Initially, the combination of crustal stretching and cooling caused about 57km (3.14.3mi) of tectonic subsidence of the central thin transitional and oceanic crust. The shipwreck, whose real identity remains a mystery, lay forgotten at the bottom of the sea until it was discovered in 2002 by an oilfield inspection crew working for the Okeanos Gas Gathering Company (OGGC). Relax and float away any and all worries in the salty sea. Florida's gulf coast isn't the only place to find clear ocean waters. During the winter there are fronts coming down from up north and during the summer always the threat of a hurricane. The Gulf of Mexico is, however, unusually flat, with a gradient of only about 1 foot (0.3 meters) in every 8,000 feet (2,440 meters). The Gulf of Mexico is somewhat shallow, along the coastal continental shelf areas, and has an average depth of 1,615m. Sailing from San Juan is typically smooth, as you are already in the Caribbean vs. departing from Florida where the waters can be rougher. Separating the Gulf of Mexico from one of the limited hypersaline lagoons on earth, the Laguna Madre, is the Padre National Seashore. The calmer waters . The major environmental threats to the Gulf are agricultural runoff and oil drilling. During this time, sharks are the most abundant and plentiful along the beachfront and nearshore waters of Galveston. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Straits of Florida, running between the peninsula of Florida and the island of Cuba, and to the Caribbean Sea by the Yucatn Channel, which runs between the Yucatn Peninsula and Cuba. jellybeana, your mom is about my mom's age and we treasure the memories from our seven night cruise. Sulfur is extracted from wells drilled on the continental shelf off Louisiana. Only one safe place your bathtub. Davis, Jack E. (2018). The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by 1,680 miles of US coastline. It hosts the city's favorite beach at its southern end, making it ideal for those activities along with paddling, fishing and picnicking. 2. Cruise-e-Q, January 1, 2015 in Caribbean - Other. The samples were collected for years by the former Minerals Management Service (renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement) to help predict the potential impacts of future oil/gas explorations. The North Atlantic by northern Canada has its fair share of high seas, as well. A caribbean cruise with port stops each day would be your best bet (as suggested by someone else). City: Bolivar Peninsula & Crystal Beach. The size of the Gulf basin is approximately 1.6million km2 (615,000sqmi). Biloxi is a great place to swim on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. [8][14][15], To the east, the stable Florida platform was not covered by the sea until the latest Jurassic or the beginning of Cretaceous time. - Gulf of Mexico or eastern side of Caribbean? Gulf waters are warm, shallow, and often calm. Gulf of Mexico, Spanish Golfo de Mxico, partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent. [38], In 2001 the wreck of U-166 was found in 5,000 feet (1,500m) of water, less than two miles (3.2km) from where it had attacked Robert E. Lee. Impacted Itineraries: Transatlantic, transpacific, Hawaii, Canada and New England, world cruises. A less well-defined pattern exists in the western gulf. Updates? The Gulf of Mexico is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Straits of Florida, between Cuba and the U.S. state of Florida. Shark Fishing: Shark fishing is best between May and September on the Gulf coast, when the waters are warmer. Second, as rifting progressed through Early and Middle Jurassic times, the continental crust was stretched and thinned. Sharks can be caught with different types of baits including live and dead baits. itinerary from San Juan that visits an island virtually every day, will ease her anxiety (knowing you will be in port the next morning may help "if" she feels discomfort despite using motion sickness preventitives);). Started August 27, 2021, By By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. You can't guarantee the seas with Mother Nature, but please keep in mind that the ships are so large now with huge stabilizers, etc. Brings Little Relief. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. After the attack she was under escort by USS PC-566, captained by Lieutenant Commander Herbert G. Claudius, en route to New Orleans. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Oh, those fickle seas! These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Since 1979, the specimens have been deposited in the national collections of the National Museum of Natural History.[43]. [31] According to the September 11, 2006 issue of The Tampa Tribune, earthquake tremors were last felt in Florida in 1952, recorded in Quincy, 20 miles (32km) northwest of Tallahassee. Phone +1 251-968-2040. [50] Although initial reports indicated that relatively little oil had leaked, by April 24, it was claimed by BP that approximately 1,000 barrels (160m3) of oil per day were issuing from the wellhead, about 1-mile (1.6km) below the surface on the ocean floor. While the Gulf of Mexico was a restricted basin, the subsiding transitional crust was blanketed by the widespread deposition of Louann Salt and associated anhydrite evaporites. I love cruising and would love for my mother age 78 to come with me as I think she would really like it. The deciding factor is which will have the calmer water, not the itinerary stops. [25] The Gulf's southwestern and southern shores lie along the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatn, and