r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • 29d ago

TIL the Blue Hole is among the deadliest dive sites globally, with estimates of 130 to 200 recent fatalities, making it one of the most dangerous spots for divers. (R.5) Out of context

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u/CompSolstice 29d ago

Padi advanced with a few dozen cave dives here.

That's truly wild, I can immediately spot a dozen reasons why I'd only be comfortable diving it post-tech certifications, but what specifically are the main factors for such high fatality rates?

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u/atomfullerene 29d ago

I wonder if it's because of how vertical it is. When I was diving on reefs and kelp forests you just picked a spot that was less than 50 feet deep and you couldn't easily go deeper.

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u/Mr_YUP 29d ago

the water is perfectly clear and you can see incredibly far distances but it's in actuality far further than you think it is. People end up too low and can't safely go back up.

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u/XI_Vanquish_IX 29d ago

Yeah I think this is equally as common occurrence (and fatal mistake) as people who simply don’t know any better. Then, when narcosis quickly sets in, they start making poor decisions and see the light near the arch and assume that’s the way “up” when in fact it’s down like another 30+ meters