Global business celebrity and billionaire Sir Richard Branson is taking a submarine down the world’s largest sea hole – the Great Belize Blue Hole.
Located in the Caribbean sea off the coast of Belize, the Great Belize Blue Hole has fascinated scientists and explorers for decades.
It is the largest sea hole in the entire world – big enough to swallow two jumbo jets and still have room to spare.
The sea hole was first explored by scientist Jacques Cousteau’.
On December 2018 , Sir Richard will be diving right to the bottom of it to raise awareness about protecting our oceans, along with ocean conservationist and film maker Fabien Costeau.
Fabien Cousteau’s grandfather, first drew attention to the World Heritage Site in 1971. The limestone cavern, 300 meters (984 feet) across and 125 meters (410 feet) deep, could swallow two Boeing 747s with room for more. Inside, 40-foot stalagmites and stalactites protrude from the floor and ceiling. The mysterious circular formation is visible from space and draws many professional divers, but most don’t venture past 130 feet deep even on nitrox. A few divers have disappeared in this sea hole over the decades. Local unverified legends speak of sea serpents inhabiting the Great Belize Blue Hole.
Riding in a Stingray 500 built by Aquatica Submarines, Branson, Costeau, and pilot Erika Bergman are determined to get to the bottom of the sinkhole – and the science.
An OCEANA Belize press release issued 1 December 2018 states:
More than 80% of our vast underwater world remains unexplored. In an attempt to collect scientific data about our beautiful Belizean waters, a team of ocean advocates, including celebrity Richard Branson and marine conservationist Fabien Cousteau, will be exploring our Great Blue Hole. The Aquatica Submarines expedition was live-streamed at 2 PM EST on Sunday, December 2nd. You can catch all the action on Discovery Channel, BBC, and National Geographic Channel. Be sure to tune in for a closer look at the mysteries that lie beneath this giant marine sinkhole! Check your TV provider for a repeat. The team will remain in Belize until mid-December doing more dives and 3-D mapping of the sea hole.
