Vandalous graffiti or playful fun?
New Mexico’s Blue Hole is a favorite dive training site for many in the southwestern United States. The cold water spring was formed more than 10,000 years ago and offers clear water, great conditions all year, and no current or other major hazards. The bottom reaches a depth of 78 feet which works well for training both beginner and intermediate-level divers.
Last week, some recreational divers discovered what appeared to be graffiti of sorts, apparently written by scraping some words into a algae-covered rock formation. The letters spelled out “NMSP Dive” – indicating, some believe, the New Mexico State Police dive team who may have held a recent training session there.
One local TV station, KOB-TV, followed up with the state police on Friday, and a spokesperson said they are waiting to confirm their training activities at the Blue Hole. So far, no confirmation has been made.
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“I don’t have the inclination to touch things like that – animals or algae – so I usually recommend against it,” Mavroleon said. “It’s generally not a great idea to touch things underwater in any case,” local diver Giusseppe Mavroleon told KOB-TV.
The algae is expected to grow over the area again by summer, covering all the writing.
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So what do you think? Is this a destructive act, akin to spray painting graffiti, or a harmless act of finger painting? Leave your comments in the messages below or on our Facebook page here.