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| VACATION GUIDE TO BELIZE DIVING & SNORKELING |
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| We Can Personalize an All-Inclusive Scuba Diving or Snorkeling Vacation for You! |
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A PROFUSION OF COLOR AND LIFE...
The underwater world in Belize is spectacular. It boasts the second largest Barrier Reef in the world. But when you take into consideration that the Australian Barrier Reef, the largest in the world, is mostly dead, that leaves Belize's reef as the largest living Barrier Reef in the world. Whether you are scuba diving or snorkeling, you will be amazed at the profusion of color and life that you will find. The water is always warm and the visibility is outstanding. What more can you ask for?
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| A scuba diver gliding along Belize's Barrier Reef. |
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Belize’s coastline is rich in marine life and variety of habitats, the majority of which are under protected status. Scuba divers had been coming to Belize way before it was put on the tourism map. Even today, with the growing popularity of diving in the country, you won’t find dive sites cluttered with dive boats and divers. Many times, you will have the sight to yourself. The coast offers a range of diving with pinnacled mid-reefs, shipwrecks, shallow coral gardens and steep walls. About 70 types of hard corals, 400 species of fish and other diverse marine life add color and life. There is something for the leisure snorkeler to the experienced diver. You can also find scuba courses in most dive shops for those who want to learn or refine their diving skills. With the predominant north easterly winds, visibility along the barrier reef ranges from 50-150 feet with the western side of the atolls almost guaranteeing good visibility. The water temperature is fairly constant all year between the high 70’s to low 80’s (Celcius). As for what the diving is like, Rick Frehsee, a respected dive journalist wrote: “Beneath the turquoise sea is a tapestry and range that exceeds every other Caribbean destination in diversity, size and scope.”
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| Whale sharks can be found in March, April, May and June. |
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Belize’s barrier reef is the world’s second largest and was declared a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1996. It stretches 185 miles from the tip of Mexico’s Isla Mujeres to the Sapodilla Cayes in the Bay of Honduras. Australia’s barrier reef is the largest but is mostly dead coral, making Belize’s barrier reef the largest living barrier reef in the world. The fore reef is rich with elkhorn and star corals which form massive spur and groove canyons that continue to slope down to the vertical reef wall. These spur and groove fore reefs provide some of the best diving in Belize. The northern barrier reef has the country’s most popular dive and snorkel site, Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley. There are also many other excellent dive sites to explore. As you move south along the barrier reef the inner reef changes from grass beds and patch reefs to an interesting series of sinkholes, pinnacles and faros (shelf atolls). The southern barrier reef is relatively unexplored with 2 of the best marine parks in the country, Southwater Caye Marine Reserve and Laughing Bird Caye National Park. The south also harbors migrating whale sharks in March, April, May and June. Within the barrier reef lay over 200 islands. The majority are mangrove islets which act as important fish nurseries. Some are coral islands with reefs just off the beach good for snorkeling.
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| The famed Blue Hole is found on Lighthouse Reef Atoll. |
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East of the barrier reef lay 3 of the 4 Caribbean atolls; their total surface area of reef is equal to that of the entire barrier reef itself! Atolls are basically groups of islands and coral reef that encircle a central lagoon. The circular reef is characterized by steep walls with a few scattered shipwrecks. They are known for excellent visibility and some of the best walls in the country. The relative isolation of the atolls along with the reefs and nutrient rich lagoons produce a diversity of marine life. Turneffe Islands Atoll has numerous mangrove islands and vast sea grass beds; the Elbow on the southern tip is arguably Belize’s best dive. Lighthouse Reef Atoll supports a diverse living reef with well developed spur and groove canyons and unique arc shaped reef segments. The Blue Hole and Halfmoon Caye also lay here. Glover’s Reef Atoll is surrounded by broad, well-defined reefs of living coral and is a UN World Heritage Site. The many unique dive sites on these atolls make them popular with divers. A few dive resorts are perched right on them while many dive shops from other destinations offer day trips to explore them.
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| We Offer Great Service! Don't just take our word for it, here is a Testimonial. |
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Fun in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye: March 28, 07
"We just returned from a fabulous time on Ambergris Caye. We stayed at Ramon's Village and it was worth every penny. The room was quiet and very clean. The beach and pool are the best on the island. We dove with Amigos Del Mar dive shop. They were one of the best group of divers I have ever been with. They were friendly and VERY organized. I would highly recommend them. The service provided by Alex with DiscoverBelize.com was wonderful. He recommended places and services on the island based on my needs. He was always available before the trip to answer any questions I had. He was very knowledgeable and professional."
