All about the Great Blue Hole that explorer Fabien Cousteau and Richard Branson are diving into
The Blue hole is about 124 metres deep and located off the coast the Central American country Belize.
By Suman Layak, ET Bureau |
Agencies
Blue holes? Like black holes?
Unlike black holes. Blue holes form in seas, not space. They are deep sink holes in shallow marine waters, much deeper than the sea water around them, and usually have a deeper shade of blue, because of the depth.
So we visiting one?
Not us. But some other people are. An expedition is set to explore, or re-explore, the Great Blue Hole – off the coast the Central American country Belize.
Okay, I recall something. The explorer, Jacques Cousteau, made this famous in some way.
Bang on. He named it among the world’s top five scuba diving sites and also explored it in 1971. Now his grandson Fabien is about to go down the same blue hole in early December using submersible crafts and modern equipment. For company he will have maverick entrepreneur and ocean conservationist Richard Branson.
Ah, quite a team. So what do they expect to see inside?
It’s about 124 metres deep and very dark at those levels. But there is a lot of marine life that can be observed. There are caves, horizontal channels and limestone formations too – stalactites.
Sounds so interesting. I wish I could see it.
No, I meant visit a blue hole. Can we try something closer home?
May be the Dragon Hole in South China Sea or the one in Egypt? Ok. But we must bring Fabien and Richard along too.
Unlike black holes. Blue holes form in seas, not space. They are deep sink holes in shallow marine waters, much deeper than the sea water around them, and usually have a deeper shade of blue, because of the depth.
So we visiting one?
Not us. But some other people are. An expedition is set to explore, or re-explore, the Great Blue Hole – off the coast the Central American country Belize.
Okay, I recall something. The explorer, Jacques Cousteau, made this famous in some way.
Bang on. He named it among the world’s top five scuba diving sites and also explored it in 1971. Now his grandson Fabien is about to go down the same blue hole in early December using submersible crafts and modern equipment. For company he will have maverick entrepreneur and ocean conservationist Richard Branson.
Ah, quite a team. So what do they expect to see inside?
It’s about 124 metres deep and very dark at those levels. But there is a lot of marine life that can be observed. There are caves, horizontal channels and limestone formations too – stalactites.
Sounds so interesting. I wish I could see it.
ADVERTISEMENT
Cousteau will be broadcasting live via Discovery Channel.No, I meant visit a blue hole. Can we try something closer home?
May be the Dragon Hole in South China Sea or the one in Egypt? Ok. But we must bring Fabien and Richard along too.
British business magnate and owner of Formula One, Bernie Ecclestone, purchased a mountain in Switzerlandâs Gstaad âjust because he liked itâ. While itâs unclear how much Ecclestone paid for the mountain, heâs not the only one to own such outrageous properties.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
