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| PHOTO BY: THE THREE P'S DIVE |
Blue holes are roughly circular, steep-walled depressions, and so named for the dramatic contrast between the dark blue, deep waters of their depths and the lighter blue of the shallows around them. Their water circulation is poor, and they are commonly anoxic below a certain depth.
The deep blue color is caused by the high transparency of water and bright white carbonate sand. Blue light is the most enduring part of the spectrum; other parts of the spectrum—red, yellow, and finally green—are absorbed during their path through water, but blue light manages to reach the white sand and return upon reflection.
The blue hole of Romblon is located in the north-easternmost tip of Tablas Island called Punta Gorda. This is the only documented blue hole in the Philippines.
The dive starts in a shallow reef at 5 meters deep. Its entrance is a 6 meter wide volcanic chimney drops for 20 meters before opening up into the massive chamber below. Its ceiling at 25 meters and a huge opening that leads out into open water. It goes down to 30 meters to a sloping floor that opens into the white sandy bottom. A strong current will be felt during the dive so it is important to visit a licensed dive shop.
There are amazing coral features and some small marine life which takes refuge among the corals. Sea creatures such as stonefish, humpback scorpionfish, lobsters, big eyes, giant moray eels, and sea snakes can be seen in the vicinity.
White tip and black tip reef sharks, manta rays and eagle rays, schooling tuna and barracuda, jacks, baitfish and others pass by, creating an amazing spectacle that has to be seen to be believed.
The exit opening has its top at 30 meters and its bottom at 40 meters. The entire reef is covered in a variety of coral and sponges that are filled with reef fish and other little creatures. The blue is best dived around midday when the sun shines right into the hole through the opening illuminating it beautifully.
