Fifty Shades of Blue – Snorkeling the Great Blue Hole of Belize

I believe that everybody needs to cross off the Great Blue Hole of Belize from their Bucket List. Heck, if it’s not on your list, there is something wrong with you. The Blue Hole was a contended in becoming the 8^th Wonder of the World, has been named The Most Amazing Place on Earth, and has topped various lists as a top dive location in the world. Both locals and visitors need to experience the awe-inspiring, one-of-a-kind sinkhole that is sure to bring chills down your spine as you either dive or snorkel the site.

When I say that it brings chills down your spine, I do not mean it in a bad way. Flying over the Great Blue Hole is probably one of THE best ways to appreciate how magnificent the underwater sinkhole is. It lies within the Lighthouse Reef Atoll (one of three in Belize & four in this hemisphere) along Belize’s Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aerial tours make you witness the natural splendor of how huge, mysterious and unique the Great Blue Hole really is. The chills down your spine are of pure amazement.

The Great Blue Hole is mostly known as a dive destination, but that does not mean you cannot visit it for a nice snorkeling adventure. Divers love to add a cave/sinkhole experience to their diving list and that is a huge draw for divers from all over the world. But the Blue Hole is also available to snorkel for those non-divers who also want to experience the world wonder.

My snorkeling adventure at the Blue Hole was provided by Amigos del Mar, one of the leading dive centers in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. The great thing is that Amigos offers an all day trip to the Great Blue Hole for both divers and snorkelers. The trip starts very early in the morning as Lighthouse Reef Atoll is pretty far from Ambergris Caye (approximately 2 ½ hours). So at 5a.m. you are at Amigos del Mar gathering the gear you need for your trip and kick-starting your morning with a complimentary Belizean style continental breakfast which consist of johnny cakes, fruits, slices of cheese, coffee and water. By 6a.m. you are off!!

Lighthouse Reef is about 18 miles (29 km) long and less than 1 mile (2 km) wide and is surrounded by a seemingly endless stretch of coral. Here you’ll find two of the country’s best dives – the Great Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye Site. The best way to visit the Lighthouse Reef is from Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and off Belize City.

I will be honest and say that on the boat, spotting the Blue Hole is not that easy and it is definitely way more impressive flying over it. It takes some time to map the area and picture it as how you would in an aerial perspective. I thought the surrounding coral was actually small islands that border the sinkhole – NOT quite so!! It is all coral reef that is under water and that is where the beauty lies.

Dive boats tie off on anchored buoys and the divers are the first to take the plunge. While you are gearing up with snorkel gear you can see the divers disappearing into the deep blue abyss. ‘CREEPY’. But if you are there for a snorkel you are amazed at the 50 shades of blue the sinkhole provides. Snorkelers swim along the outer rim of the Blue Hole observing the marine life full of coral, fish, sea turtles and much more. The most exciting part about snorkeling the Great Blue Hole is that first plunge into the great blue and observing how the water goes from crystalline blue to almost pitch black at the drop off. It is an experience like no other, that’s for sure.

The Great Blue Hole of Belize Blue Hole is well known as one of the eight wonders of the world. World-renowned underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau was the first person to dive the Blue Hole in 1970 and has since then become a diver’s paradise. Just over 1,000 feet wide at the surface and dropping almost vertically to a depth of 412 feet, diving enthusiasts are drawn to this diving hotspot due to its clear waters, variety of flora and fauna and activity of nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks and bull sharks.

Cross the Great Blue Hole off your bucket list, I promise you will not regret it. Get to Belize; Book a Trip Immediately! Amigos Del Mar prioritizes their customers and makes sure they are satisfied to the max in every way possible.