The deepest blue hole in the world has been confirmed in Chetumal Bay, Mexico. Researchers estimate the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole has a depth of at least 420 meters (1,380 feet), but have yet to reach the bottom of the world’s deepest blue hole.
What are blue holes?
Blue holes like Taam Ja’ formed during the last Ice Age when sea levels were over 100 meters (330 feet) lower than the present day. They would have started life as a limestone cave, but as the seawater rose, it flooded, and the ceiling collapsed to form a marine cavern.
Their past means that scientists have even discovered fossils of prehistoric creatures, like tortoises and crocodiles, embedded in their walls. In the modern day, they’re home to corals, sea turtles, sharks, and a wealth of unique microbial life.
The Great Blue Hole off Belize is huge, but nothing compared to the depth of Taam Ja’ Blue Hole.
Image credit: Kota Irie / Shutterstock.com
Perhaps one of the most famous for its engulfing appearance is the Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize. However, at just under 130 meters in depth (427 feet) t’is but a puddle compared to Taam Ja’.
The deepest blue hole in the world
Taam Ja’ actually started out as the second deepest blue hole in the world when scientists took their first dive into its anatomy. In a 2023 paper, it was estimated to be around 274 meters (899 feet) deep, earning it the name Taam Ja’ which means “deep water” in the Mayan language.
Now, a new paper has revealed that our initial estimates of the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole were just the surface, revealing it plunges at least a further 146 meters (479 feet) than expected. However, since we haven’t yet reached the bottom of Taam Ja’, we’ve yet to establish just how deep the deepest blue hole known to science really is.
Unfortunately, one cannot simply swim to the bottom of the deepest blue hole in the world.
Taam Ja’ Blue Hole – just the start?
As well as uncovering the staggering depth of the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole, the study suggests that it may well form part of a connected system of hidden caves, but we’ll need to take a proper look to know for certain, as well as to work out how far down it goes.
“Comparison with Caribbean water conditions at the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, reef lagoons, and estuaries suggests potential subterranean connections,” wrote the study authors. “Further research and implementation of underwater navigation technologies are essential to decipher its maximum depth and the possibilities of forming part of an interconnected system of caves and tunnels.”
The study is published in Frontiers in Marine Science.
Source Link: The Deepest Blue Hole On The Planet Plummets 420 Meters Below The Sea