Explore Belize’s “Great Blue Hole”

Great Blue Hole, Belize
Great Blue Hole, Belize

Located off the coast of Belize on the eastern shore of Central America and lying near the center of Lighthouse Reef, the Great Blue Hole is a giant circular underwater sinkhole and a world-class destination for diving. The about 1,043 feet across and 407 feet deep submarine hole is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, while it is considered to be a World Heritage Site, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Great Blue Hole, Belize
Great Blue Hole, Belize

The impressive formation of one of the seven wonders of Belize’s World Heritage site became worldwide known through “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” nonfiction documentary TV series, which was realized under the guidance of American director, producer, and television writer Alan Landsburg. For the aforementioned documentary, French explorer Jacques Cousteau used his ship, the Calypso, and began to chart the impressive hole’s depths leaving millions of viewers speechless.

The name “The Great Blue Hole,” which was given to Belize’s amazing attraction, is attributed to British diver and author Ned Middleton and was first mentioned in his book “Ten Years Underwater” which was published in 1988. The area is a rich habitat for a variety of marine life, such as Midnight Parrotfish, Caribbean reef sharks, as well as bull sharks and hammerheads.

"Scarus coelestinus," also known as the "midnight parrot fish" is a species of parrotfish that inhabits coral reefs not only in the Caribbean but in the Bahamas and Florida.
“Scarus coelestinus,” also known as the “midnight parrot fish” is a species of parrotfish that inhabits coral reefs not only in the Caribbean but also in the Bahamas and Florida.
"Carcharhinus perezii," also known as the "Caribbean reef shark" is a species of requiem shark that can be spotted in the mesmerizing waters of the western Atlantic Ocean from Brazil to Florida.
“Carcharhinus perezii,” also known as the “Caribbean reef shark” is a species of requiem shark that can be spotted in the mesmerizing waters of the western Atlantic Ocean from Brazil to Florida.
The "bull shark" or "Carcharhinus leucas", is a requiem shark, known for its aggressive nature, that is usually present in warm shallow waters in rivers and along coasts.
The “bull shark” or “Carcharhinus leucas”, is a requiem shark, known for its aggressive nature, that is usually present in warm shallow waters in rivers and along coasts.
The hammerhead sharks with the distinctive "hammer" shaped heads can be found worldwide in warmer waters.
The hammerhead sharks with the distinctive “hammer” shaped heads can be found worldwide in warmer waters.