Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world that includes
the islands of Ambergris and Turneffe Atoll [map]. Ambergris is home to a lot of
great dive sites itself but the other islands that are even more remote have
even better diving.
I dove the first day while Lily went to Jasmine to do her checkout dives.
The weather sucked so the water was very rough. Before we departed the
divemaster apologized and said we're only doing one tank. It was still
a good dive. Visibility was still good and we dropped down onto a group of
about 8 Nurse Sharks. They weren't that skittish and circled around us
for most of the dive. Other than that were the usual Caribbean wildlife.
You can also check out the dive logs for these dives. Dives 241 thru 247.
Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture |
Diving/Snorkeling
Since we were with a bunch of non-divers we found an option where the divers
could dive a shallow site called Hol Chan Canyons while everyone
else snorkels the same site. After
that we went a little south to Shark-Ray Alley, a super shallow site where
there are tons of Nurse Sharks and Southern Stingrays. Unfortunately they
chum the water to get the animals that friendly. It was fun, but I'm a
bit disapointed with the use of chum.
Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture |
Blue Hole Trip
A diver shouldn't go to Belize without diving the Great Blue Hole. The Blue
Hole is a large submarine sinkhole near the center or Lighthouse Reef about
43 miles east of the Belize mainland. The hole is a near perfect circle about
1000ft across and over 400ft deep. What makes it unique is that it used to
be above water so there are natural stalactite formations that were created
only when it was above sea level. It was a 2½ boat ride from
San Pedro on Ambergris.
Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture |