Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, is one of the best-known inland scuba sites in the state. Albuquerque divers often use Blue Hole for training and checkout dives because it offers clear water, useful dive infrastructure, and an easy day-trip destination about two and a half hours east of Albuquerque on I-40.

Viking Dives uses Blue Hole for Open Water checkout dives and other training courses because it gives students a real open-water experience in New Mexico without requiring travel out of state. The site is set up specifically for scuba training, which makes it more practical than most inland dive sites.

Is Blue Hole good for scuba training?

Yes. Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, New Mexico is one of the most popular scuba training sites in the entire southwest. Dive shops from Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas travel there because it is clear, deep enough for training, and has dive infrastructure on-site.

The site has underwater training platforms, a platform, a locker room, gear support, tanks, and on-site tank refills. That combination of clear water and training infrastructure makes it well-suited for Open Water certification dives, Altitude Diver training, and other recreational specialty courses.

How deep is Blue Hole in Santa Rosa?

The official Blue Hole FAQ lists the maximum depth as 81 feet and the diameter as 60 feet.

That depth range makes Blue Hole useful for a broad range of recreational training dives while still being approachable for new divers completing their first dives. It also supports Deep Diver training and advanced skill work for divers progressing beyond Open Water.

Do you need a permit to scuba dive at Blue Hole?

Yes. Blue Hole requires divers to sign in and have a visible permit band. The official FAQ says divers must sign in upon arrival, present a picture ID and certification card, and keep permit bands visible at all times.

In 2026, a weekly dive permit costs $25 and an annual dive permit costs $75. No reservation is required for scuba divers. Arriving early on busy weekends is advisable, as swimmers are not allowed in the water before noon.

What should divers know before going to Blue Hole?

Every diver entering Blue Hole must have a current certification card and a photo ID. Permit bands must stay visible throughout your dive. Divers must sign in on arrival.

The site also has gear support, tanks, and tank refills on site, so divers traveling from Albuquerque do not need to bring everything. Viking Dives students doing checkout dives with an instructor will have all site logistics covered as part of their course.

Why do Albuquerque scuba students train at Blue Hole?

For Albuquerque-area divers, Blue Hole provides a dependable open water training destination without leaving New Mexico. The drive is about two and a half hours east on I-40 — a realistic day trip that lets students complete their full course close to home before traveling elsewhere to dive.

Viking Dives structures the Open Water course so that Albuquerque pool sessions come first, then Blue Hole checkout dives finish the certification. That sequence gives students comfort in the water before moving to an open water environment.

Courses that use Blue Hole

Viking Dives uses Blue Hole for checkout dives and training across multiple courses. If you are considering any of the following, Blue Hole is likely part of the training plan:

Ready to dive Blue Hole?

If you are not yet certified, start with the Open Water course in Albuquerque. If you are already certified and want to dive Blue Hole with Viking Dives, check the Training Calendar for upcoming fun dives or training dates. Call (505) 585-1648 with questions.