The weather is still kind of gloomy today, so I felt like searching for a place that involves the ocean and warm weather. Then, I found this Blue Hole in Belize, which I think looks AMAZING!! First things first, here is its location:
Located next to Lighthouse Reef, about 70 kilometres off the coast of Belize, the Great Blue Hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Originally the Blue Hole was a limestone cave that started to form about 150,000 years ago. It was formed during several episodes of glaciation when sea levels were much lower. Analysis of stalactites found in Great Blue Hole shows that formation took place 153,000; 66,000; 60,000; and 15,000 years ago. Gradually the water level rose as the glacial period ended and the caves were flooded and its roof collapsed, thus forming this unique hole.
The Blue Hole is well known among recreational diving enthusiasts, for whom this place has it all: clear waters and a variety of flora and fauna as you can meet here nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks and bull sharks.
Looking from above, the dark blue color of the hole signifies that it has a great depth, especially compared to the shallow waters nearby. Its deepest point lies at 407 feet. The hole has an almost perfect circular shape and it is 985 feet wide.
The hole was made popular by French explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau who declared it “one of the top ten dive sites in the world." But if diving is not for you, you can also snorkel for a full day around the hole and nearby. There are also many small islands or cays nearby that offer pristine beaches.
In 2012, Discovery Channel ranked the Great Blue Hole as number one on its list of ”The 10 Most Amazing Places on Earth.“
I think diving there would be an amazing experience, but as I am not a big fan of swimming with sharks, this might not be the place to be for me..