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| Deans is the Deepest, and the Most Beautiful of Blue Holes! |
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Long Island has many wonderful attractions, but Deans Blue Hole is the most unique.
For divers, it's an exciting shore dive; for snorkelers it's a place of curiosity; but for scientists it's nothing short of a phenomenon!
Besides being the world's deepest known ocean blue hole (663 feet deep), it happens to be absolutely gorgeous.
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Deans is very safe to dive and to snorkel, but children and non-swimmers should stay well away. The drop-off from the sandy beach into Deans is extremely sudden.
Think of a sink drain, and you'll know how it feels to dive Deans -- spooky! At about 75 feet Deans' circular shaft begins to widen to about 240 feet. Waterfalls of sand cascade dramatically down the sides, and barracuda and tarpon emerge eerily from the depths.
Fortunately, there normally is very little current and visibility is excellent.
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In 1992, Deep Breathing Systems explored and mapped Deans. One expedition member, Jim King, actually reached the bottom. His depth gauge read 663 feet!
Expedition member William Wilson wrote that Deans is nearly twice as deep as any other known underwater cave in the Bahamas. The room below the entrance shaft is 240 feet wide, 350 feet long and 603 feet high, making it the largest known underwater cave room and one of the largest cave rooms (wet or dry) in the world.
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| World Record Freediver, William Trubridge |
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Thanks to freediver William Trubridge, Deans is now a mecca for freedivers to train and compete.
William has hosted several invitationals and in 2009 the AIDA World Championships. Many world and national records have been achieved at Deans. William, himself, has broken several world records here. In his category, he wears no fins or weights and must not touch the line, except to turn around at the end.
William has also established a training program for freedivers. Look for more information on the program, the current records and future events on www.verticalblue.net.
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HOW TO FIND DEANS BLUE HOLE
Deans is located toward the southern end of Long Island, about three miles north of Clarence Town.
Access is through the Turtle Cove development. Locate the blue stone wall on the east side of the highway. Take the long road all the way to the end, turn right and follow a narrow, winding dirt road to the very end. From the parking area, walk to the beach.
Please help to pick up trash and keep the beach clean!
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