the northernmost tip of Quintana Roo. But temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico also start rising sooner in late winter. If you're prone to seasickness or just want to be prepared for high seas and rolling waves, we've compiled a list of some of the bodies of water known for their chop. Rough Waters: While cruises to Bermuda and the Bahamas from the East Coast are usually smooth, squalls can arise on the Atlantic Ocean, particularly during hurricane season. The sea condtions can never be predicted. On January 25, 1699, Iberville reached Santa Rosa Island in front of Pensacola founded by the Spanish; he sailed from there to Mobile Bay and explored Massacre Island, later renamed Dauphin Island. What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? The biggest offender is the Mediterranean, which tends to be roughest in the fall and winter, due to winds and storms. During the Late Jurassic, continued rifting widened the Gulf of Mexico and progressed to the point that sea-floor spreading and formation of oceanic crust occurred. 14 Miramar Beach. [47] Poor agricultural practices in the northern portion of the Gulf of Mexico have led to a tremendous increase of nitrogen and phosphorus in neighboring marine ecosystems, which has resulted in algae blooms and a lack of available oxygen. I find that the Atlantic norht of PR and the VI is always rough this time of year. LauraS NO body of water is immune to roughness.even lakes can sink a ship!!!! Geologists and other Earth scientists agree in general that the present Gulf of Mexico basin originated in Late Triassic time as the result of rifting within Pangea. Another important commercial activity is fishing; major catches include red snapper, amberjack, tilefish, swordfish, and various grouper, as well as shrimp and crabs. Other circulation features include the anticyclonic gyres which are shed by the Loop Current and travel westward where they eventually dissipate and a permanent cyclonic gyre in the Bay of Campeche. Any suggestions? 4. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". That southern is a great cruise, although it can be quite a busy one. Trying to decide on a western itinerary that goes more into the gulf of Mexico or eastern that is more in the Caribbean/ Atlantic. Before the Late Triassic, the area now occupied by the Gulf of Mexico consisted of dry land, which included continental crust that now underlies Yucatn, within the middle of the large supercontinent of Pangea. :). It is connected to part of the Atlantic Ocean through the Florida Straits between the U.S. and Cuba, and with the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatn Channel between Mexico and Cuba. [54] Coast Guard Rear Adm. Sally Brice O'Hare stated that the US government will be "employing booms, skimmers, chemical dispersants and controlled burns" to combat the oil spill. L.A. to Vancouver, or Vancouver to Seattle, or. However, the Gulf is shallower; when a hurricane passes over the water temperature may drop but it soon rebounds and becomes capable of supporting another tropical storm. In the Atlantic, a hurricane will draw up cool water from the depths and making it less likely that further hurricanes will follow in its wake (warm water being one of the preconditions necessary for their formation). [56], According to the National Response Center, the oil industry has thousands of minor accidents in the Gulf of Mexico every year. It has been called the "Jacuzzi of Despair". Perfectly calm in Akumal Bay. Do take a larger ship nd not one of the smaller ships that run the 3-day Bahamas route as they are much less stable in open water. Contents show. Its floor consists of sedimentary rocks and recent sediments. The South China Sea and East Indies, eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, North Sea, and British Isles are the most dangerous seas in the world, with the greatest number of shipping accidents in the last 15 years, according to a report released by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). There were no reports of damage or injuries. Hurricanes can derail a Caribbean cruise itinerary. [4] The Gulf of Mexico basin is roughly oval in shape and is approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500km; 930mi) wide. Rough Waters: If you're cruising Down Under, you'll find some rough patches in the Bass Strait (between the Australian mainland and Tasmania) and the Tasman Sea (between Australia and New Zealand). jellybeana, February 17, 2010 in Ask a Cruise Question. and has a midship stateroom location, she should be fine. . Thanks! 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Sea swells or other rough weather is the only factor that will play into that. Address: Boulevard Mar De Cortez, 23403 San Jos del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico. The latest forecasts from the National Hurricane Center show the potential for two different tropical cyclones in the Gulf of Mexico next week. Most of the basin consists of shallow intertidal areas, but its deepest point is called Sigsbee Deep and has an estimated depth of about 14,383 feet (4,384 m). As part of the project educational outreach Nautilus Productions in partnership with BOEM, Texas A&M University, the Florida Public Archaeology Network[33] and Veolia Environmental produced a one-hour HD documentary[34] about the project, short videos for public viewing and provided video updates during the expedition. Video footage from the ROV was an integral part of this outreach and used extensively in the Mystery Mardi Gras Shipwreck documentary.