Great Blue Hole, Belize

Those who have seen the Great Blue Hole in Belize are usually convinced that it should be considered one of the natural wonders of the world. This was the spot that was brought to the rest of the world’s attention by marine explorer Jacques Cousteau back in the seventies. Divers travel to this spot from every part of the globe and refer to it as the ‘Aquarium’ because there is just so much marine life to be seen. It would be a real shame to visit Belize and not see this amazing wonder of nature.

The Great Blue Hole is a geographical feature known as a sinkhole and it is believed to have first appeared about fifteen thousand years ago. Although it is often described as a bottomless pit it actually is 407 feet deep and almost 1,000 feet across. It is part of the Belize Barrier Reef and as such is considered a World Heritage Site that is to be protected for the good of all mankind and our descendants.

The Great Blue Hole is a popular destination that attracts many visitors each week, but so far this does not seem to be causing too much damage to the area. Inside the Great Blue Hole are caves and limestone formations. It is a divers dream and this has been voted one of the top dive sites in the world.

The Great Blue Hole is situated approximately 60 miles off the coast of Belize. It is surrounded by Lighthouse Reef. If you see this geographical beauty from the sky it looks exactly like a pupil inside an eye. The hole is the ideal environment for many different life forms and a lot of what you see here cannot be seen anywhere else on the planet.

Some of the islands near the Great Blue Hole offer resort accommodation but many people visit from the mainland. Most of these trips will involve also seeing some of the other amazing sites along the Belize Barrier Reef; islands such as Goff’s Caye, and Half Moon Caye. Most divers will want to dive this spot more than once so the options are to stay one of the resort islands or spend the night on a ship.

Snorkeling around the great blue hole is a great way to see some of the exotic creatures and the beautiful coral but most people will want to dive deeper. Apparently the further down you go in the Great Blue Hole the more amazing are the sights you will find. There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing long or short diving tours of the area.

The Great Blue Hole in Belize is a true geographical marvel and a trip that people will remember for the rest of their lives. To get the most of the trip it is probably going to involve a dive, but some people get a lot of pleasure from snorkeling around the nearby reef as well.

Other beaches in Belize
	Turneffe beach	South Water Caye	Placencia beach	Lighthouse Reef

	Laughing Bird Caye	Half Moon Caye	Goff's caye	Caye Chapel

	Great Blue Hole	Ambergris Caye