The Worlds Finest Dive Sites #3 - The Blue Hole in Belize

Located approximately 60 miles from the capitallandscape created by the stalactites. Following a short
Belize City, The Blue Hole has every right to beexploratory period examining the stalactites, you
mentioned amongst our list of the worlds best divebegin a slow, gradual ascent whilst trying to catch a
sites. It's unique and dramatic geological formation,glimpse of one of the wide varieties of sharks which
have resulted in a dive site that remains long in thehave made their home in the dive site. Here it is
memory all who have the opportunity to dive it.possible to come across Hammerheads and Bull
The Blue Hole is situated in the middle of Lighthousesharks, although reef and lemon sharks are much
Reef, and was originally formed by the collapse of amore commonly sighted.
series of underwater cave systems in the reef.Throughout the dive site there is not a huge amount
Today, the resulting Blue Hole measuresof marine life, although given that Belize is host to
approximately 300 feet across, and is over 450 feetthe worlds second largest barrier reef, this is not that
deep.far away. The lack of marine life in the Blue Hole
Barely visible from the surface, the diving at the siteitself is due to the low levels of water exchange,
starts with a descent down to around 25 metres,coupled with the low level of light which manages to
where the gradually sloping sand banks give away,access the deeper recesses of the hole.
and the Blue Hole opens up properly. As you continueEver since Jacques Cousteau made the dive site
your rapid descent, these sheer walls gradually givefamous in the late 1960's, increasing numbers of
way to stunning stalactites, up to 25 feet in length,scuba divers have been travelling to Belize, and to
lining the outside walls of the lower cavern.the Blue Hole in particular. Given the totally unique
The Blue Hole is a short, deep dive, and you will levelnature and location of this incredible dive site, it is
out at approximately 40 metres, before slowlyeasy to see why, and undoubtedly this trend seems
making your way around the incredible underwateronly set to continue.