Is there much of a current in certain tide phases in these blueholes? This might be more significant to holes inland connected to the ocean. I recall reading something about whirlpools developing in some when I was a kid. Poetic license or is there something to this? One things is for sure, it would be a great place to visit.

No whirlpools that i have ever seen. Not much current in this one either because of its location on the ocean. Its pretty merky thought, hard to see. the whirlpool factor may be greater the farther you get away from the sea yes, but i am not sure. I know that there are 2 right near where I live and people dive them all the time.

The blue hole in the picture is really interesting though because it goes straight down and all you can see is black. I'd love to take a depth sounder over it and see how deep it is..;)

Thanks for the input. I think current issues are more prevalent with inland sinks connected to the ocean as you say. I have yet to make it to a marine sink strangely enough. Although there is a small, little known one in the Bimini's with an intact roof that I may get to checkout in a couple of weeks.

I did do some dives in Warm Mineral Springs in SW Florida for the Florida Division of Archives. It is a sulfur spring and a pretty bizarre dive too with skulls with brain matter, saber-cat fossils, spear throwers, stalactites and this funky fuzzy purple and green matted algae chunks that rain down.

http://www.church-of-the-holy-grail.org/springs.jpg

Just got my copy of Palmer's "Deeper Into Blue Holes" this morning. Bet he has some stories from the Bahamas. Did a quick google search and found that you can have whirlpools in some blueholes during the "siphon" part of the tidal cycle.

http://cavesurvey.com/images/White_Ring_Map_2000.jpg

Ocean blue holes alternately blow water out (spring) and suck water in (siphon) as the tides fluctuate. In some cases, the spring cycle is strong enough to form a noticeable slick or boil on the surface, giving rise to the often-used term of "boiling holes". During the siphon cycle, water is sucked back into the cave and can be dramatic enough to form a whirlpool on the surface. As the hole transitions or "turns" between springing and siphoning, or vice-versa, there is a brief slack period where there is no flow at all.

More at:
http://cavesurvey.com/white_ring_blue_hole.htm

thanks for the Info Rick, thats interesting stuff!!!

I just put an article up about the Long Island sink, Dean's Blue Hole at:

http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=92

Lots of great sights over your way. Keep it coming!

Hey Rick, tks for all the amazing information. I honestly thought it was 60-70 ft deep. We have one here in Nassau, just off Rose Island. I dived there once and I was told that was no more than 70-75 ft.

Did you find anything on the Bluehole at Lochabar, just South of Clarence Town ? It looked pretty deep too.
We found a couple of more Blueholes close to the main road but the water was too merky.

I bought one of the Chartbook on the "far Bahamas" and I've noticed at least 20 to 25 Blueholes in Long Island. Do you know what creates them ? and why so many in Long Island ?

You're welcome, thanks for passing along so much Long Island info. I was planning on heading out to the Lost Blue Hole off Rose Island but lacked sufficient time and an accurate location a couple of weeks ago. Next time. It sounds like an interesting dive, how was it?

I am sorry, I couldn't find anything dealing with the Bluehole at Lochabar. I suspect there are quite a few off Long Island as you say.

I don't know this for a fact but I suspect Long Island by far doesn't have a monopoly on blue holes. I would guess Andros by shear size might have that distinction. I would think the Bahamian Plateau has hundreds of blue holes of varying sizes.

The conventional wisdom on blue hole formation seems to involve conditions when sea levels were far lower and the carbonate rock mass comprising the Bahamas Plateau was exposed far higher above water than at present. Chemical factors ranging from acidic rain, tannins from decomposing vegetation and roots, erosion, and other weather processes attacked the rock mass through fissures and created vertical voids. Glaciation receded, sea levels rose to contemporary elevations leaving flooded cylindrical voids in the rock, blue holes. Given the mechanism of formation and abundance of carbonate rocks over the Bahamas it is no surprise that there are so many blue holes.