Antarctica Scuba
 

TheActiveTimes.com

No one will deny that scuba diving is a fun activity that most people would love to do one day. But everyone will also agree that the sport is difficult and very dangerous, which is what stops many people from even trying it.

Simple diving in a deep swimming pool is challenging because it takes skill to know how to properly breathe and move your body under water. Certain dive sites make the experience particularly scary. The limit for advanced recreational diving is 40 meters (131 feet) but many experienced enthusiasts test themselves and go deeper.

Master divers are not immune to the dangers some locations present. They, too, must do their homework. Scuba diving may be the best way to experience marine life and touch centuries-old shipwreck remains but this thrilling adventure comes with its risks. They include malfunctioning equipment, pulmonary embolism if you ascend rapidly (common mistake) or oxygen toxicity, especially for people who go deep, deep down. The body absorbs more of it when you're under water.

Scuba diving offers an escape because it's something people do in isolation. Views are astonishing and rare. The experience is unforgettable. The dives on this list have unforgiving conditions, narrow spaces, and extreme depths -- and more.

Most Dangerous Dives In The World

 

Antarctica

Temperatures are often below -40 degrees Fahrenheit and strong winds create deadly conditions. Most of the diving happens in December and January when it's summer there and the water is about 30F. The ice and weather change quickly and unpredictably. The water above you may freeze before you decide to come out of it. The cold water means higher air consumption rate and more energy burned. Divers can get tired very quickly.

 

Black Hole of Andros, Bahamas

The Black Hole is another very famous diving site. It's open only for scientific expeditions. As you go down, you pass through about three feet of toxic bacteria containing high concentrations of hot hydrogen sulfide. It's between oxygenated water above it and the oxygen-free water under the gas. The latter is similar to the ocean water on the planet billions of years ago.

 

Shaft Sinkhole, Mount Gambier, Australia

If you're looking for dangerous caves to dive in, Mount Gambier will not disappoint. It has a lot of them. The most hazardous location, however, is the Shaft Sinkhole. The entrance is too narrow and divers have to take off their equipment to climb down a ladder to the water. The visibility is bad -- passages are very dark -- and the depth is making the dives very difficult. Divers can easily miscalculate how much air they need.

 

Eagle's Nest Sinkhole, Florida

Called the "Mount Everest" of cave diving, the Eagle's nest has good visibility and wide entryways. Still, this sinkhole is only for advanced divers. About 300 feet deep -- some spots even go as deep as 1,035 feet -- it has to be approached with extreme caution. Nitrogen narcosis is a realistic possibility. Divers begin to feel euphoric and confused. They breathe too fast, using up the oxygen, and get lost.

 

Temple of Doom, Tulum Mexico

One of the most popular dives in Mexico is the Cenote Esqueleto, a.k.a. the Tempe of Doom. It has a lot of caverns and very narrow passageways that resemble a maze. The only way to get in is by jumping. There is no ladder or stairs. It’s easy to get lost there because it gets very dark. That can easily lead to confusion and lack of coordination.

 

Samaesan Hole in Samae San Islands, Thailand

The Samaesan Hole is almost 300 feet deep. It used to be a dump where the military threw out bullets, shells, ammos. It also has a lot of unexploded bombs. Another danger is the very strong currents and the almost impenetrable darkness.

 

Blue Hole in Lighthouse Reef, Belize

One of the most stunning scuba locations when seen from above, it's beautiful underwater as well -- clear waters, rich sea life, lots of sunshine. The Blue Hole is more than 400 feet down into the earth. But it gets very tough after 120 feet. Things get tricky after that as strange-looking formations appear that look like icicles hanging from the roof and darkness settles in. Divers are not recommended going below 90 feet. About 150 divers have died in the Blue Hole the past 15 years.

 

Devil's Cave System in Ginnie Springs, Florida

The Ginnie Springs seem like the perfect place to dive into. The water is warm and clear. Devil's Eye, Little Devil and Devil's Ear are not so friendly though. Very strong current moves underwater endangering the divers. The narrow vortex opening is almost certain to move the scuba equipment around. There are more than 30,000 feet of passageways, some of which are very thin, forming a labyrinth to explore.

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For the complete list of the Most Dangerous Dives In The World, go to TheActiveTimes.com.

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