Top 5 Spookiest Dives
Since it is officially spooky season (my favorite time of year), I’d like to share my favorite dives that are a bit more on the darker side. Each of these sites offer a uniquely beautiful experience that differs from typical clear blue reef diving for those that are a bit more adventurous.
Deep in the inky darkness, we can find creatures and a world beyond our imagination.
“There are environmental worlds on earth every bit as weird as what we may imagine to revolve by far-off suns.”
#5 Blue Hole, Belize
The Blue Hole in Belize is a spectacular and unique dive site. Jacques Cousteau named it one of the best dive sites in the world and it is easy to discover why. Shaped like a martini glass, the depths plunge quickly down to about 410 ft and the immense stalactites become visible around 120-130ft which push recreational depth limits (132ft). What makes this dive a bit spookier is how dark it starts to become at those depths, the unusual massive stalactite swim-throughs, and the massive reef sharks that follow divers throughout the dive.
Note: Diving to these depths increases the risk of gas narcosis and decompression illness, so it is imperative to closely follow non-decompression limits and depth limits for the dive. This is a dive for a more experienced/advanced diver.
#4 The Eagle, Islamorada FL
Wrecks inherently are spookier dives. The Eagle off of Islamorda absolutely embodies the eerie strangeness of wreck diving. The max depth of the wreck is at 110 ft often a stronger current. When the top of the eagle’s nest comes into view while descending, it is a very striking site. The wreck is also home to a lot of marine life including giant groupers and bull sharks which are commonly found in the area. Due to the depth of this wreck, the bottom time to explore will be very short but worth the visit!
Note: Diving to these depths increase the risk of gas narcosis and decompression illness, so it is imperative to closely follow non-decompression limits and depth limits for the dive. This is a dive for a more experienced/advanced diver.
#3 Cenote Calavera (Temple of Doom), Mexico
Recreational divers are able to dive in the cavern sections of many cenotes in Mexico. Cenotes are sinkholes located in the jungles of the Yucatan Pennisula. Cenote Calavera is a very special one since the openings give it a skull shape. In the cavern there is an awesome halocline (layer of water where fresh water and salt water mix) which creates a blurry, surreal layer of water. Also in this cavern are remains of pottery and animal bones which give it the nickname of “Temple of Doom.”
For me, this cenote felt like Indian Jones level of adventure and made the history of the region really come alive.
Note: Recreational cenote diving requires a qualified guide. Make sure to research reputable shops in the area.
#2 Blackwater Dive, Kona Hawaii
One of the ultimate spooky dives! Blackwater diving is a more extreme form of night diving in the ocean hovering over thousands of feet of pitch black water. I did this dive off of Kona, Hawaii and it is one of my favorite dives ever. Armed with only a small flashlight at around 50ft-60ft of depth, this dive is truly heart-pounding. Many creatures from the deep come up to feed at the surface at night. They become visible in the beam of the flashlight which illuminates their electric colors and alien shapes. So much adrenaline during the dive as more and more creatures show themselves while peering into the great abyss below.
#1 Cenote Angelita, Mexico
The only dive that can beat out a blackwater dive for spookiness level is Cenote Angelita. This is a sinkhole in the jungle that drops straight down in a large cylinder-shaped hole. What makes this place unique is that around 90ft there is a hydrosulfide cloud that appears around an “island” of petrified and decaying trees. Below this layer, it becomes pitch black as all the light is blocked out. This place exemplifies the image of the mystical legends of the Mayan underworld.
Note: Recreational cenote diving requires a qualified guide. Make sure to research reputable shops in the area.
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Do you have a favorite “spooky” dive site? Please share in the comments below
