The Great Blue Hole
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#The Great Blue Hole
🌊 What It Is & Where It Is
• A massive marine sinkhole in the center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, about 70 km (43 mi) off mainland Belize near Belize City .
• Nearly perfect circular shape—about 318 m (1,043 ft) across and roughly 124–125 m (407 ft) deep; covers ~70,650 m² .
• Part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
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🪨 How It Formed
• Evolved over multiple glacial periods (153k–15k years ago) when sea levels were low; karst limestone cave formations eventually collapsed and flooded .
• Underwater ledges exist at depths of ~21 m, 49 m, and 91 m; stalactites and stalagmites (some up to 12 m long) mark its origins as a dry cave .
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🤿 Diving Highlights
• Famous thanks to Jacques Cousteau, who declared it among the top 5–10 dive sites globally, exploring it with the Calypso in 1971 .
• Falls into the realm of advanced diving: divers need at least Advanced Open Water certification (or ~24 prior dives) due to depths (~40 m+), caves, and risk of nitrogen narcosis .
• Typical dives start at the coral rim (~12 m), descend inner walls, view geological formations, and might spot reef sharks, occasionally hammerheads or bull sharks .
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🐠 Marine Life & Conditions
• Surrounding reef hosts colourful marine life: parrotfish, shrimp, sea fans, gobies, elkhorn & brain corals, and more .
• Within the hole: sharks (blacktip, reef, bull, occasional hammerheads) and ghostly cave formations—fewer corals due to limited light and oxygen .
• Around ~91 m depth, a hydrogen‑sulfide layer creates anoxic conditions—dark and devoid of life .
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✈️ Best Way to Experience It
• By air: charter flights from Belize City, Ambergris Caye, or Caye Caulker provide stunning aerial views—often included in tours .
• By sea: full‑day boat trips (3–4 hrs each way) depart from coastal hubs; often include a dive/snorkel at the Great Blue Hole plus stops at sites like “Half Moon Wall” .
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🎯 When to Go & Visitor Tips
• Prime diving season: April–June offers top visibility—though cruising whale sharks is possible .
• Dry season (Dec–Apr) sees clearer skies but higher prices and crowds .
• Expect 20–30 min max dive time at depth; planning well for decompression & safety stops is vital .
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🧪 Scientific & Cultural Significance
• Sediment core studies suggest major droughts during 1000–1100 AD, potentially tied to the collapse of the Mayan civilization .
• The hole continues to be explored—submarine mapping in 2018 revealed a 3D model and confirmed anoxic depths and diver remains
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