Blue Hole National Monument

Location

The Blue Hole Natural Monument lies within the atoll lagoon of Lighthouse Reef, about 75km east of Belize City, and about 8km north of Half Moon Caye Natural Monument.

The great “Blue Hole” studied by Jacques Cousteau in recent years, is an underwater cave, formed during periods of lower sea level, is a karsts-eroded sinkhole where depths exceed 400 feet. It contains Pleistocene stalactites and stalagmites and serves as an important habitat for shrimp and jewfish.

Access

Chartered boat access is the most popular means of access as there is no regular air or boat service. Local live-aboard dive boats are now required to moor at designated areas. Diver tour operators from San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, and surrounding cayes are the major users. It is visited regularly by a small number of live-aboard dive boats operating within the country.

History

The geological cave formation of the Blue Hole, the circular rim of the coral reef, and the surrounding area of atoll lagoon are included in the area gazetted under the Natural Monument Reservation Order, 1996. Because of its unique geological history and formation, the Blue Hole Natural Monument is one of the seven marine protected areas that comprises the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System- World Heritage Site and is of outstanding universal significance. The Belize Audubon Society began co-managing this protected area in 1999.

The Blue Hole, a large circular sinkhole on Lighthouse reef Atoll, has for many years been a major attraction for SCUBA divers and is the most famous dive destination in Belize . The Blue Hole was first featured in a 1960's film entitled the “Painted reefs of British Honduras ” in which the stalactites, stalagmites and columns were described. Then in 1970, it was visited by Jacques Cousteau in his research ship the Calypso, and a television documentary was filmed.

Description

It is called the “Blue Hole” because of the striking indigo blue color of the deep hole in comparison to the lighter shades of green and blue of the surrounding atoll lagoon. The upper rim of the hole has lush coral growth, with narrow passages of only 50m on the northern and eastern sides. At a depth of about 15m, there is an abrupt drop-off into the hole.

The vertical rock wall is massive limestone bedrock, with growth of algae, Halimeda and gorgonians. The wall is nearly vertical down to a depth of 28-30m, where the diameter of the hole increases. The resulting overhang forms a ceiling with a slope of about 55 degrees. Many large stalactites extend from this ceiling, showing that it was the upper part of a large solution chamber when this area was above sea level.

The Blue Hole is considered a landmark of Belize and is highly marketed as a prime natural attraction of the country. As a protected area, it is expected that visitation could be adequately controlled, ensuring the long-term conservation of the site.