Where does the Blue Hole water come from?

The Blue Hole is an example of a natural artesian well, a type of well or spring fed by water under high pressure, and of a cenote, a collapsed cavern exposing groundwater beneath. The cavern was formed by the dissolution of the limestone bedrock by groundwater, carving caverns into the rock until the roof caved in.



People Also Ask

Like scuba divers who drive ten hours to get here, we know it's the crystalline water that draws them in. Visibility is an astonishing 100' due to the fact that the water completely renews itself every six hours—it's truly never the same lake twice.

MORE DETAILS

Blue holes, physically, are hazardous due to their structure and depth. Their surrounding walls cause bad water circulation, meaning the water is generally depleted of oxygen.

MORE DETAILS

Tourism. The Great Blue Hole is a popular spot among recreational scuba divers who are lured by the opportunity to dive in sometimes crystal-clear water and meet several species of fish, including midnight parrotfish, Caribbean reef shark, and other juvenile fish species.

MORE DETAILS

Within this small sea of light colors, however, lies a giant circle of deep blue. Roughly 300 meters (1,000 feet) across and 125 meters (400 feet) deep, the feature is known as the Great Blue Hole.

MORE DETAILS

In 1932, it served as a fish hatchery; however, since the 1970s it has become a recreation site named Blue Hole Dive and Conference Center. The water in the hole completely renews itself in six hours—that's why the water is so cold and fresh. The flow speed is 11 m³ per minute (3,000 gallons per minute).

MORE DETAILS