The Allure of Blue Holes

Edmund C. Gallanosa for PinasCanada

If you happen to notice a blue hole underneath you when you are
at sea or in the ocean, consider yourself lucky.

Chances are, you’ll only get to notice a blue hole when you’re,
literally speaking, in the air. Perhaps riding a plane or a
helicopter, a glider or a sailplane maybe.

They are vast and tranquil—majestic and mysterious at the same

time. Mostly they are circular, with not much movement in the
water within the circle. They are usually dark blue in contrast
with the lighter blue of the shallows around the hole and yes,
most of them are deep. That adds up to the mystique of the
place.

The fact is looking at a blue hole gives you the feeling of both a
sense of eeriness and the desire to be adventurous—delve
beneath the dark blue hue. Who knows what you can discover
down under?

Well then get ready and prepare either your snorkeling gear or
your diving equipment, let’s check out the best blue holes around
the world.

The Blue hole of Gozo. Located in Maltese Islands, Gozo is

such a mesmerizing place. Very scenic, with breathtaking
landscapes. Gozo looks more like a huge tub than a blue hole,
thanks to the rock formation around it giving the dramatic effect
of a natural swimming pool.

The Gozo blue hole overlooks the beautiful Azure Window and
starts in an inland sea pool with which current leads to a large-
mouth crevice leading to the open sea. Fascinating isn’t it?

Red Sea Blue Hole. Also known as the Dahab Blue hole, this is
famous not only for its unique beauty, but because of its
notoriety among daring divers. It is considered one of the most
dangerous diving sites on the planet.

It is one of the calmest blue hole according to some divers, and

yet amidst its calmness and beauty it is also known for its deadly
demeanor of claiming several lives. Natives claim that a ghost of
a little girl haunts divers under the water, luring them to their
death. Others claim that it was a case of diver being careless.
Despite the death toll, it is still one of the most sought diving
sites in the world.

The Great Blue Hole in Belize. Considered to be the most

famous and most beautiful hole in the world. Being the largest
natural submarine sinkhole, with a perfect circular shape.
Measuring 300 meters or 1000 feet in diameter, with a depth of
124 meters or 406 feet. Lying off the coast of Belize in the
middle of the Caribbean Sea.

Thanks to the adventurous heart of explorer Jacques Cousteau, it

was revealed to the world of its existence in 1971. Considered a
part of the Belize Reef Reserve System, it is a UNESCO World
Heritage site.

Rock Islands’ Blue Hole in Palau. This blue hole is unique on

its own. With four vertical shafts visible from the top of the reef
and all descend to a common, large cavern underwater at about
25 meters. The rays of the sun penetrates the deep shaft and
dances through these openings, providing both energy for the
cave dwellers below and added beauty contrasting with the dark
blue ambient light all over the cavern

The Blue Hole in Guam. This blue hole is Guam’s most popular
and favorite dive spot. Ideally it is just 30 yards from the shore—
perfect because it is accessible to both snorkelers and scuba
divers. There’s a wide tunnel from shallow to deep points within
a submerged wall. The shallowest point is just within a few yards
of a vertical drop-off. The tunnel’s width is comparable to a
passenger vehicle. For safety and security, there is a permanent
boat mooring at the top of the tunnel, and descent is made safe
with an anchor rope standing by. If you want to dive with more
corals on the side, make yourself available near Hap’s Reef, just
outside the Apra Harbor or the Finger Reef which is within the
Apra Harbor. So many choices—all places worthwhile to sink in.

The Blue hole in the Philippines. Even the Philippines has its
own blue hole to be proud of. The country’s blue hole can be
found off the coast of Punta Gorda, the north-easternmost tip of
the Tablas Island, in the province of Romblon. Traveling to the
province require a ship ride and a bus tour. Or enjoy and
patiently endure a 12-hour ferry ride from Batangas City. Once
you’re there, everything is but a fantasy island.

The hole is visible from the top at five meters and goes down on
the sloping floor, not too vertical 30 meters all the way down to a
sandy bottom. Both can be tried skin diving as long as you can
endure, or go scuba diving all the way down.

The Great Blue Hole of Abaco, Bahamas. The island is at the

northernmost part of the Bahamas, just a 40-minute flight from
the east coast of Florida. It is well known tourist destination for
yachting and fishing. There are generally three types of caves
around Abaco. The sinkhole, more locally known as the Blue hole
in the Bahamas, the lens or solution cave, and the fracture cave.

Water is as crystal clear as it could ever be. Holding scores of

identifiable fishes, The whole place dropped with small, quaint
islands called ‘cays’ north and east of the main island—a sight to
behold and post-card perfect. The blue hole, always tempting
you to be visited is both eerie and alluring.

Like all other blue holes in other parts of the world, they
captivate our minds and senses because they display a mixture of
mystery and grandeur. Always tickling our sense of curiosity and
adventure. When you get your chance to visit them, go ahead—
take careful precaution but delve into it. How many times would
you get to experience the allure of a blue hole?
Pictures below:

Philippines’ blue hole can be found in the province of Romblon. It’s worth the visit, considering the hole is not that large
or deep, ideal to both amateur skin diver and scuba divers. Photo credit: ExploraPH.
The Rock Island’s blue hole in Palau is breathtaking both on air or while you’re right there in the middle of it. Surrounded
by lush forestlike vegetation, it is indeed one of the most beautiful places in Palau. Photo credit: Ippei & Janine Naoi.

Considered the world’s most beautiful and largest blue hole in the world, this one is found on the coast of Belize in the
middle of the Carribean Sea. Photo credit: RoamBelize.com.
The blue hole of the Red Sea looks like a large tub and man-made. But it is not. The natural rock formation adds up to the
already mysterious blue hole which is a tourist favorites both local and foreign. Photo credit: ArtofScubaDiving.com.

Sources:
http://worldtoptop.com/top-beautiful-blue-holes-sea/#TvuxTDqUOxYv7djR.99
http://www.malta.com/en/attraction/diving/diving-site/gozo/the-blue-hole
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ippei-janine/8640468160
https://www.roambelize.com/belize-adventure-tours/belize-blue-hole-diving-tour.html
https://www.escape.com.au/top-lists/dive-into-the-worlds-best-blue-holes/news-
story/b5e8382abf5f7e243b81234a0451f8eb?nk=d619a17883a2295acc274ca42db2febd-1542824045
https://www.touringclub.it/notizie-di-viaggio/le-spiagge-piu-belle-di-malta-e-gozo/immagine/8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_hole