Scientists have discovered the deepest blue hole in the world, but have yet to reach the bottom.

Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in Mexico’s Chetumal Bay—a blue hole that is the deepest in the world, with no known bottom in sight. The Taam Ja’ Blue Hole has been measured to a staggering 1,378 feet deep, surpassing the previous record holder, the Dragon Hole in the South China Sea.

Blue holes are massive underwater sinkholes formed when limestone bedrock collapses, and Taam Ja’ is located near the border of Mexico and Belize. The recent measurements of the hole’s depth and circulation patterns were published in Frontiers in Marine Science, shedding light on this mysterious natural wonder.

The team used a CTD profiler to measure the sinkhole’s depth and analyze its characteristics. They found an increase in water temperature and salinity around 1,312 feet below sea level, hinting at possible volcanic or tectonic activity at depth. The researchers also suggested that the hole could be even deeper than their measurements indicate, drawing parallels to the world’s deepest cave system, Krubera-Voronya.

While the researchers did not outline specific plans to remeasure Taam Ja’, they emphasized the need for advanced underwater navigation technologies to further explore the depths of this enigmatic blue hole. The study authors highlighted the importance of continuous exploration of these karst geological structures to unravel their intricate geomorphology and potential interconnected cave systems.

As the scientific community awaits further discoveries from the depths of Taam Ja’, this remarkable find opens up new possibilities for understanding the complex underwater world and the mysteries it holds.