THE NEXT ADVENTURE Secrets of the Blue Hole Revealed WRITTEN BY: DREA RENEAU
"IT'S A PLACE THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE A ROAD MAP FOR..." FABI EN CO UST EAU - TH E TE L EGRA P H I NTE RV I E W ( 2 0 1 8). It’s wired within our DNA to seek out adventures. Since the beginning of humankind, the thrill of discovery has not only helped us evolve but given us a sense of purpose. We look forward to the next adventure not because we're bored with the current one but because our progression depends on it. Taking the road less traveled, breaking down personal barriers and finding yourself in the process is a part of the human experience. The fiery motivation to travel and search for the simple purpose of discovery is a trait found in the bravest of people. Like the famous Jacques Cousteau who believed the acquisition of knowledge through exploration was the key to a brighter future. The famed oceanographer first explored Belize’s Great Blue Hole in 1971. Much of the data he collected makes up the information that is known about the marine wonder today. Forty-Seven years later, the second exploration of the Blue Hole’s depths was conducted by a team of ocean enthusiasts and scientists that included none other than Jacques Cousteau’s grandson - Fabien.
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The Discovery Channel globally broadcasted the exciting exploration as Fabien Cousteau, Sir Richard Branson and the youngest female submersible pilot in the world, Erika Bergman marveled at the geological evidence before them. After more than thirty dives, sonar data was collected to create a 3D point cloud of the Blue Hole’s structure. A road map has been drawn with the explorations of overhangs and caverns -- all to meet the mission’s objective of advancing knowledge for a better tomorrow. The collected data will aid in answering questions like how the Blue Hole was formed and how the face of our planet will look like with the changing sea levels and climate change patterns we are experiencing today. The next adventure is a step forward from the experience of the last. As we explore, we learn and become better equipped to navigate challenges. Let your sense of wonder guide you to better perspectives, and while you’re at it let it bring you to Belize.
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