Scientists have yet to get to the bottom of the recently discovered Taam Ja’ Blue Hole, but estimates suggest that its depths surpass 420 meters below sea level (~1,380 feet). This, says researchers, makes the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) the deepest blue hole in the world. Previously, that record was held by the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole (or Dragon Hole) in the South China Sea, which measures at 301 meters below sea level. Meanwhile, one of the most recognizable blue holes, the Great Blue Hole in Belize sits at 124 m (407 ft) deep.
The Deepest Blue Hole in the World
Location of the Taam ja’ Blue Hole (TJBH) in Chetumal Bay, Mexico. Photo via Frontiers in Marine Science
The TJBH sits inside Mexico’s Chetumal Bay, off the southeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. In a recently published paper in Frontiers in Marine Science, researchers shared how they discovered the TJBH to be far deeper than initially thought. Having used echo sounder mapping, the marine scientists first believed that the hole had a depth of approximately 274 meters below sea level, earning it the title of second deepest blue hole in the world. Further research, however, found that it is much deeper, with the bottom of the hole yet to be seen.
“The newly-recorded depth amounts to just over a quarter-mile below sea level into the mesopelagic zone,” says one report by CBS News. “An area otherwise known as the twilight zone since sunlight in this layer is significantly reduced.”
Beloved by divers, blue holes often offer a world of unique biodiversity. In the case of the deepest blue hole in the world, scientists believe the TJBH to be connected to a “complex network of caves and tunnels.” They also believe that it could be home to yet-to-be-discovered marine life.
Other Notable Blue Holes and Underwater Caves
Winter Wonderland Cave in Belize. Photo by the Belize Cave Diving Society
Having just been discovered in 2021, the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole may still be widely unknown Still, it joins the diverse collection of fascinating underwater structures that Latin America and the Caribbean are known for. And, on a global scale, it brings renewed attention and intrigue to the importance of underwater exploration.
“A blue hole,” says the NOAA, “can be an oasis in an otherwise barren seafloor.”
Other notable blue holes include:
- The Great Blue Hole (Belize) – One of the most widely recognized, the Great Blue Hole captured the world’s attention when Jacques Cousteau featured it, along with the blue holes of the Bahamas, on his TV documentary “Secrets of the Sunken Caves”.
- Dean’s Blue Hole (The Bahamas) – Found in the Bahamas, Dean’s Blue Hole is the third deepest blue hole in the world. Over the years, it has made a name for itself as a go-to spot for free diving.
- The Dragon Hole (South China Sea) – Once the deepest blue hole in the world, the Dragon Hole is just under 1,000 feet deep. It was famously depicted in the novel Journey to the West.
