Unexplored Depths
The Blue Hole, the largest sinkhole in the world, spans 300 meters (984 feet) across and plunges around 125 meters (410 feet) deep.
Source: Wikimedia
Prior to Branson’s 2018 expedition, its depths remained largely unexplored.
Branson's Team
Accompanying Branson were Fabien Cousteau, grandson of legendary underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau, and oceanographer Erika Bergman.
Source: Wikimedia
Their objective was to map the hole’s interior in 3D.
“Breathtakingly beautiful”
Upon reaching the bottom, they made some unsettling discoveries.
Source: Wikimedia
Initially, their descent revealed a wall of giant stalactites, which Branson described as “breathtakingly beautiful.”
Complete Darkness
At around 300 feet, they encountered a dense layer of toxic hydrogen sulfide, plunging them into darkness and depleting the water’s oxygen.
Source: Mateus Andre/Freepik
Bergman explained to CNN that this natural layer, formed over centuries, causes the Caribbean sunlight to vanish, resulting in complete darkness.
Eerie Discovery
Branson described the scene as “extremely eerie,” noting, “We didn’t expect to see any creatures below.”
Source: @RichardBranson/X
“But at the bottom, we saw crabs, conches, and other creatures that had fallen into the hole, run out of oxygen, and died.”
Human Remains Found
As the team delved deeper, they discovered the remains of a tragedy. Bergman told Business Insider in July 2020 that they found the bodies of two people who had “been lost in the Blue Hole.
Source: John Samuel/Wikimedia Commons
“She recounted, “We found the resting place of a couple [of] folks. We respectfully informed the Belize government where we found them.” She added, “Everyone decided we would not attempt any recovery. It’s very dark and peaceful down there, so we just let them stay.”
Unwelcome Discoveries
At the bottom, the team encountered something else unexpected and unwelcome: human rubbish.
They found a 2-liter Coke bottle and a lost GoPro with holiday photos, according to Business Insider.
Plastic Plagues the Ocean
Reflecting on this, Branson stated, “As for the mythical monsters of the deep? The real monsters facing the ocean are climate change – and plastic.”
Source: Fotokita/Freepik
“Sadly, we saw plastic bottles at the bottom of the hole, which is a real scourge of the ocean.”
Climate Change Impact
Branson emphasized that the expedition highlighted the urgent dangers of climate change.
Source: wirestock/Freepik
He noted, “The Blue Hole is a complex system of caves that once formed on dry land. It shows how oceans can rise quickly and catastrophically. Sea levels were once hundreds of feet lower. About 10,000 years ago, sea levels rose by about 300 feet due to melting ice around the world. At 300 feet down, you can see the change in the rock where land turned into sea.”
Raising Awareness
In his blog, Branson expressed hope that their expedition would raise awareness about the need to protect the ocean and combat climate change before it’s too late.
Source: Wikimedia
He stressed his desire for his grandchildren to grow up in a world with coral reefs and ocean wonders.