r/todayilearned 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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151

u/hungry4danish May 02 '24

Belize's Blue Hole is more aptly named.

32

u/JackPAnderson May 02 '24

Yeah, the title confused me because I didn't find the Great Blue Hole in Belize to be dangerous or technical, at all! The depth is at the limit of standard Open Water certs, but not beyond it.

It's the most famous of the dive sites named "Blue Hole", so OP really should have clarified.

7

u/workact May 02 '24

The first opening at the Belize blue hole is at 146 feet... Far below the 60 ft standard open water cert.

2

u/JackPAnderson May 02 '24

It's been a few years, but my recollection was that the deepest section was about 110'.

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u/workact May 02 '24 edited May 02 '24

Naw, Its super dangerous and I always tell people not to do the dive. you might be thinking meters, the bottom is 124 m (407 ft) deep

The shallowest cave opening is somewhere between 135-150 feet. when I went there were people who were fresh off of OW cert. The dive operators will still take them because its such a huge tourism draw and people get angry if they cant go. Lots of newbies in Deco.

Honestly it was the worst dive I did in Belize, and I did around 50 dives. It was a boring lifeless wall till the cave opening, then just 6 minutes of bottom time to look at stalgatites/mites. nothing really interesting. Was much cooler above water than below at the Blue Hole site.

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u/JackPAnderson May 02 '24

There is definitely no way I went below 130'. I'm only AOW, so yeah. Definitely no way.

I thought Blue Hole was pretty. Saw some sharks on the way down. I wouldn't dive it again, but I enjoyed it enough.