[35]. The coastal zone consists of tidal marshes, sandy beaches, mangrove-covered areas, and many bays, estuaries, and lagoons. The Gulf of Mexico is known for being as calm as a lake, unlike its friend, The Atlantic. The hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, during which time meteorologic and oceanographic conditions are conducive for hurricanes to develop anywhere in the gulf. After both platforms were submerged, the formation of carbonates and evaporites has characterized the geologic history of these two stable areas. . Yelapa. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. In latitudes 15 to 30 N, the North Atlantic is characterized by prevailing high pressure with an attendant lack of intense storms and severe weather. you also wouldn't get more than 1 sea day in a row so that might be a comforting thought for the OP. Come to List Your Fishing Services; Login; Travel & Accomodations; List Your Fishing Services; Login; Travel & Accomodations; Trips from: $1,300.00. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. During periods when the volume of the Mississippis flow is greatest, salinities as low as 14 to 20 parts per thousand occur as far as some 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 km) offshore. Rough Waters: One of the most notorious places for rock-and-roll cruising is the Drake Passage, the body of water between Cape Horn -- the southernmost tip of South America -- and the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica. If you are really set on Mexico look into Akumal. The Gulf of Mexico is an excellent example of a passive margin. By By Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also called Gulf of Mexico oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil riglocated in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles (66 km) off the coast of Louisianaand its subsequent sinking on April 22. In fact, beach lovers usually find that the beaches are enough of a reason to visit Mexico all by itself. [37] She was sunk on July 30, 1942, in Gulf of Mexico. It does not store any personal data. The Gulf of Mexico (Tampa -Key West- Cozumel) is pretty calm from December to June. Between the white sand, clear water and calm, shallow waters, it is ideal for families with young children. Individual waves may be more than twice the . Sometime during these two days, one of the five remaining ships was lost on the rugged coast, but nothing else is known of it. These high-pressure areas are part of a globe-encircling belt in which air from the westerlies to the north and from the tropics to the south sinks about 900 feet (275 metres) per day and is warmed by compression, so that the weather there is . The southeastern portion of the gulf is traversed by a riverlike current that becomes the main source of the North Atlantic Gulf Stream; this is the principal current moving oceanic waters through the gulf. Sawyer, D. S., R. T. Buffler, and R. H. Pilger, Jr., 1991. This leak created a visible 2 by 13 miles (3.2 by 20.9km) oil slick in the sea about 97 miles (156km) south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, according to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Anchoring the Riviera Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula, which sticks out into the Caribbean Sea, Cancun is famous for its developed tourism industry, powder-soft white-sand beach, and turquoise sea. Next: Naples, Florida. CC Help Jenn Most Gulf beaches are located along a string of sandy barrier islands created by wave-washed quartz sand. Rough Waters: Not many cruise lines sail to Africa, but if your itinerary includes South African destinations, watch out! Answer (1 of 2): It can be. The US portion of the Gulf coastline spans 1,680 miles (2,700km), receiving water from 33 major rivers that drain 31 states. 000 FZNT24 KNHC 022040 OFFNT4 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Gulf of Mexico NWS National Hurricane Center Miami, FL 340 PM EST Thu Mar 2 2023 Offshore Waters Forecast for the Gulf of Mexico Seas given as significant wave height, which is the average height of the highest 1/3 of the waves. Earthquakes may be caused by interactions between sediment loading on the sea floor and adjustment by the crust.[28]. In July 2008, researchers reported that between 1985 and 2008, the area roughly doubled in size. . Try an Alaska inside passage. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. When you're not splashing in the gentle waves or strolling the sand here, head out to spot dolphins during a cruise with Sunshine Scenic Tours or rent a standup paddleboard from one of the many . The only sure thing would be a river cruise - or perhaps the Staten Island ferry (great price for a short cruise). Rough Waters: The typhoon season in the northwest Pacific Ocean is mainly from July to November with a peak in late August/early September -- although storms can occur year-round. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. https://www.britannica.com/place/Gulf-of-Mexico, Texas State Historical Association - Handbook of Texas - Gulf of Mexico, Gulf of Mexico - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Gulf of Mexico - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Biden considers 1st offshore wind auction in Gulf of Mexico, one that struck Galveston, Texas, in 1900, another that devastated New Orleans and surrounding areas in 2005. The gulfs greatest east-west and north-south extents are approximately 1,100 and 800 miles (1,800 and 1,300 km), respectively, and it covers an area of some 600,000 square miles (1,550,000 square km). The Gulf waters cool a little earlier in winter compared with the Atlantic. Encounter a storm in the South China Sea or other Asian waters, and you could find an unpleasant ride, not to mention some skipped ports. EMPLOYMENT '16-'19: Indiana University; EMPLOYMENT '14-'15: University of California. