coral reef diving.
Overall, the Great Blue Hole offers a unique and otherworldly diving experience, allowing divers to explore enormous underwater stalactites and stalagmites and discover the mysteries of this ancient sinkhole.
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Frequently asked questions
The Belize Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole located off the coast of Belize, near the centre of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 60-70 miles from the mainland and Belize City.
The hole is almost perfectly circular, measuring 300-318 metres (984-1,043 feet) across and 124-125 metres (407-410 feet) deep.
The Blue Hole is a popular destination for recreational scuba divers, who are attracted by the opportunity to dive in crystal-clear waters and see a variety of marine life, including tropical fish, sharks, and coral formations. The Blue Hole is also home to thousands of stalactites and stalagmites, which were formed when the hole was an above-ground series of caverns.
Yes, the Belize Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
