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Overview
Belize is often referred to as one of the Seven Underwater
Wonders of the World. This
title is well-deserved, as colorful fish, beautiful corals and intriguing
marine life abound in the country's numerous spectacular diving sites.
The world's second largest barrier reef runs parallel
to Belize's coast, there are 3 major atolls, and many of the small
islands, known as cayes, that dot the coastline have their own coral
reefs and underwater gardens full with all kinds of sea life. Water visibility commonly reaches 100 feet; water temperature
hovers around 80 degrees Fahrenheit; and the barrier reef makes for
calm water most of the year.
It's no wonder that Belize is one of the world's most popular
destinations for scuba divers and snorkelers.
Most good
diving is reached from live-aboards or from resorts on the cayes.
The coral reefs of Ambergris Caye, the most developed of the Belize's
cayes, are deeply cut and interesting. Among the most spectacular
in the Caribbean are the walls and rugged underwater vistas of the
outer cayes. You can see large schools of fish, some big fish from
time to time, and many large nurse sharks.
Weather
The dry season is from March to May. The best predictable weather
for diving is from April through June, as winds are normally light.
During winter months (mainly December, January, and February), Belize
is also subject to northerly winds that can spoil diving for several
days. Water temperature may dip as low as the 70s in the winter and
reach as high as 85° in the summer.
Ambergris
Caye
Due to its proximity to the barrier reef and several other dive sites,
Ambergris Caye is a favourite destination
for divers and snorkelers. The most popular site is Hol Chan
Marine Reserve, located 4 miles southeast of San Pedro. Here,
the ocean floor ranges from 5-35 feet so both divers and snorkelers
can see tropical fish and beautiful coral formations. Close
to Hol Chan is the Sand Bar, also called Shark and Ray Alley because
hundreds of sting rays and families of nurse sharks congregate here.
Other nearby sites include Mexico Rocks, Palmetto Reef, Sandy Point
Reef, San Pedro Cut and Coral Gardens. There are several dive
operations on Ambergris Caye, and many hotels employ dive masters.
Caye
Caulker
Underwater caves off the western shore of
Caye Caulker are some of the best and most interesting places
to dive here. The cave system is elaborate and fascinating but
you should not go down without a proper guide.
Turneffe
Islands
Located southeast of Ambergris Caye, the Turneffe Islands have several
different scuba environments such as shallow coral head diving,
wall diving and wrecks, all alive with colorful fish
and large rays.
Half
Moon Caye
A good dive site at Half Moon Caye is The Wall, a vertical
drop-off sliced by canyons and narrow passages and full of black coral.
7 miles north of the caye is Lighthouse Reef, best
known for the fascinating Blue Hole, a circular limestone
sinkhole 300 by 400 feet deep, which is one of the world's most
famous dive sites. Huge
stalactites hang from the ceilings of underwater caves within the
Blue Hole, and turtles and sharks abound.
This dive is usually reserved for the most experienced, under
the supervision of a dive master.
Glover's
Reef Atoll
Glover's Reef Atoll, one of the country's four offshore atolls, is
famous among divers for its abundant sea life and beautifully formed
coral. Visitors to these cayes usually come by boat from Belize
City, Dangriga or Hopkins/Sittee, or stay at a resort of Glover's
Reef.
The
Southern Cayes
Located 10-20 miles south of Dangriga,
Tobacco Caye, Carrie Bowe Caye and South Water Caye are right on the
edge of the barrier reef, and teem with tropical fish and other underwater
flora and fauna. Further south are the Sapodilla Cayes, Hunting
Caye and Snake Caye. These cayes have beautiful coral sand beaches
and abundant sea life, perfect snorkeling locations. Dive and
snorkel expeditions can be arranged from hotels in Placencia, South
Water Caye or Dangriga.
Placencia
The diving off Placencia, a small funky
fishing village further to south of Dangriga in South
Belize, is best around the southern part of the peninsula, where
the Barrier Reef structure transforms into a region of sinkholes,
pinnacles and formations called "faroes," which support
an incredible diversity of marine life. As Placencia is on the mainland, you can visit Mayan
ruins, take river tours, go to the Jaguar Preserve, or even fly to
Tikal for the day. The trade-off for this
convenience is that it takes an hour's boat ride to the barrier reef.
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