DIVING IN BELIZE
Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, second only to Australia. Which means, Belize can provide incredible diving and snorkeling experiences on your next vacation in Belize. There are over 50 dive sites available from most any dock in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye (island) in Belize. There is also three of the five Atolls located in the Western Hemisphere, right off the mainland coast of Belize, and don't forget about the world renown diving site, "The Blue Hole", made famous by Jacques Coutsteau in 1972.
NORTHERN BELIZE CAYES - DIVE SITES - Accessible from Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are the most popular tourist destinations in the Northern Belize Caye Diving Sites. Our dive operator has access to over 50 diving sites right from their dock and they make several excursions to the Blue Hole (Lighthouse Atoll) and Turneffe Atoll each week. The Lighthouse Atoll is about (2) two hours by boat from our dive operators dock (more or less depending on sea conditions) and the Turneffe Islands are about (1) one hour by boat, from our dive operators dock (more or less depending on sea conditions). These boat rides can be arduous if the weather turns rough.
NORTHERN CAYE - TOP DIVE SITES: Mexico Rocks, Statue, Tres Cocos, Tackle Box Canyons, Mermaids Lair, Esmeralda, Boca Ciega, Cypress Tunnels, Pillar Coral, Hol Chan Cut, Shark-Ray Alley, Amigo's Wreck, Coral Canyons, Stingray Village, Caye Chapel Reef.
NORTHERN CAYE - TOP DIVE SITES: Mexico Rocks, Statue, Tres Cocos, Tackle Box Canyons, Mermaids Lair, Esmeralda, Boca Ciega, Cypress Tunnels, Pillar Coral, Hol Chan Cut, Shark-Ray Alley, Amigo's Wreck, Coral Canyons, Stingray Village, Caye Chapel Reef.
MID-BELIZE CAYE - DIVE SITES - Accessible from Dangriga
Right in the heart of Belize, lies the small coastal town of Dangriga, about 40 miles south of Belize City. Most visitors arrive here by plane, but it is possible to drive or take a bus either from Belize City along the unpaved Manatee Highway or from Belmopan via the Hummingbird Highway, for a better road and quicker journey. If you are seeking a mixture of activities, the mainland resorts and hotels in Dangriga, Hopkins and the Sittee River can arrange day trips to sites such as the Tobacco and South Water Cayes and the offshore Atolls. From Dangriga, you can also arrange inland excursions to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and several Mayan ruins. If diving is the primary focus of your trip, Dangriga is the departure point for Tobacco Caye, South Water Caye and Glover's Reef.
Just 10 miles southeast of Dangriga, is a tiny 5 acre island called Tobacco Caye, here pirates and buccaneers used to hideout. Puritans then settled on the island in the mid-1660's, naming it in honor of the first tobacco crop they planted. Thus today, this small island is known as Tobacco Caye.
MIDDLE CAYE - TOP DIVE SITES: Faegon's Point, Faegon's Bluff, Cuda Point (Cuba Scuda), Fishy Point, Turtle's Rest, Tobacco Cut, Tobacco Channel, Eagle Ray Bowl, Jack Fish City, Coral Monument Canyon.
Just 10 miles southeast of Dangriga, is a tiny 5 acre island called Tobacco Caye, here pirates and buccaneers used to hideout. Puritans then settled on the island in the mid-1660's, naming it in honor of the first tobacco crop they planted. Thus today, this small island is known as Tobacco Caye.
MIDDLE CAYE - TOP DIVE SITES: Faegon's Point, Faegon's Bluff, Cuda Point (Cuba Scuda), Fishy Point, Turtle's Rest, Tobacco Cut, Tobacco Channel, Eagle Ray Bowl, Jack Fish City, Coral Monument Canyon.
SOUTHERN BELIZE CAYE - DIVE SITES - Accessible from Placencia
Most Southern Caye dive sites are accessible from Placencia, which is about a 40 minutes flying time from Belize City. This small tropical coast side town, sits on the south end of a narrow 15-mile peninsula that parallels the coastline and is the country's southernmost diving hub. Development here is fairly low-key and the narrow "main street" is accommodates a small number of hotels, guesthouses, bars and resorts, which boast of the best beaches in Belize. Like Dangriga, Placencia is an ideal base for both divers and those seeking other diversions. Inland attractions include Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Monkey River and several Mayan ruins.
The coastline south of Placencia sweeps west and diverges from the barrier reef, this results in a much broader reef table than than what you'll see in the north. Large expanses of coral reef are laced with channels that drop between 90 and 110 feet, then rise abruptly beside the many shoals and Cayes. From Placencia, the diving sites take a bit longer to reach. South of Gladden Spit the reef topography is a mixture of reef flats and spur-and-groove formations, both ending atop sheer walls. Here divers may encounter whale sharks, mantas, in this region, mainly in the Spring and early Summer.
SOUTHERN CAYE - TOP DIVE SITES: Mosquito Caye South, Laughing Bird Caye North, Laughing Bird Caye, Laughing Bird Caye South, North Wall, Silk Cayes (Queen Cayes), Silk Cayes Canyons, Pompion Caye Wall, Pompion Caye, Chub Canyon.
