Scientists of Sansha Ship Course Research Institute for Coral Protection claimed they have found the world's deepest "blue hole" in the South China Sea.

According to a report published by State News Agency, Xinhuanet, the hole has an estimated depth of 987 feet (300.89 meters), surpassing the depth of Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas, which is at 202 meters.

Located in Yongle, the hole was traditionally called the "Dragon Hole or "Longdong" in their native language.

The Chinese researchers started studying the hole with a 130-meter-diameter-wide entrance in August 2015 until June this year.

Yahoo News said the group, headed by Fu Liang, used an underwater robot with a depth sensor to determine the size of the sinkhole.

In addition to measuring the depth, the researchers also discovered more than 20 fish species and other marine organisms at the upper level of the sinkhole.

The ocean is filled with wonders and the latest exploration might just give light on what else is left undiscovered.

Pete van Hengstum, a marine geologist at Texas A&M University at Galveston explained to Live Science how a "blue hole" is formed.

According the expert who conducts research on blue holes and sinkholes throughout the Caribbean region, blue holes are water-filled sinkholes formed by carbonate rocks as soon as they dissolve.

"Eventually, the process of dissolution causes the cave to reach very close to the Earth's surface, and if the cave ceiling collapses, a blue hole or sinkhole is formed," he said.

Because the water in this hole is isolated with walls of rocks enclosing them, the biodiversity in the unique sinkhole is often different and rich.

Bahamas Caves Research and Foundation explains that the blue color of the water in the hole is just a reflection of the sky on the water when viewed from an aircraft. Some blue holes may also be muddy or have a dark surface.

Tags Sinkholes, chinese sinkhole, china, oceanic sinkhole, underwater sinkhole, Blue Hole, dragon hole

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