We now know what’s at the bottom of Belize’s Blue Hole

Aerial view of the coral reef and deep cave that make up the famous diving spot of the Blue Hole in the Caribbean Ocean off the coast of Belize. Image by ©Tami Freed/Shutterstock

Belize’s famous Blue Hole is incredible when viewed from above, but after an underwater expedition, we now know what lies at the very bottom.

Last month, a historic scientific expedition went all the way to the bottom of Belize’s Blue Hole. Virgin founder Richard Branson and ocean conservationist Fabien Cousteau went on the journey, which was broadcast globally on the Discovery Channel.

Embedded video

Discovery

@Discovery

Can you believe that the #BlueHole was once a land-based sinkhole?🗽 #DiscoveryLive

112 people are talking about this

It was the first submersible dive to the bottom of the hole, which is found along the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest barrier reef network in the world. The group was also there to support the work of Ocean Unite, which is raising awareness about protecting at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.

Discovery

@Discovery

We know that the #BlueHole was once a dry cave because stalactites like this can only form on dry land. #DiscoveryLive

59 people are talking about this

The group journeyed to the bottom in an Aquatica submarine, where they came across a wall of stalactites, which Branson says shows that the Blue Hole is made up of caves that were originally formed on dry land. According to a post from Branson about the experience:

“It is proof of how oceans can rise quickly and catastrophically. Sea levels were once hundreds of feet lower. 10,000 years ago the sea level rose by about 300 feet when a lot of ice melted around the world. At 300 feet down you could see the change in the rock where it used to be land and turned into sea. It was one of the starkest reminders of the danger of climate change I’ve ever seen.”

Because of the depths of the hole and the lack of oxygen, there are no living creatures at the bottom. However, Branson said they did see plastic bottles at the bottom, which he says is another reason to end the use of single-use plastics.

Scuba diver swims through a tunnel in Blue Hole, Caribbean Sea, Belize. Image by ©Pete Niesen/Shutterstock

If you’re interested in learning more about Belize’s incredible Blue Hole – or even diving in it – 2019 is the perfect year. Lonely Planet named it one of the best countries to visit this year.

Read more at www.lonelyplanet.com

Trackback from your site.

Comments (4)

  • Avatar

    Joseph A Olson

    |

    Attention Alarmist & Lukewarmist LIARS

    the 400 foot sealevel rise at the start of the current Holocene interglacial warming period had ZERO to do with human activity or CO2. Thanks for decades of mindless hysteria and lost billions in faux science research.

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Steve Dembo

    |

    “It was one of the starkest reminders of the danger of climate change I’ve ever seen.” They forgot to add the part that says …. and this was before there were many humans on earth. Clearly not man-made Globull Warming. Natural cycles and events lead to climate change. Much like today!

    Reply

  • Avatar

    Squidly

    |

    “Because of the depths of the hole and the lack of oxygen, there are no living creatures at the bottom.”

    — I call bullshit ! .. there is life at the bottom of the Marianas Trench .. there is life at the bottom of the “Blue Hole” too !!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Share via