dean’s blue hole
| GETTING THERE |
Probably the most well-known spot on the island - Dean’s Blue Hole is located in a bay west of Clarence Town (capital city of Long Island). You will definitely need a car to get here like most places on the island. If you mark your GPS (download to your offline google maps), it will take you straight here but use Lloyd’s Sporting Lounge as a reference point! There will be a big billboard advertising the blue hole and you will turn to the opposite side of this sign. From there, follow the VERY rough patch of road, look out for the wooden signs pointing you to the right direction towards the hole. You’ll be greeted by the perfect water, and there a bit of space to left before the entrance where you can park. The best part is there is NO ADMISSION! No hours of operation or any personnel either - so swim at your own risk.
| ABOUT THE HOLE |
The hole is a naturally occurring sinkhole, but what makes it so uniquely beautiful is the clarity of the water allows you to see from above the different depths due to the changing blue hues. As you enter, you’ll see the perfectly crystal and shallow beach. As you look towards the actual hole, you can see the teal shore around the hole that’s still shallow enough to sit on. As the shades of blue deepen, you can clearly see the opening of the hole plummeting down into the abyss. It’s an incredible sight to see and makes for such a unique kind of beach day!
The world’s second deepest hole - plummeting to 663 ft!
Considered one of the best diving & snorkeling sites in the world!
The water is so clear, you can see all the fish just from the surface but if you have them - bring goggles so you can witness the “shore” around the hole & the abrupt drop-off into the abyss
Free-diving mecca - they hold a competition here yearly & there’s a platform in the middle of the hole with a line to practice free-diving
| WHERE TO STAY |
We stayed in Petty’s settlement in a motel-style apartment complex called Contantakis Bay View Apartments. Dean’s Blue Hole was the closest attraction to us - only an 8 minute drive. This made it super easy for us to go early in the morning and beat the crowd - although a crowd in Long island is 2 families or more 😂.
| OUR REVIEW |
Dean’s is definitely worth spending the entire day at. The beach is refreshing and ankle-height for the most part so it is perfect for lounging and drinking. You can totally bring a cooler with snacks/drinks and spend the entirety of the day here. There’s so much to do - lounge in the shallow beach, snorkel around the hole, see the marine life on the surface, and you can even climb the top of the rock for more of an aerial view of the sinkhole. There’s even a free-diving platform with a line so whether you’re a beginner or an experienced free-diver, this is a great way to practice your equalizing or breathing. Its incredible to see from underwater the crevices of the sinkhole and even the underwater “shore” of the hole itself. You will definitely see some sailors or crew members hanging around here either swimming or fishing - this is a must-see on this island and a big enough reason to come out to Long Island.
