Among the waters of the Caribbean Sea, there is a small semi-submerged coral island of an unusual shape. On this atoll is the Great Blue Hole – a perfectly round funnel with a diameter of about three hundred meters. For comparison, ten football fields could fit on this square. The depth of this depression is 120 meters. The color of the water here is much darker than that of the surrounding area, so the top of the hole looks like a precious sapphire.
During the last ice age, there was a whole system of limestone caves here. But after warming, the water level rose significantly, and the arch of the cave collapsed. Thus, a karst funnel was formed.
Due to its round shape and smooth walls, the Great Blue Hole was considered a reservoir of ancient civilizations, where they kept their valuables and inventions. However, the famous explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau disproved this myth when he was the first to descend to the bottom of the formation and did not find any traces of artificial origin.
Now this place is chosen by divers from all over the world. You need to get here by boat from the Belize port of San Pedro. You can also order a diving tour for the whole day. Beginners are advised to dive to 30 meters to watch fish and sea turtles. More experienced divers are waiting for the entrances to the caves at a depth of 70 meters. Be careful, it’s easy to get lost here, so take an experienced guide with you.
