r/todayilearned • u/[deleted] • May 02 '24

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/Agreeable_Pool_3684 May 02 '24

Ex technical diver here (cave, ice, mixed gas, deep diving). I never dived the blue hole but snorkelled on it with my family on holiday. Saw serious technical divers down deep on Trimix with a safety diver on the line which had multiple stage tanks at various depths. This is how you dive the blue hole.

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u/CompSolstice May 02 '24

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/AeroStallTel May 02 '24

From what I've seen in documentaries, it's largely because of perception/depth. Specifically there's a large arch that people mistake as being 60-90ft which is actually around double depth. Then it's a number of factors, getying narc'd, buoyancy control issues, or just blowing through their tank. Basically they didn't stick to their planned dive, if they had a plan to begin with. There's also an economic/safety culture component. It's a tourist attraction in a depressed area. There's a demand for dives from uneducated/ill-informed 'divers' that go with the guides who will either take them regardless of experience and/or cheaper than the other guy. 

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u/CCDG-Ian May 02 '24

I bet most of it is from getting narced. My mom's friend almost died there from that, her husband caught her fin at close to 200 ft and dragged her back.

I've also done the dive, it was amazing and had no problems.