Diving Belize: the Obsession with the Blue Hole

All it takes is to mention Belize and diving in one sentence and you will be asked whether you are planning on heading out to the Blue Hole.  There is an absolute obsession with this picturesque site, but one that results more due to the hype surrounding it, than to its own merits.

The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize, about 70 kilometers off the mainland.   The hole is virtually a perfect circle, is over 300 meters across and 124 meters deep and is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  However, its primary beauty is best observed from up above.  Images of the reef, the turquoise waters surrounding it, and then the perfect deep blue circle are stunning but they cannot be appreciated from the water level.

From the water all you have is a 2 hour insanely bumpy and rough motorboat ride followed by vast dark blue waters that can often be quite disorientating.  Yes, from what I heard, it is still a spectacular sight and you drop nearly 40 meters down into the depths of this hole.  There you get to admire stalactite formations and if you are lucky might see some sharks.  However, the main part of the experience is the deep and seemingly endless blue and for me, such an experience can be gained anywhere out in the open ocean.

I must admit, I cannot be too critical since I did not cave to this obsession and did not pay the exorbitant sum to head out to the Blue Hole.  Instead I took the advice of some experienced divers and opted for a diving excursion to the Turneffe Atolls where the waters are shallower and marine life more plentiful. With more than 70 dive sites surrounding this set of islands, there is no shortage of places to explore.  It takes a very bumpy hour to reach the Atolls from Caye Caulker. (A couple times went flying nearly 2 feet in the air as the motorboat roared across what deceptively looked to be small waves.  My butt is still regretting this excursion).  Once there it was time to suit up and jump into the 28 degree crystal clear water and chase after the turtles, barracudas, trumpet fish, snappers, groupers, eels, lionfish, angelfish, lobsters, and sharks.

All in all we had three spectacular dives that put Utila to shame (but may have had a hard time competing with the previous day’s snorkeling experience).  On our way back we got the chance to admire the graceful play of some passing dolphins.  We were back in town by 4pm, in time to enjoy the last few hours of sun and to join our fellow Cabana hosts (from Lillooet) and guests for an amazingly entertaining beachside barbeque.

So maybe the Blue Hole is a worthwhile dive.  I do not know.  All I know is that there is no shortage of fascinating dives much closer to Caye Caulker that will not disappoint.  Maybe had I not dove the Blue Hole in Egypt I would have been more tempted.  But to simply say I’ve gone 40 meters deep and have seen the dark walls drop off below me was not a sufficient temptation.  However, had they offered me the option of flying over top of the blue hole and photographing it from up above, I would have jumped at it without a moment’s hesitation, no matter how exorbitant the price (well, to a certain point).