Blue Hole Bay, Dean's Blue Hole for Sale in Bahamas for $24 Million

What does $24 million get you these days? Well, it's $1 million short of the asking price for Barry Bonds' massive Beverly Hills mansion, so scratch that. How about the deepest seawater hole in the world -- and a possible headache from preservationists?

Now you can own Blue Hole Bay in the Bahamas, a 180-acre movie-set plot of land with white beaches and crystal blue water. Nothing's there right now -- well, except for Dean's Blue Hole, classified as one of the top 77 Natural Wonders of the World. It's a 663-foot-deep seawater hole reportedly named after nearby property owners and beloved by diving enthusiasts. And just so you know, if you buy, you'll be hearing from them.

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A Facebook page called "Save Deans Blue Hole Bay" is gaining steam, and if you look at the comments, you'll see that people are peeved. "Making this natural wonder a private property would be a travesty!!" wrote one commenter. "Has to remain as it is. Wild and free. Like the people who love it," wrote another. So if you're interested in scooping up this dream piece of property, we hope you're ready to tango.

UPDATE -- 4 p.m. EST -- There might not be much for preservationists to worry about, though. Bahamian newspaper Tribune 242 reported that local government officials said Dean's Blue Hole would "remain in the hands of the Bahamian people." The article did not go into details about government plans to preserve the hole, but it did say that the surrounding property is currently owned by "several foreigners."

Should you be the lucky bidder for Blue Hole Bay, here's what you'll get: You can take the most luxurious swim of your life in the turquoise bay, then enjoy a relaxing sailboat ride over to nearby Stocking Island, a popular Caribbean destination. Have big ideas for how you'd develop the land? The sky is the limit. "It is open-zoned and thus limited only by one's imagination, whether a large resort or development of ultra exclusive private homes," the listing says. Also, you could call A-list celebs, such as Johnny Depp, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, your neighbors!

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So what's so cool about a blue hole? Its history goes back thousands of years. Blue holes are generally located in shallow areas where sea levels were much lower during previous ice ages. At that time, the land was subject to erosion, which formed sinkholes. Once those ice ages ended and the water rose, blue holes became sea caves. And according to National Geographic, new forms of microbial life have been discovered in blue holes -- and they could give clues to other lifeforms on distant planets.

CBS' "60 Minutes" visited Dean's Blue Hole to learn the backstory of this giant wonder, and they found out that, according to locals, it's a rather ominous place:

Well, we don't have other listings in the Bahamas, but you can search homes for sale in your area.

See also:
'Simple Life' on Canada's Lasqueti Island
Costa Rica's Finca Bellavista Treehouse Community

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