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3-Day PADI Open Water Diver Course

From: Viator
 

 

Belize
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Belize scuba diving and snorkeling is hard to beat. Here you can explore the world's second largest barrier reef, extending along the Belize coast, the northern tip of Ambergris Caye, to nearly forty miles at the southern-most tip of the country.
 


Ambergris Caye
The clear turquoise waters (which average 79-84 degrees) and the proximity of the barrier reef make Ambergris Caye a favorite destination for divers and snorkelers in Belize.

The most popular destination is Hol Chan Marine Reserve, located 4 miles southeast of San Pedro. The ocean floor ranges from 5 to 35 feet, so both divers and snorkelers have the opportunity to swim in what seems like an underwater aquarium, teeming with colorful tropical fish of all sizes and types and beautiful coral formations. The "cut" (channel) leading out to sea functions as a sort of "fish freeway" for many large fish, including giant groupers, barracuda and nurse sharks, a timid and un aggressive shark species. Divers may enjoy a close encounter with a sea turtle, like the lucky diver pictured in this photograph.

The rocks are home to many moray eels, who sometimes venture out in search of a meal. If you have a graphical browser, you can link below to a close-up of one of Hol Chan's moray eels. If you've ever wanted to try your hand at underwater photography, Hol Chan is the place! Other nearby dive/snorkel locations includes Mexico Rocks, Palmetto Reef, Sandy Point Reef, San Pedro Cut and Coral Gardens.

A special favorite of both scuba divers and snorkelers is the Sand Bar, sometimes referred to as Shark and Ray Alley. Hundreds of sting rays of all sizes congregate here, often accompanied by families of nurse sharks. With a depth of only 8 feet, the Sand Bar offers great photo opportunities to aspiring underwater photographers. The Sand Bar is not far from Hol Chan, and only a few minutes by boat from San Pedro.

The Blue Hole - Tracing its way along Belize's white-sand coast, Lighthouse Reef forms an integral section of the longest coral reef system in the Western Hemisphere. Its crown aquatic jewel, Blue Hole National Monument, lures legions of wetsuit-clad admirers the world over, but the reef is also endowed with plenty other coral formations, aquatic walls, and dive sites to keep even the most wave-weary under the surface of the Caribbean.

Just 50 miles southeast of Belize City, the physical mass of Lighthouse Reef is meager: only 30 miles long and eight miles wide. Yet some of the country's most impressive dives are to be had within this atoll. Most divers first stop at Blue Hole National Monument—and with good reason.

The monument was formed from 15,000-year-old caverns that collapsed, creating a 1,000-foot-wide sinkhole. Centered in 75 square feet of shallow water, the hole descends over 400 feet, with a straight, 125-foot vertical descent.

The Blue Hole looks most impressive from the air—brilliant shades of blue rapidly shift from the lightest of Caribbean aqua to the deepest navy as you approach the monument's apex, but its true glories aren't merely skin deep: shallow reefs around the perimeter of this aquatic abyss burst with vibrant coral, home to angelfish, butterfly fish, sea urchins, and giant green anemones, while a vast network of underwater valleys and tunnels lie hidden in its deep-blue heart.

But, while Blue Hole may receive the lionfish's share of attention (Jacques Cousteau was an ardent admirer), the Lighthouse Reef's best full-on diving can be found at Half Moon and Long Cayes; Half Moon Caye Natural Monument is easily the best of the 40 or so dive sites on the atoll.

Off the eastern coast of Lighthouse, this shallow reef shelf rests in 15 feet of water, giving novice divers and snorkelers the chance to intermingle with the underwater locals, including an impressive population of garden eels. Delving deeper into the Caribbean, a 20-foot reef wall supports a bustling contingent of nurse sharks, gigantic stingrays, feather duster worms, sea anemones, shrimps, crabs, starfish, angelfish, damselfish, butterfly fish, and parrot fish.


The Placencia Peninsula - an 11 mile strip of land sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea and the Placencia Lagoon, has beautiful white sandy beaches and - because of its distance from the reef - it also has "real' (though not very high) surf. The water is clean and clear; the trade winds gentle and cooling. There are few sights more calming to the spirit than a Belizean sunset on a deserted Placencia Peninsula beach.

 

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