Mary Nelson : Bloomington, MN - USA
DiscoveringBelize.com Service: 5/5 Excellent
Contact us and let's start planning your dream Diving or Snorkeling vacation! |
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| BELIZE DIVING & SNORKELING RESOURCES |
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| WHERE TO GO DIVING AND SNORKELING IN BELIZE |
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There are several islands and coastal destinations that offer easy access to the barrier reef, which parallels the country’s entire coastline. All of these places also offer day trips to one or several of the coral atolls. Or you may choose to stay on one of the island resorts on the atolls themselves. Below is a brief description of the diving in these different destinations that should help you in choosing where to go.
Ambergris Caye: This is the original diving destination of Belize, with some of the first dive shops in the country. The barrier reef is visible from the shore of the island and offers many local dive sites like spur and groove canyons, patch reefs and walls. Just southeast of the island is Belize’s most visited dive site, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which includes Shark Ray Alley. You’ll find both great snorkeling and scuba diving here. Turneffe Islands Atoll and Lighthouse Reef Atoll, home of the Blue Hole, can be dived on day trips as well.
Caye Caulker: Just south of Ambergris Caye, the diving here is similar. The barrier reef is visible from the shore and there’s also great snorkeling and scuba diving. Hol Chan Marine Reserve is only a 25 minute boat ride from the island. There are also day trips to Lighthouse Reef Atoll, home of the Blue Hole, and Turneffe Islands Atoll. Caye Caulker also has some nice dive and snorkel sites like the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. The rates for diving are a cheaper here than in Ambergris Caye.
Belize City: Yes, you can even dive out of Belize City! The barrier reef is only a 30 minute boat ride away. Local dive sites include spur and groove canyons and very good walls. Day trips to Turneffe Islands Atoll can take you to popular dive sites like the Elbow. The Blue Hole on Lighthouse Reef Atoll is also available. The Aggressor III Live Aboard departs on week long diving trips from here as well. The patch reefs around Goff’s Caye are quite popular for snorkeling as well. There are day trips available that will take you snorkeling all the way to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley.
Placencia: As you move south along the barrier reef, the inner reef changes into a series of faros, sinkholes and pinnacles. The barrier reef lays 20 miles off shore and includes Laughing Bird Caye Marine Reserve, among the best marine parks in Belize. Several islands on the inner reef and along the barrier reef offer excellent snorkeling as well. Whale Sharks can be seen in the Gladden Split area during their migration in March, April, May and June. Day trips to scuba dive or snorkel Glover’s Reef Atoll are also available.
Dangriga: Dangriga is just north of Placencia so the diving is essentially the same, with the interesting inner reef, excellent snorkeling off of several islands and whale sharks during March, April, May and June. A few of the differences are that the barrier reef is closer than Placencia, at 10 miles offshore. South Water Caye Marine Reserve, among the best marine parks in Belize can only be dived if you stay in this area. And finally, one of the other main attractions of this area is that all 3 coral atolls can be dived from here; Glover’s, Turneffe Islands and Lighthouse Reef.
Coral Atolls: Belize’s atolls are known for their great visibility, often 100-150 feet, and excellent coral walls. Because they are quite remote, the marine life is plentiful and diverse. These are destinations best appreciated by scuba divers as the diving is excellent. But there are plenty of shallow reefs for snorkelers to enjoy as well. The Blue Hole is on Lighthouse Reef Atoll; Glover’s Reef Atoll is a UN World Heritage Site and the Elbow is on Turneffe Islands Atoll. From Glover's Reef Atoll you can also see Whale Sharks in March, April, May and June. The Aggressort III Live Aboard dives Turneffe Islands and Lighthouse Reef Atolls on week long trips at sea.
Aggressor III Live Aboard: One popular option for scuba divers is live-aboards, yachts that will take you out to sea for several days to do nothing but diving. The Aggressor III is part of Aggressor’s fleet of dive boats in various parts of the world. The yacht is built for divers so it is very accommodating. They offer 7 day excursions visiting many dive sites along the barrier reef and on Turneffe Islands Atoll and Lighthouse Reef Atoll. This is a great ways to pack a lot of diving, on some of Belize’s most popular dive sites, in just a week. |
| We work hard to make your Vacation Perfect. Here is another Testimonial. |
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Whale Shark Adventure: May 10, 07
"Thanks Alex for arranging a great trip for 11 intrepid whale sharks divers. We found everything to be just as you said it would. We dove with whale sharks and snorkeled on excellent reef systems at the Galdden Spit. Some of our group had a great trip to Xuanantunich as well. Highly recommend Belize and sleepy Placencia."
Edie Craddock: Oakville, Ontario - Canada
DiscoveringBelize.com Service: 5/5 Excellent
Contact us and let's start planning your dream Diving or Snorkeling vacation! |
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