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All the United States New Mexico Santa Rosa Santa Rosa Blue Hole

Santa Rosa Blue Hole

A clear blue swimming hole with hidden caves, still unexplored.

Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Added By
Jamie
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Santa Rosa Blue Hole   Michael Kesler
Santa Rosa Blue Hole   Michael Kesler
  puuikibeach/
  puuikibeach/Flickr
Caution signs   drwolff / Atlas Obscura User
What is this?   drwolff / Atlas Obscura User
View from North   drwolff / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  WGTMMike / Atlas Obscura User
Reflections on Blue Hole   Sandy Schilling Payne
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  cait7911 / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
  WGTMMike / Atlas Obscura User
Cool water on a hot day.   Marty the tramp / Atlas Obscura User
The Blue Hole in March   meganoflaherty1 / Atlas Obscura User
  dannamnewton / Atlas Obscura User
  dannamnewton / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
From top   dannamnewton / Atlas Obscura User
  WGTMMike / Atlas Obscura User
Lots of divers today 3/22/25   jessimelvin72 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located just off of the famous Route 66 in New Mexico's arid climes is the Santa Rosa Blue Hole, a natural swimming hole that has a hidden system of underwater caves which were unexplored until 2013.

Like many natural pools of its kind, the Santa Rosa Blue Hole is a small body of water that seems to fill a surprisingly deep hole in the ground with shockingly clear waters. During the heyday of road-tripping families cruising down Route 66, the swimming hole was a popular oasis in the unbroken desert. The deep hole was also a favored spot for scuba divers until two young divers became trapped in the pool's tight underwater caves. After their deaths in 1976, the entrance to the caves was covered with a metal grate and all but forgotten.

However, in 2013 a group of adventurous divers with ADM Exploration Foundation were allowed past the grate with the intention of mapping the system of unexplored caves. Their initial probing was stymied by decades of debris and too tight passages but the excavation continues with a careful eye towards safety lest further deaths close off the mysterious caverns for decades to come. It's still unclear how far back the caves go.

Update: Due to an underwater cave-in on 6/20/2024, the Blue Hole is temporarily closed. Check the site for updates.

 

Related Tags

Holes Blue Holes Water Swimming Pools

Know Before You Go

There is a $10 parking fee. It’s located right off the interstate.

Community Contributors

Added By

jamienfruita

Edited By

Rachel, jondilks, sschillingpayne, Blindcolour...

  • Rachel
  • jondilks
  • sschillingpayne
  • Blindcolour
  • Edward Denny
  • Collinken
  • cait7911
  • kimtheteach
  • richandjess
  • Allison
  • EricGrundhauser
  • dannamnewton
  • Collector of Experiences
  • meganoflaherty1
  • breaingram
  • WGTMMike
  • rpiment
  • drwolff
  • Marty the tramp
  • jessimelvin72

Published

January 6, 2014

Edit this listing

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Sources
  • http://www.santarosanm.org/scubadiving.htm
  • http://www.weather.com/sports-rec/santa-rosa-blue-hole-remains-unexplored-cave-divers-photos-20131002
  • http://www.nbcnews.com/science/divers-hope-unlock-secrets-underwater-cave-closed-years-8C11155362
Santa Rosa Blue Hole
Santa Rosa, New Mexico, 88435
United States
34.940447, -104.673239
Visit Website

Nearby Places

'Cowboy Ruckus'

Corona, New Mexico

miles away

Grave of Billy the Kid

Fort Sumner, New Mexico

miles away

Bosque Redondo Memorial

Fort Sumner, New Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Mexico

New Mexico

United States

Places 179
Stories 21

Nearby Places

'Cowboy Ruckus'

Corona, New Mexico

miles away

Grave of Billy the Kid

Fort Sumner, New Mexico

miles away

Bosque Redondo Memorial

Fort Sumner, New Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Mexico

New Mexico

United States

Places 179
Stories 21

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