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Blue Hole Diving - Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, Bahamas

Ocean Blue Holes - Andros Island Bahamas

   All the main islands of the Bahamas have blue holes, but those of Andros are the best known. Andros has 178 on land with at least 50 in the sea.

   Blue holes can best be described as entrances to the intricate cave systems which run underneath the island and sea floor. Because the ocean blue holes are connected to those inland and even to those blue holes on the west side of the island, they are affected by the tides. The ocean blue holes will "blow" and "suck" making it necessary to dive them at certain times. The "blow" usually pumps out cold subterranean water which may be milky with hydrogen sulfide and algae or, during the "suck," the water will be gin clear as it sucks in the surrounding sea water. These different conditions create very different ways for us to enjoy the blue holes while diving.

   From the incredible geological formations to the unique marine life which live in the caves, the ocean blue holes offer us some of the best diving experiences in the world.

Click on any of the graphics while exploring this section in order to see an enlarged version.

Blue Holes of Andros Island Bahamas

Back Side Of The Blue Hole Back Side Of The Blue Hole
One or two people
running time: 20 minutes
maximum depth: 90 feet
in water time: 30-40 minutes
multi-level profile
June-September only

   This dive starts where the Blue Hole 2nd level dive starts except we will first swim around to the back side of it and then drop down into a valley. As we swim into this valley, you will actually see a river of water, underwater! What is happening is the blue hole will be pumping out cold water, about 72 degrees, from underneath the island. The surrounding sea water is 84 degrees. The cold water is dark green compared to the light blue ocean water. This cold water is also denser which causes it to sink and run out one of the old stream beds. We will swim up this stream bed and into the blue hole where you will then see white algae that hangs in suspension like giant cob webs.

   From there, we will travel through one of the fault lines in the blue hole at 90 feet maximum depth and end up to the top of the blue hole where the cold water again meets the warm water. This mixing zone creates an unforgettable visual experience

   You will not see anything else like this on earth!



2nd Level Blue Hole Blue Hole 2nd Level
One or two people
running time: 20 minutes
maximum depth: 140 feet
in water time: 20-60 minutes
multi-level profile

   The Blue Hole 2nd Level dive starts at 45 feet deep. We will swim over to the edge of the collapse and drop down in between the collapse and the ocean floor to 100 feet. Here, we will drop through a hole in the breakdown and come into a huge tunnel, where the bottom is 320 feet deep. We will traverse along the ceiling at 140 feet. After a short swim, the ceiling breaks away where you will see these incredible shafts of light coming through. A little further on you will come into the largest cavern in the Bahamas which resembles a lunar landscape. Looking up and out you can see a large variety of fish silhouetted above you. We will swim up through the cavern to the upper most lip and then circumnavigate the entire blue hole, seeing ancient river beds and waterfalls that were created during the ice age. The depth around the rim ranges from 60-70 feet. When we circle back around to the anchor line, we will pull the anchor and drift.
   Awesome!



3rd Level Blue Hole Blue Hole 3rd Level (short version)
One or two people
running time: 20 minutes
maximum depth: 190 feet
in water time: 25-30 minutes, multi-level profile

   From the boat we will swim down the anchor line then over into the blue hole to a huge fault line. This fault line will lead us into an enormous cavern at 190 feet. As we explore the massive geological rock structures of this beautiful cavern we will gradually start our ascent. The view looking up from this depth is an incredible site with shafts of deep blue light filtering down into the cavern. To exit the blue hole we will follow a tunnel which opens up into the floor of the blue hole near our entrance at 110 feet.
   Fantastic!



Bob's Blue Hole Bob's Blue Hole
One person
running time: 40 minutes
maximum depth: 140 feet
in water time: 30-50 minutes
multi-level profile

   Bob's Blue Hole starts in 30 feet of water with a squeeze into the mouth of the cave. Once in, you will drop down a 4 foot wide dog leg to 84 feet where it will open up into a huge fault line. We will swim along the north line to a maximum depth of 140 feet deep and about 400 feet in. This cave has spectacular large rooms that are hard to imagine located under the ocean floor. There are many big lobsters, crabs, squirrel fish, and sometimes blind Bahamian cave fish. Once out of the caver there are hundreds of fish around the entrance to enjoy. You will be wearing fully redundant cave equipment designed for cave diving and will be thoroughly briefed on how to use it.
   A real adrenaline rush!


The Open Ocean | Coral Caverns | Incredible Walls
Ocean Blue Holes | Inland Blue Holes | Geographical Reef Study

Bahamas Vacation - Small Hope Bay Lodge - Andros Bahamas Adventure Travel - Caribbean Vacation

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Small Hope Bay Lodge
P0 Box CB 11817, Nassau BAHAMAS

P0 Box 21667
Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA 33335-1667


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