A sinkhole, has also been declared as one of the ๐ top five scuba diving sites in the world. Besides ๐คฟ diving in it, you can see it from the sky on a hopper ๐ฉ๏ธ plane.
The Great Blue Hole is undoubtedly on the list of most amazing places on earth. Let's find out how to visit it. This guide includes: ๐
General Information
Entrance Fee
$40.00 USD
Tour Cost
$225โ375 USD
Blue Hole Size
1,043ft (318m)
Blue Hole Depth
407ft (124m)
How To Visit
By boat, plane or helicopter
Did you know the natural blue sink hole is so big it can be seen from space?. Below is a satellite image.
Nasa Earth Obervatory
Two Ways To See Great Blue Hole
There are generally two ways of seeing the Great Blue Hole:
- โ๏ธ Fly Over Tour - the tour includes flight to Light House Reef Atoll, Belize Barrier Reef and Turneffe Atoll
- โด๏ธ Scuba Diving Excursion - the excursion includes three dives: Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye, Long Caye
Fly Over Great Blue Hole
The fly over tour to the Blue Hole is definitely not a cheap tour, but if the bucket list item is worth it for you, then why not do it.
Plane Tour Cost
$300USD
Helicopter Tour Cost
$711USD
Flight Duration
1Hour
Is Flying Over Great Blue Hole Worth It?
Most people have this fly over tour as a bucket list item and for most, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that delivers. The aerial view is definitely more amazing than diving or snorkeling at the Blue Hole.
Pros
- Aerial photos of reef and atolls
- Spotting abandoned ship on reef
- Short & smooth flight
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- No wildlife spotting
Dive Great Blue Hole
There are a few companies in Belize that actually go to the Blue Hole. It's important to know that the excursion includes three diving spots: Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye, Long Caye. Another important note is that the trip is 3 hours each way totaling 6 hours on relatively rough waters.
Diving Tour Cost
$375USD
Snorkeling Tour Cost
$235USD
Boat Trip Duration
6Hours
Is Diving The Great Blue Hole Worth It?
Having personally visited the Blue Hole on a snorkeling trip, I can say it was relatively underwhelming. There was very little wildlife spotting at the hole itself since it's just dark. It's also difficult to appreciate the magnitude of the Blue Hole without seeing it from above.
But... the Half Moon Caye experience was well worth the trip and did not disappoint with a lot more marine life spotting. As a bonus, we had the caye all to ourselves to explore.
Pros
- Caribbean reef sharks
- Stalagmites & stalactites
- Wildlife spotting at Half Moon Caye
Cons
- Long 6-hour boat round trip
- Short 30-min dive at Blue Hole
- Little wildlife at Blue Hole itself
- Underwhelming experience if snorkeling
How To Get To Great Blue Hole
Because the Blue Hole is accessible via plane and boat, that means the tour location kicks off at the company's headquarters. For fly-over tours, the major companies have airports at the cayes and inland.
For diving and snorkeling tours, most popular companies are based at the cayes, so it makes sense to have San Pedro or Caye Caulker as your home base.
Great Blue Hole Highlights
Scuba Hotspot
Declared as a top 5 diving spot, it is undoubtedly an amazing place on earth. While diving is unique experience, snorkeling may not be the same.
Cave Structure
Before the Blue Hole was actually a sinkhole, it is theorized it was an above-ground cave. This is due to the presence of stalagmites & stalactites.
Flora & Fauna
It hosts several species of shark like Caribbean reef and hammerhead sharks. As a part of the Belize Barrier Reef, it has a rich biodiversity perfect for divers.
Facts About Great Blue Hole
- ๐ Great Blue Hole is the world's largest sea hole and part of Belize Barrier Reef.
- ๐ณ๏ธ The sinkhole measures 407ft (124m) deep and 1,043ft (318m) wide - circular in shape.
- ๐ง Jacques Cousteau, a French oceanographer, declared it a top 5 scuba diving site.
- ๐ฑ Two bodies of divers were discovered at the bottom in a 2018 submarine expedition.
- ๐ก Discovery Channel ranked Great Blue Hole as #1 Most Amazing Places on Earth in 2012.
Helpful Information
Frequent Questions
Where is the Great Blue Hole?
The Blue Hole is located about 50 miles (80km) from Belize City. The sinkhole is located near the center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. And if you zoom out a bit more, Lighthouse Reef Atoll is a small atoll belonging to the larger Belize Barrier Reef.
What's at the bottom of the Great Blue Hole?
In a 2018 submarine expedition, a go pro was found along with a coke bottle and 2 bodies of missing divers.
Is the Great Blue Hole dangerous?
If you're planning on diving, it's important to know that only experienced divers
Resources
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