After the exploration of the Blue Hole of the Yellowtail in 2019, off the city of Sarasota in Florida, it is at new depths that American scientists will attack. In August 2020 and May 2021, it is the hole of the “Green Banana” and its 129 meters deep which will be the subject of this research.
Blue holes, or sea holes, are chasms, often rounded. Their dark blue color, due to the depth, contrasts with the turquoise blue of the surrounding reefs. These underwater caves would have formed during previous ice ages, when the sea level was a hundred meters lower than today. The water, which has since infiltrated these depths, has thus created the fascinating chasms that we now know, explains Futura Sciences.
The peculiarity of these blue holes is that they concentrate a very rich biodiversity, which invites scientists to explore life, as explained la Noaa (Office of Ocean Exploration and Research) : “Blue holes form rich biological communities filled with marine life forms like corals, sponges, mollusks, sea turtles, sharks and many others “.
La Noaa also specifies that “the chemistry of the seawater in these holes is unique and seems to interact with the water table and possibly the aquifers. This link contributes to our knowledge of the carbon cycle between groundwater and the surface”.
The Dragon’s Hole, the deepest known to date
Blue holes have been found all over the world. Among the most notable is the Dragon Hole in the China Sea. It is reputed to be the deepest blue hole discovered to date, with an estimated depth of 300 meters. Before him, it was Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas that was considered the deepest with its 202 meters deep.
In the Caribbean Sea the great blue hole of Belize is “only” deep than 120 meters. In Egypt, the Blue Hole of the Red Sea is known for its dangerousness. It is among the deadliest dive sites in the world, highlighted Vice.
A benthic robot as a travel companion
Discovering the “Green Banana” means tackling nearly 130 meters of depth from the surface of the water and a diameter of 43 meters at its opening, about 70 kilometers from Sarasota.
To accompany the divers, the researchers also plan to send a robot benthic. This one, created especially for the exploration of blue holes weighs a total of 270 kilos, indicate our colleagues from Futura Sciences. This robot will be able to face the strong pressures present in the hole of the “Green Banana”, as well as the toxic waters of the abyss.
