Sometimes known as the Great Blue Hole, the Belize Blue Hole is a gorgeous natural phenomenon located inside the lagoon of the Lighthouse Atoll approximately 43 miles off the coast of Belize City. Measuring more than 300 meters (980 feet) across and 100 meters (350 feet) across, the Blue Hole is an almost perfectly circular body of deep blue water that was created more than 15,000 years ago when water levels rose in the Caribbean at the end of the Ice Age.
Beyond the natural beauty of this unique water body, Blue Hole is popular with divers thanks to its complex underwater experience. Rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of his Top 10 favorite diving sites in the world, descending into the Blue Hole begins by reaching a limestone shelf approximately six meters (18 feet) below the water’s surface. From there, divers orient themselves to drop off into a very dark abyss where not much can be seen beyond the limestone wall of the periphery of the Belize Blue Hole.
The reason why divers come from around the world to the Belize Blue Hole is what lies approximately 30 meters (100 feet) feet down. Blue Hole now covers what was once a vast series of caverns, and divers can navigate between enormous columns of rock that still contain stalactites from when it was located on dry land. Many divers report the experience as entering into a gothic tale, an eerie underwater world which seems completely devoid of life. But it is the quiet beauty of these stone passages that attract experienced divers, a unique underwater environment to explore. Only an occasional encounter with an elusive hammerhead shark reminds divers that they are not alone.
The lovely resort of Laru Beya offers guests diving packages to explore all of the top spots on the Belize Barrier Reef, including Blue Hole and the Gladden Spit, where whale sharks emerge every year between March and June. Experienced local divers will guide visitors to exactly the right spots to witness a wide variety of colorful marine life as well as the best places to experience the full majesty of the Belize Blue Hole.
With beautiful beachfront accommodations, and one of the best restaurants in southern Belize, Laru Beya is a premiere destination for honeymoons, weddings, and visitors to experience a tropical paradise vacation at affordable prices.
