Scuba diving is considered one of the most thrilling water sports in the world. For some adventurous divers, they would want to experience the extreme and scuba dive in dangerous places. Ordinary divers though, who do it for pleasure and fun, may want to avoid such.
One important thing to remember is that any diving site can be dangerous if you do not know the proper precautions and methods. Whether you are a professional or an amateur scuba diver, here are the most dangerous diving places you should be aware of.
Dahab’s Blue Hole
Also called “Diver’s Cemetery,” this Blue Hole in the Red Sea, near Dahab is 130 m deep, and literally looks as a blue hole from the sky. There are about 40 recorded diver’s deaths in this deceptive diving sinkhole thereby earning the title, “The World’s Dangerous Dive Site.”
Because the arch of the hole leads to the sea, divers usually attempt to search for the arch as they dive deeper making them more prone to nitrogen narcosis.
A reef near the Blue Hole is safe for recreational diving. Blue Hole looks like an easy dive but scuba divers should not be misled; it is a dangerous dive even for professional divers.
Devil’s Eye/Ear
This dangerous diving site is found in Ginnie Springs, Florida. The powerful current adds to the 72 degrees
Fahrenheit temperature that makes it dangerous for divers. “The lips” or vortex is small making it prone to diver’s accidents when they maneuver through the 30,000 feet passageways.
Eagle’s Nest Sinkhole
This is located in Weeki, Wachi, Florida, and is one of the most dangerous cave diving sites because of its intricate underwater system. Its depth is 315 m so amateur divers are not encouraged to undergo the activity. Even seasoned divers should observe warning signs issued by the Wildlife Management staff.
“The Nest,” as called by many, has claimed some diver’s lives too. If you plan to take the challenge, do so with a group as this sinkhole is found far from populated areas.
Belize City’s Blue Hole
Located at Belize City, this site is an internationally acclaimed dangerous place to scuba dive because of the incredible depth and the stalactite formation underneath.
It is also one of the most popular because of the challenge and fascinating adventure it offers to professional scuba divers. The Blue Hole is circular in shape and is 480 feet deep; a diver could easily get injured and killed if he does not take heed of proper techniques.
Cenote Esqueleto
Known as the “Temple of Doom,” this diving site is located near Tulum, Mexico. Because of its numerous caverns and passageways, it becomes extremely dangerous even for professional divers to dive. Although the water is shallow compared to other diving sites, for the diver not knowing how far the passageway is and where it leads to could cause misjudgement and disorientation.
In 1996, Cenote Esqueleto claimed two lives, that of a father and a son, who were certified as open water divers. This was one of the most talked about death at the Cenote. Cave diving is dangerous when divers are not familiar with the geography of the site; they can get lost and their oxygen consumed in the process.
These are some of the most dangerous diving sites in the world. If you plan to dive in these places, then think twice, some of the accidents happened to professional divers as well.
Know everything there is to know about the underwater characteristics of the site, like the current, depth, width, rock formations, caverns, passageways, and the length and depth of these passageways before you attempt to dive. Safety measures should also be in place and accidents prepared for. If you do not have the proper equipment and training, then do not do it.