The coastline south of Placencia sweeps west and diverges from the barrier reef, this results in a much broader reef table than than what you'll see in the north. Large expanses of coral reef are laced with channels that drop between 90 and 110 feet, then rise abruptly beside the many shoals and Cayes. From Placencia, the diving sites take a bit longer to reach. South of Gladden Spit the reef topography is a mixture of reef flats and spur-and-groove formations, both ending atop sheer walls. Here divers may encounter whale sharks, mantas, in this region, mainly in the Spring and early Summer.
SOUTHERN CAYE - TOP DIVE SITES: Mosquito Caye South, Laughing Bird Caye North, Laughing Bird Caye, Laughing Bird Caye South, North Wall, Silk Cayes (Queen Cayes), Silk Cayes Canyons, Pompion Caye Wall, Pompion Caye, Chub Canyon.
BELIZE BARRIER REEF
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AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURES
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 80 79 80 82 83 83 83 84 84 84 81 80 FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Blue HoleWall Diving
Canyon Diving Lighthouse Reef Atoll Glover Reef Atoll Turneffee Island Atoll Diving Offshore Atolls Diving Certification Diving Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley Whale Sharks Barrier Reef Dive Sites Marine Identification Guide Reef Fish Identification Guide Coral Identification Guide Lighthouse Atoll Glover Reef Atoll Turneffe Reef Atolll DIVING TRAINING & CERTIFICATION
While visiting Belize, you can try a dive to see if the sport appeals to you, enroll in a certification course or further your diving skills. Most dive centers offer courses ranging from basic Open Water through Divemaster, as well as speciality courses such as nitrox diving, deep diving, night diving, etc. One option for student divers is the referral program, in which you do the classroom work at a dive center close to home, then complete your open-water dives with a dive center in Belize.
Both live-aboard boats operating in Belize also offer a wide range of diving courses. |
SKILL LEVEL EXPERIENCE
NOVICE - A novice diver should be accompanied by an instructor, divemaster or advanced diver on all dives. A novice diver generally fits the following profile:
* Basic scuba certification from an internationally recognized certifying agency * Dives infrequently (less than one trip a year) * Logged fewer than 25 total dives * Little or no experience diving in similar waters and conditions * Dives no deeper than 60 feet * An instructor or divemaster should accompany a novice diver on all dives. INTERMEDIATE - A intermediate diver generally fits the following profile: * May have participated in some form of continuing diver education * Logged between 25 to 100 dives * Dives no deeper than 130 feet * Has been diving in similar waters and conditions within the last six months ADVANCED - An advanced diver generally fits the following profile: * Advanced certification * Has been diving for more than two years and logged over 100 dives * Has been diving in similar waters and conditions within the last six months Regardless of your skill level, you should be in good physical condition and know your limitations. If you are uncertain of your own level of expertise for a particular site, ask the advice of a local dive instructor. He or she is best qualified to access your abilities based on the site's prevailing dive conditions. Ultimately, however, you must decide if you are capable of making a particular dive, a decision that should take into account your level of training, recent experience and physical condition, as well as the conditions at the site. Remember that conditions can change at any time, even during a dive. |
SCUBA SAFETY REMINDERS
Most Belize operators are in touch with the Divers Alert Network, an association of medical doctors based at Duke University, P.O. Box 3823, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710. The number for emergency medical referral is 919-684-8111.
Insurance tailored for divers is available from P.B. A., P.O.Box 907, Minneapolis, MN 5540 - Telephone: 800-446-2671 or 612-588-2731 But these facilities are no substitute for your own precautions. Diving reminders are: 1. Never dive alone. 2. Tell your guide unusual conditions. 3. Inquire about unusual conditions. 4. Never dive if you don't feel alert and well. 5. Never drink and dive. 6. Never dive where you can't easily get out. 7. Never dive while on medication, unless you first consult with a doctor. 8. Never feed fish while diving, you could attract sharks and barracudas. 9. Never dive beyond your physical capabilities. 10. Avoid diving if you have asthma, diabetes, or are subject to seizures. 11. Dive with a partner you can trust; your life depends on your buddy. 12. Do not touch coral or unfamiliar sea plants or fish. You could suffer painful injury. 13. If confused or unsure, get out of the water. 14. Inspect your diving equipment carefully. 15. If unsure of your dive master, ask Black Orchid for assistance. |
DIVING HEALTH & SAFETY
MEDICAL & RECOMPRESSION FACILITIES
SAN CARLOS MEDICAL CLINIC, Pharmacy & Pathology Lab - Pescador Drive, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
(501) 226-2918
Sub-aquatics operates the only recompression facility in Belize, adjacent to the airport on Ambergris Caye. Local dive operators fund the chamber and support staff. You may be asked to donate $1.00 per tank dived as a contribution to their efforts.
For minor illnesses contact a doctor or visit the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. For more serious complaints consider air evacuation to Houston, Miami or New Orleans.
(501) 226-2918
Sub-aquatics operates the only recompression facility in Belize, adjacent to the airport on Ambergris Caye. Local dive operators fund the chamber and support staff. You may be asked to donate $1.00 per tank dived as a contribution to their efforts.
For minor illnesses contact a doctor or visit the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital in Belize City. For more serious complaints consider air evacuation to Houston, Miami or New Orleans.
