A group of Mexican and French divers have successfully documented and verified the Taam-Ja blue hole in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, as the world's deepest. The blue hole, which has a depth of 422 meters, was initially discovered over three years ago in February 2018.
The discovery took place during a submarine exploration of the Great Maya Aquifer, an extensive network of underwater caves beneath the Yucatán Peninsula's jungle. Since its discovery, researchers have referred to the hole as the "Black Hole," and until now, its exact depth had not been confirmed.
The verification of the hole's depth was accomplished by a team of 30 divers from Mexico and France based in Tulum. The team documented the hole during a descent that lasted between 10 and 15 minutes.
The exploration revealed that the blue hole has a diameter of 70 meters. It contains sediment that offers insights into historical climate changes and the history of the sand. "We've found piles of prehistoric tools and the remains of extinct animals," noted geologist Eduard Reinhardt. He also mentioned the hole's significance in understanding scarcity economies, pollution, and social aspects.
To date, only about ten people have ever explored the site, and it remains untouched by tourists.
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