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Arctic Ocean is the shallowest (mean depth 1361 m) and has significantly larger continental shelves than other oceans. [32] Mexico sought an extension of its continental shelf in the Western Polygon based on international law, UNCLOS, and bilateral treaties with the United States, in accordance with Mexico's domestic legislation. . What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? The waters of the Gulf Coast tend to be comparatively calm in August, which makes the end of the summer a great time for taking charters out from the coast. Both seasonal and annual variations occur in these loop currents. When does hurricane season occur in the Gulf of Mexico? Water from the Caribbean enters through the Yucatn Channel, the floor of which forms a sill (submarine ridge between basins) at about 1 mile (1.6 km) beneath the surface, and flows out in a clockwise direction via the Straits of Florida. [29][30] Items were knocked from shelves and seiches were observed in swimming pools in parts of Florida. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. [36] The wreck's precise location was discovered during the C & C Marine survey that located the U-166. The Gulf of Mexico contains large deposits of petroleum and natural gas. South Florida Continental Shelf and Slope, Learn how and when to remove this template message, U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Information Center, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, List of invasive marine fish in the Gulf of Mexico, United States Environmental Protection Agency, "Gulf of Mexico a sea in Atlantic Ocean", "Late Jurassic aptychi from the La Caja Formation of northeastern Mexico", "Cenozoic evolution of sediment accumulation in deltaic and shore-zone depositional systems, Northern Gulf of Mexico Basin", "Deep-Sea Brine Lake Dubbed 'Jacuzzi of Despair', "Christopher Columbus - The second and third voyages", "Amerigo Vespucci | Biography, Accomplishments, & Facts", "National Water Program Guidance: FY 2005", "Warm Waters Provide Fuel for Potential Storms", "6.0 Magnitude Earthquake in Gulf of Mexico Shakes Southeast", United States Geological Survey, September 11, 2006, "Mexico's Attempt to Extend its Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles Serves as a Model for the International Community, Mexican Law Review, Volume V, Number 2, Jan. June 2013", "Mystery Mardi Gras Shipwreck Documentary", "Historic Shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico", "The Discovery of U 166: Rewriting History with New Technology", STATUS REVIEW OF BRYDES WHALES (BALAENOPTERA EDENI) IN THE GULF OF MEXICO UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, "Smithsonian Holdings to Aid Researchers in the Gulf", "Testimony to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife; Committee on Natural Resources; U.S. House of Representatives", "The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone and Red Tides", "A 'Dead Zone' in The Gulf of Mexico: Scientists Say Area That Cannot Support Some Marine Life Is Near Record Size", "New Jersey-Size 'Dead Zone' Is Largest Ever in Gulf of Mexico", "Extensive Reproductive Disruption, Ovarian Masculinization and Aromatase Suppression in Atlantic Croaker in the Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone", "Burning oil rig sinks, setting stage for spill; 11 still missing", "Size of Spill in Gulf of Mexico Is Larger Than Thought", "Race to plug leaking oil well off La. See here for details. The top destination in the Florida Keys is also . The Gulf of Mexico (Tampa -Key West- Cozumel) is pretty calm from December to June. We also enjoy spending 3 - 4 nights in PR after the cruise. An archaeological survey of the seafloor before the construction of a natural gas pipeline led to the discoveries by C & C Marine archaeologists Robert A. Powered by Invision Community. An Eastern that goes to the Virgin Islands normally has calm seas in February. [39], Various biota include chemosynthetic communities near cold seeps and non chemosynthetic communities such as bacteria and other micro benthos, meiofauna, macrofauna, and megafauna (larger organisms such as crabs, sea pens, crinoids, demersal fish, cetaceans, and the extinct Caribbean monk seal) are living in the Gulf of Mexico. Located after Highway 59 ends at the Gulf of Mexico, this beach is quintessential Gulf Shores: long stretches of pale-colored strands, seafood shacks, lively nightclubs, and ample outdoor activities. 1003 AM EST Wed Mar 1 2023. The Gulf of Mexico (Tampa -Key West- Cozumel) is pretty calm from December to June. [26] River drainage and atmospheric fallout from industrial coastal cities also provide nutrients to the coastal zone. This was compared with a 52% to 48% male-female ratio found in reference sites, showing an impairment of reproductive output for fish populations inhabiting hypoxic coastal zones. [17], In 2014 Erik Cordes of Temple University and others discovered a brine pool 3,300 feet (1,000m) below the gulf's surface, with a circumference of 100 feet (30m) and 12 feet (3.7m) feet deep, which is four to five times saltier than the rest of the water. [42] In Congressional testimony, Dr. Jonathan Coddington, associate director of Research and Collections at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, provides a detailed