Dean's Blue Hole, Natural sinkhole in Long Island, Bahamas
Dean's Blue Hole is a circular opening in the seafloor near the coast of Long Island in the Bahamas, extending over 200 meters down into underwater limestone. The round surface opening measures roughly 30 meters across and drops vertically into a maze of caverns and passages below.
When sea levels dropped during ice ages, rainwater dissolved the limestone layers and carved deep shafts in the dry rock. After sea levels rose again, the system flooded with salt water and formed this formation.
The name refers to the deep marine blue circle cutting through the turquoise shallows along the shore. Free divers from around the world come here and practice their breath-hold techniques in a natural setting that offers volume and depth found nowhere else.
A narrow path over rocks leads down to the beach and entry point into the water. Snorkeling and swimming gear are helpful since the depth increases quickly and visibility along the edge of the hole often stays clear.
Around 20 meters down, the narrow shaft widens into an enormous chamber roughly 100 meters across. The side walls suddenly disappear and divers float in open space above an abyss that continues deeper into darkness.
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