World’s Largest ‘Blue Hole’ Uncovered At 1,300 Feet Deep In The Sea And Scientists Still Haven’t Reached The Bottom

Diving deep into the ocean can be risky without the right equipment

Scientists believe they’ve uncovered the true depth of a particular blue hole, and it could be the largest one ever discovered.

The ocean is an endlessly intriguing place, and what we know about it continues to evolve.

Just off the Yucatan Peninsula, near the waters of Mexico and Belize, researchers think they’ve found the ‘deepest known blue hole’ on the planet.

This blue hole is estimated to be at least 1,380 feet deep. As you can imagine, this discovery has captured the attention of many who are fascinated by the mysteries lurking in the ocean’s darkest depths.

Even more exciting, scientists haven’t yet reached its full depth.

The findings were discussed in a research paper published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, where researchers outlined just how expansive this blue hole is.

They also highlighted what it could mean for future studies on marine life and how these enormous blue holes come to be.

Scientists aren’t sure they’ve even reached the bottom of the world’s largest ‘blue hole’ yet.Joan A. Sánchez-Sánchez

Blue holes are essentially underwater caves, thought to have formed over thousands of years due to glacial runoff during the Ice Age.

Many of these marine caves are hundreds of meters deep, and while they have captured the imagination of divers and marine scientists alike, few have been able to explore their deepest reaches.

One of the biggest challenges for divers is the lack of oxygen in these underwater caves, and in some cases, they contain hydrogen sulfide gas, making them highly toxic without the proper training and equipment.

Originally, this particular blue hole, known as Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH), was thought to be around 900 feet deep. But in December of last year, it was recalculated to be much deeper, stretching even further down toward the ocean floor.

The earlier, incorrect measurements were attributed to the limitations of echo-sounder technology, which relies on sound waves to gauge the depth of underwater spaces.

This time, scientists used a more advanced tool known as a conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD) profile, allowing them to get a clearer and more accurate measurement of how far the hole goes.

The Taam Ja’ Blue Hole measures over 1,300 feet.Frontiers in Marine Science

Although they haven’t made it all the way to the bottom, the CTD profile stopped at 1,380 feet, but it can extend down to 1,640 feet. So, it’s still unclear if the probe actually reached the base of the blue hole or if it was obstructed along the way. This is something researchers are continuing to investigate.

Another intriguing discovery is that a layer of water below 1,312 feet has a similar makeup to the water in the Caribbean Sea. This has led scientists to speculate that some of these underwater marine caves may be connected, but further research will be needed to confirm that.