If you have been to Dahab—a former Bedouin fishing village turned popular tourist attraction in the Red Sea—it is likely you have had snorkeling or free-diving sessions at the Blue Hole. While excited about getting ready to gear up and start your adventure, you might have noticed a memorial on a mountain ridge with plaques bearing the names of some divers, who lost their lives while attempting to explore the infamously alluring Blue Hole. As sentimental as the memorial gesture might seem, it stirs a sense of morbidity in the rather scenic location.
The Blue Hole was reported to have been first discovered in 1968 by a group of divers. During their diving excursion, they discovered the 120-meter-deep sinkhole, just five miles north of Dahab. Since then, it is believed that more than 200 divers have lost their lives. However, there are no public or official records of the exact number, leaving the estimate to the speculations of residents, tourists, and divers who lost their colleagues. The Blue Hole has become notoriously known as one of the worst diving spots in the world.
A tunnel known as “the Arch” is 55 meters down the sea wall, leading off from the hole. With a 65-meter floor-to-ceiling height, and stretching for 26 meters, the tunnel is described as an underwater cathedral. This can have a disorientating effect on some divers who are not prepared for that kind of depth, as it is possible to suffer from nitrogen narcosis along with oxygen poisoning, leading to the divers feeling intoxicated. Due to that “martini-effect”, which causes physical and mental impairment, some divers have reported seeing white light coming out of the tunnel. That is why having specialized equipment and getting the required training before deciding to delve into this adventure is essential.
The Chamber for Diving and Watersports (CDWS) in Egypt stations a police patrol at the Blue Hole to ensure divers are accompanied by a certified guide, who will make sure safety procedures are followed, to prevent any further casualties of adventure.
References
atlasobscura.com
iflscience.com
theguardian.com
wikipedia.org