Great Blue Hole
This is the granddaddy of them all. When Jacques Cousteau and his team of divers discovered the Blue Hole back in 1971, they invited Ramon Nunez, before he became our legendary host at Ramon’s Village Resort, to be their guide on this historical expedition. If you see Ramon, ask him to tell you about the amazing adventure he had with the one-and-only Jacques Cousteau. Even if you do talk with Ramon, you must still see the Blue Hole for yourself.
Your adventure with Ramon’s Village Divers begins on our dock with a continental breakfast. When your tummy says you’ve had enough to eat, you’ll board the Lady Grace, our 46-foot Newton dive boat. The two and half hour ride to Lighthouse Reef, which is home to the Blue Hole, passes some interesting sights, but it’s also a good time to enjoy some quiet time or make new friends in your party.
Arriving at the Blue Hole shortly before 9 a.m., you’ll spend the first few minutes in awe of this incredible dive site. We’ve been told it’s the best known, most easily recognized and most photographed dive site in the world, and you can experience it.
The Great Blue Hole was formed sometime during one of the ice ages that covered the North American continent several million years ago. At this time it was dry and because of its limestone makeup, stalagmites and stalactites were created drop by drop of limestone rich water. Some of these stalactites are nearly thirty feet long and nearly eight feet in diameter.
The top edge of the Great Blue Hole is nearly 1,000 feet across and is ringed by fringing coral that makes for an excellent snorkeling adventure. The base of this fringing reef gradually slopes at about 40 degrees until at a depth of 50 feet where it suddenly drops into the Great Blue Hole. A sheer, pockmarked wall is the only reference as descent is initiated. Most of the time there will be a slight thermocline felt at around 90 feet and at this point the visibility will become incredible. The stalactites start at a depth of 120 feet and are plainly in view at the 130 foot limit of sport diving.
The Great Blue Hole is not known for its marine life, especially at depth. On occasion, you will see groupers, horse-eye jack, squirrel fish and even schools of Reef Sharks. This really does make for an eerie, almost surrddeal setting.
Due to the depth, at most, there will be an 8 to 10 minute bottom time which includes the descent. A slow, controlled ascent back up the wall, to a safety stop at the base of the fringing reef makes this dive 20 to 25 minutes total. A truly unique dive site which for many is the dive of a lifetime and for any diver well worth the price of admission.
