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DIVING
& SNORKELING: Belize offers some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the
world. Whether you want to snorkel, learn to SCUBA, or have logged
hundreds of dives, there is something here to please everyone. The
water is normally 79 - 85 degrees and visibility can be over 100
feet. Currents are usually quite mellow making getting around in
the water a breeze.
Ambergris
Caye is also home to Subaquatics of Belize, a state of the art recompression
chamber facility aiding divers with decompression sickness since
1989.
Local
Reef Diving - The barrier reef is located just off shore and runs
parallel to Belize for 200 miles. The reef offers dozens of spectacular
dive sites just a quick boat ride from the island. Most dive sites
range between 30 feet and 90 feet. The spur and groove topography
creates plenty of nooks, crannies and living space for all marine
life. More advanced divers can explore the many swim-throughs and
tunnels located throughout the reef.
An
average day on the reef might bring you parrot fish, queen angel
fish, creole wrasse, spinney lobsters, clinging crabs, banded shrimp,
brittle sea stars, spotted eagle rays, hawksbill turtles and eels
to name a few.
The
Great Blue Hole - Discovered by Jacques Cousteau, the Blue Hole
has become Belize's most famous and impressive attraction. Once
a cave, the top collapsed to create the almost perfect 1000ft diameter
circular hole reaching a depth of over 400ft. At a depth of 100
feet the walls of the hole bubble inwards to create a ceiling where
the worlds largest underwater stalactites hang. Some stalactites
extend 50 feet down and 30 feet around. The blue hole is also home
to a large population of sharks who live near the bottom. Divers
who brave the hole, swim through the massive stalactites and are
escorted to the surface by dozens of sharks, vow to make a return
trip to the hole. Most divers refer to swimming through the clear,
seemingly black, water at 130 feet to what floating through space
must feel like. Snorkelers do not have to be left out. Around the
mouth of the hole you'll find plenty of pristine reef and patch
coral teeming with life just waiting to be explored.
Atoll
diving - Belize has 3 of the 4 atolls located in the Western Hemisphere.
Turneffe Atoll is located approximately 25 miles from the mainland,
Lighthouse Reef Atoll, home of the Blue Hole, is located approximately
40 miles from the mainland. Glovers Reef Atoll is situated just
south of these atolls. Due to their remote locations, the diving
and snorkeling in these areas are spectacular. Giant sponges, huge
corals and sea fans remain undisturbed and are flourishing. Most
of the diving done on the atolls is wall diving. These walls can
start at 20 feet and drop down into the thousands of feet. Always
be alert and on the lookout for the wanderers of the ocean. Pelagics
often migrate through the atolls on their journey around the oceans.
Sightings of manta rays, hammerhead sharks, whales, and whale sharks
are not unusual.
Hol-Chan
Marine Reserve - This is a truly awe inspiring area for both divers
and snorkelers alike. Voted by "Rodale's Scuba Diving magazine"
as one of the top 3 snorkel destinations in the world, Hol Chan
offers an amazing diversity of marine life. With a maximum depth
of 30 feet, this is the perfect place to practice your scuba or
snorkeling skills. This is a must see site for visitors to San Pedro.
Shark-Ray
Alley - Also within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark-Ray Alley
is the perfect place to interact with some of the reefs larger residents.
As the name suggests, large nurse sharks and southern stingrays
are the main attraction but only a couple of the marine creatures
you will find here. Shark-Ray Alley is a snorkel site only, no scuba
tanks, with depths of only 10-15 feet.
Mexico
Rocks - Located inside the reef north of town, Mexico Rocks consists
of mostly rocky outcroppings and brain corals. The area is only
12 feet deep on average and its inhabitants include dozens of varieties
of fish, many are juveniles.
Bacalar Chico - Sitting a stones throw from Mexico on the northern
tip of Ambergris Caye, Bacalar Chico is a 110 sq. km National Park
and Marine Reserve. Snorkel spots are plentiful as are the ancient
Mayan ruins littering the forest beyond the mangroves and beach.
This area is also a great birding spot. |