Great Blue Hole Of Belize: Dive Or Fly Over? (With Prices)

The Great Blue Hole has been declared one of the 🏆 top five scuba diving sites in the world. Besides 🤿 diving in it, you can see it from the sky on a hopper 🛩️ plane.

As part of the UNESCO World Heritage, it's on the list of most amazing places on earth. Let's find out how to visit it.

This guide includes: 👇

General Information

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

How To Visit Great Blue Hole

1. ✈️ Fly Over Tour - the 1-hour flight to Light House Reef Atoll, Belize Barrier Reef and Turneffe Atoll
2. ⛴️ Scuba Diving Excursion - this 6-hour 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 it is a bucket list item. Worth noting is that despite being labeled as a tour, this fly-over is not guided, so you should not expect a brochure or a tour guide.

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.

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.

Is Diving The Great Blue Hole Worth It?

For snorkeling, the Blue Hole, I can say it was relatively underwhelming after doing it personally. 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.

Now for diving, I haven't done this myself since I don't have a diving certification. But my diver friends have said it is really only worth it if you have an Advanced Open Water Certification since that's the only way you get to dive through the actual hole and see the stalagmites.

What Is Great Blue Hole Known For?

Facts About Great Blue Hole

1. 🏆 Great Blue Hole is the world's largest sea hole and part of Belize Barrier Reef.
2. 🕳️ The sinkhole measures 407ft (124m) deep and 1,043ft (318m) wide - circular in shape.
3. 🧍 Jacques Cousteau, a French oceanographer, declared it a top 5 scuba diving site.
4. 😱 Two bodies of divers were discovered at the bottom in a 2018 submarine expedition.
5. 💡 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

What PADI skill levels are required to dive the Great Blue Hole?

You can dive with your Open Water Cert but you will be limited to that depth of 60ft (18m).

Resources

• European Space Agency

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Plan Your Next Trip

• Belize Destinations
• Belize Attractions
• Belize Festivals
• Belize Transportation
• Belize Budget Guide

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Leave A Comment 👇

Do you plan on visiting the Great Blue Hole by plane or boat?