Second Deepest Blue Hole On Record, Now Confirmed: In The Yucatan -- Off Coast Of Mexico... New Species Possible?

Except for only another blue hole in the South China Sea, we are now able to confirm a very deep blue hole off the Yucatan Peninsula, one that is certainly the deepest in the Western Hemisphere.

These deep, still layers of water are unique "time capsules" of sorts, from the time millions of years before humans. This one, named for the classical Mayan phrase for "deep water", Taam ja', consists of various layers of both gas-infused waters, and lower layers where there is almost no oxygen whatsoever, in the water -- and varying layers of weak and strong salinity. All of which may well mean that sea-faring lifeforms long extinct elsewhere on the planet still reside in these inky blue depths. That is the next step: carefully probing, without disturbing that delicately-layered aqueous environment:

. . .The mysterious world of blue holes just got a bit more intriguing, thanks to the discovery of what is now considered the world's second-deepest blue hole. Guided by tips from fishermen, scientists from Colegio de le Frontera Sur explored a tropical estuary off the southeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and found a blue hole. It spans 147,000 square feet across and dips 900 feet down. . . .

While the new blue hole was discovered in 2021, the researchers only recently detailed their findings in a study published in Frontiers in Marine Science. With a circular opening near the surface, just 15 feet below sea level, the steep 80-degree-plus slopes form a large conic structure the scientists say is covered by biofilms, sediments, limestone, and gypsum ledges.

[The inverted conical] walls block tidal flows, creating a unique mixture of water properties within the hole. The study says that "water properties change significantly with temperature and salinity gradients" in the Taam ja' blue hole and hydrographic profiles show a layered water column with a low-oxygen layer atop a gas-heavy layer atop another layer with virtually no oxygen. . . .

Studying the microbial diversity of these blue holes can offer a glimpse into the type of life surviving in the unique environment. . . .

And possibly, life forms not present anywhere else on this planet. So in many ways, these are time capsules -- from the paleolithic times -- and perhaps. . . earlier. A view of things long eclipsed from all other eyes -- running over rocks from the basement of time -- their words; mine to you. Very cool. . . onward.

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