When was the blue hole first discovered?

1971
Located 46 miles off the coast of Belize, the Blue Hole is known around the world for its crystal-clear water and its abundance of sharks and sea life. But this remote spot has only ever been fully explored once – back in 1971 by legendary ocean expert Jacques Cousteau himself.

Who discovered Blue Hole?

explorer Jacques Cousteau
Long a secret known only to Belizean fisherman, the Belize Blue Hole became famous in 1971 when legendary marine biologist and undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau visited the site.

Did Jacques Cousteau discover the Blue Hole?

The expedition found some submerged stalactites in the hole, and was able to conclude that the Blue Hole was formed before ocean levels rose. Cousteau recorded his trips on the TV series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.

What was found in the Blue Hole?

The culprit was a thick layer of toxic hydrogen sulfide spanning the width of the entire sinkhole like a floating blanket. Erika Bergman: Underneath that there’s no oxygen, no life, and down there we found conchs and conch shells and hermit crabs that had fallen into the hole and suffocated, really.

Where are blue holes found?

Blue holes are typically found on shallow carbonate platforms, exemplified by the Bahama Banks, as well as on and around the Yucatán Peninsula, such as at the Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize.

How was the blue hole formed?

Most blue holes are formed from sinkholes or caves that develop slowly over time, as rock begins to erode and collapse. Many blue holes were formed during the last Ice Age, after sea levels rose and filled existing sinkholes with water.

How old is the Blue Hole?

2. Great Blue Hole is around 150,000 years old. The geological process that resulted in the creation of this natural wonder started 153,000 years ago, and ended about 15,000 years ago when this underwater fissure assumed the shape it has today.

Who died in the Blue Hole?

diver Yuri Lipski
One of the most notorious death at the Blue Hole was the death of 22 years old Russian-Israeli diver Yuri Lipski on April 28, 2000.

What did Richard Branson find in the Blue Hole?

Belize Great Blue Hole: World’s Biggest Ocean Sinkhole Has Plastic at Bottom. Richard Branson has found plastic at the bottom of the world’s biggest ocean sinkhole.

What lives in the Blue Hole?

Blue holes are diverse biological communities full of marine life, including corals, sponges, mollusks, sea turtles, sharks, and more. The seawater chemistry in the holes is unique and appears to interact with groundwater and possibly aquifer layers.