Southwest Treasures Newsletter- Celebrating the diversity, magic, mystery, culture and history of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah!

June 26, 2025

Hello There Reader

Take the Plunge into One of America’s Wildest Hidden Gems

Summer is here and the days are longer and hotter. Time to check out one of the coolest, bluest swimming spots in the country—New Mexico’s legendary Blue Hole where you can dive, jump or cannonball into. This unexpected oasis in the middle of the desert is a sapphire-colored shock to the senses, drawing road-trippers, thrill-seekers, and scuba divers from around the world.

Formed by a rare geological wonder called the Santa Rosa Sink, Blue Hole is part of a mysterious network of underground lakes known as the Seven Sisters. For centuries, nomadic tribes, cowboys, and settlers stumbled upon this natural marvel and couldn’t resist its pull. These days, it’s travelers following the iconic Route 66 who veer off course to discover the magic.

The moment you see it, you’ll understand why. Brilliant, crystal-clear waters shimmer in the sun, holding steady at a brisk 62°F all year long—no matter how high the desert heat climbs. It’s nature’s perfect plunge pool.

But Blue Hole isn’t just for a quick dip. Beneath the surface, it expands into a vast, bell-shaped cavern 130 feet deep, with hidden chambers that have become a bucket-list dive site for scuba enthusiasts around the globe. Whether you're floating on top or exploring the underwater mystery, Blue Hole is the kind of place that turns a road trip into an adventure story.

Amazing Facts:

The Blue Hole is 80′ wide and 80’deep that is bell shaped, expanding to 130′ wide at the bottom.

* The water is a constant 62 degrees year round and completely renews itself every 6 hours.

* Visibility is up to 100′

* With an elevation of 4,620′, Blue Hole is the world’s only “nearly mile high” blue hole

* As blue as the Great Blue Hole of Belize

* #1 inland scuba diving destination in the U.S.

* America’s only blue hole in the desert

* One of the world’s top ten blue hole dive destinations

* Onsite dive center, training rooms and warm room

* Established as a fish hatchery in 1931 and still home to a wide variety of fish

* Open 365 days of the year

*Hours: 10AM -7PM daily/Park entry fee: $5.00 Changing rooms, restrooms, viewing area and free internet!

Considered Best Inland Scuba Training Water in the United States

These 3 under water chambers are considered unique high-altitude diving and is one of the many reasons Blue Hole is perfect for training. The crystal clear water provides 100% visibility due to the fact that the water completely renews itself every six hours and the temperature never varies from its nippy 62 degrees.

There is also wall diving, two underwater decompression platforms at 20’ and 25’, a surface boat simulator and plenty of fish to enhance the training experience.

The Blue Hole attracts a wide variety of divers, including professionals, search and rescue, military personnel, municipal groups and others that
certify for: Open Water, Advanced Open Water Rescue, Dive Master, Diving Instructor

Now, I'm not a diver, but I was blown away by the Blue Hole—it’s absolutely fascinating! And Santa Rosa is such an impressive and charming town to visit!

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Till next time!

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If you're enjoying what you're discovering or want to dive deeper into learning about a specific destination, just let me know—I'd love to help you explore further!