overview of the Gulf collections and their sources which Museum staff have made available on an online map. This has especially been plaguing the southwest and southern Florida coast, from the Florida Keys to north of Pasco County, Florida. With many people not looking to travel between these two major holidays, cruise lines slash fares. PV is a lively Mexican city with a very cool beach front: half is beach and the other half a walkable promenade (The Malecon). February - March The big fish in the water is the Yellowfin Tuna. Source: Cassiohabib / shutterstock. Global Land One-kilometer Base Elevation (GLOBE) v.1. National Geophysical Data Center, 1999. On the shelf and on the slope that dips downward to the abyssal plain, buried salt domes occur at various depths; economically important deposits of oil and natural gas are associated with them. On July 30, 1942, the Robert E. Lee, captained by William C. Heath, was torpedoed by the German submarineU-166. Since that time thousands of wells have followed. To date, BP's cost for the clean-up, environmental and economic damages and penalties has reached $54bn. The Pacific Ocean is the worlds largest ocean. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The nation boasts nearly 5,800 miles of coastline, stretching along the warm Gulf of Mexico to the east and the . It's created as calm weather lets fresh river water form a layer above the denser salt water in the Gulf of Mexico. more than twice the significant wave height. when is the gulf of mexico the calmestmegabus cardiff to london. On March 13, 2009, the CLCS accepted Mexico's arguments for extending its continental shelf up to 350 nautical miles (650km; 400mi) into the Western Polygon. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. She is believed to have been a privateer or trader. NWS National Hurricane Center Miami, FL. and 4 day cruises this spring, beginning at the end of April. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The Gulf of Mexico provides a few of the finest seatrout, flounder, and redfish angling on the east coast however it's house to nice tuna, marlin, swordfish, and mahi-mahi angling as properly. Gulf waters are warm, shallow, and often calm. Rough Waters: Cruise travelers might experience rough seas in several places in Europe. Particularly during the Cenozoic, a time of relative stability for the Gulf's coastal zones,[16] thick clastic wedges built out the continental shelf along the northwestern and northern margins of the Gulf of Mexico. The seas of the Atlantic around the Brazilian coastline near the equator tend to be large rolls so that when headed to the drill ship it was like riding up and . Weather-wise, August is generally a calm month, and the waters in the Gulf lay down like glass. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Amer.) In 1523, a treasure ship was wrecked en route along the coast of Padre Island, Texas. An Eastern that goes to the Virgin Islands. The Gulf may reach 92 degrees or more. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Former Researcher, Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts. The season has gotten off to an unusually calm start, but the absence of storms has . To the northwest, north, and northeast it is bounded by the southern coast of the United States, while to the west, south, and southeast it is bounded by the east coast of Mexico. Individual waves may be. Mexico is one of those well-rounded countries that offer a little bit of everything: food, culture, gorgeous landscapes, and some of the best hotels and resorts in the entire world. The only sure thing would be a river cruise or perhaps the Staten Island ferry (great price for a short cruise). [12] The rifting was associated with zones of weakness within Pangea, including sutures where the Laurentia, South American, and African plates collided to create it. If you're up for an enjoyable day on the water chasing all kinds of exciting and hard pulling fish, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fishing is the way to go. Families with kids will love the calm waters to swim and splash. Cancun Beach. In July 2015 BP reached an $18.7bn settlement with the US government, the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, as well as 400 local authorities. The only sure thing would be a river cruise - or perhaps the Staten Island ferry (great price for a short cruise). On April 5, 2022, changes to the Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch (TAFB) offshore marine zones were made. height of the highest 1/3 of the waves. Both of these channels . The water on the East Coast of Florida gets nicer as you travel south. The first beach on the list, Playa Norte, has clear waters and shining white sand. Fishing is productive in the Gulf because of the connection with tidal streams and local estuaries. The thickness of the isothermal layer (a surface layer of water of constant temperature) varies from about 3 to more than 500 feet (1 to more than 150 metres), depending on seasonal and local conditions as well as on location. Mexico has about 7,000 miles of coastline, and beaches include the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of California, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. Because it is warmer than the surrounding water (65F or 18C compared to 39F or 4C), animals are attracted to it, but cannot survive once they enter it. In June 1979, the Ixtoc I oil platform in the Bay of Campeche suffered a blowout leading to a catastrophic explosion, which resulted in a massive oil spill that continued for nine months before the well was finally capped.