Belize A Scuba Diver’s Paradise.

Aerial photographs of the Belize blue hole dive site are the most recognizable dive site by both divers and non-divers worldwide. Jacques Yves Cousteau's television series “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” back in March 1971 featured the blue hole and brought it to the world’s attention. Jacques Yves Cousteau declared it one of the world’s best dive sites. Deep in the hole are caverns that were once part of a cave system when this atoll was above the water level. The floor of the blue hole is beyond diving depth. A few years ago, the discovery channel brought the world’s attention once again to the dive site. Jacques Yves Cousteau’s Grandson, Fabien, and Sir Richard Branson led a team of scientists and explorers once again to this iconic location. Using two state-of-the-art research submarines and the latest sonar technology, the world was shown parts of the world never seen by man before.

The TerraMar Project, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Beyond the Blue Hole, Belize is often overlooked as a tourist destination. Tourism numbers for the country show a steady increase with over 50% growth a year. This can be misleading, as 70% of Belize tourists are cruise passengers who visit for the day and move on. However, for the adventurous scuba diver, this may just be paradise. Only about 300,000 tourists a year that are not cruise passengers visit the country. About half of those arrivals are there primarily for scuba diving, with the remainders mostly nature lovers or those who want to explore the Maya culture. If Cancun is your ideal destination, then Belize is not for you. You will not find high-rise resorts, extensive tourist zones, all-inclusive beach clubs, and tourist-focused transportation systems. What you will find is simple accommodation, mostly family-owned, friendly people, and a relaxed lifestyle. Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is a Central American country found south of Mexico, north of Honduras, and has Guatemala to its west. To the East is the Caribbean Sea and the Belize Barrier Reef.

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS)

Not trying to pick on Cancun, okay I am sort of. You will hear that Cancun offers diving on the second largest barrier reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican reef. The Mesoamerican Reef is a reef system that runs from Honduras through Belize to just past Cancun. The Mesoamerican Reef does contain a barrier reef, However, the portion of the reef in the upper portion is not a true barrier reef. The Belize Barrier Reef is a 190-mile (300-kilometer) continuous barrier reef earning it the title of the second longest barrier reef and lends its title to the Mesoamerican reef. The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The site is made up of seven marine reserves and covers about 12% of the total reef. Here is why UNESCO believes it is important:

“Criterion (vii): The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) is unique in the world for its array of reef types contained in a relatively small area. As the longest barrier reef in the Northern and Western Hemispheres and distinctive on account of its size, array of reef types and the luxuriance of corals thriving in a pristine condition it provides a classic example of the evolutionary history of reefs and reef systems. The rise and fall of sea level over the millennia, coupled with natural karst topography and clear waters, results in a diverse submarine seascape of patch reefs, fringing reefs, faros, pinnacle reefs, barrier reefs as well as off-shelf atolls, rare deep water coral reefs and other unique geological features such as the Blue Hole and Rocky Point where the barrier reef touches the shore. The spectacular picturesque natural setting of brilliant white sand cayes and verdant green mangrove cayes is in dramatic contrast to the surrounding azure waters.”

To help you understand what a barrier reef is and how it helps create great diving, let me give a quick explanation. Barrier reefs are found on the edge of deep water. The leading edge/Oceanside will drop hundreds of feet, generally thousands of feet into the deep. Upswells will bring nutrient-rich cold water to the corals providing the ideal conditions for growth. The coral attracts reef fish, and the reef fish will often attract large visitors from the deep water. The reef depth itself will be shallow, normally less than a hundred feet and it is common for it to reach near the surface. Between the Barrier Reef and the shore the water depth will be generally deeper than the reef but still shallow. This area is called the lagoon and will have fringing and patch reefs and small islands and cayes are common. The remote nature of portions of the reef, the marine reserves and less diving pressure means divers have outstanding diving.

Ambergris Caye Belize Favorite Scuba Dive Destination

San Pedro Ambergris Caye Areed145 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Ambergris Caye is the leading tourist destination in Belize and the most popular diving destination. It is the largest island in Belize around 25 miles( ca 40 km) long and averages a mile (ca 1.6 km) wide. The island is 35 miles ( ca 56 km) off mainland Belize, near Belize City. Most visitors bring a ferry from Belize City which takes about 90 minutes, still, the island does have an airport. San Pedro is in the southern portion of the island and is where most of the tourist support can be found.

There are a few must-do dives in Ambergris Caye so plan on doing them early in your trip before you get distracted by the great diving everywhere. The Belize Barrier Reef lies just a mile or less away from the island. There are over 50 marked dive sites, each outstanding.

Ambergris Caye’s east coast is known for its finger and grove coral formations. If you are not familiar with this type of coral formation it is easy to visualize. Place your hand flat on the table with your fingers spread. This is how a finger and grove formation will look from above with the fingers being coral and the space between being sand chutes.

The southern tip of Ambergris Caye has a cut called Quebrada in the reef that is 30 feet (ca 9 meters) deep and 75 feet (ca 23 meters) wide. Here the first marine reserve in Belize was established, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. It may also be one of the smallest covering only 3sqm or 7.8skm. The reserve has four different ecology zones the Reef, the Seagrass Beds, the Mangroves, and Shark Ray Alley. Each offers different marine life. These zones are also popular for snorkeling, so a great way to have a non-diving day to off gas and still enjoy the marine life. The Shark Ray Alley is similar to Sting Ray City in the Cayman Islands. In the past, fishermen would stop in the protected waters to clean their catch before heading into the market. Scraps were thrown overboard, which attracted sting rays and nurse sharks.

Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is the second most popular dive destination in Belize located just 25 miles (ca 40 km) from Belize City. Water Taxis depart frequently between the two destinations and only take about 45 minutes. The larger ferries take slightly longer. Caye Caulker is just about 11 miles (ca 17km) south of Ambergris Caye, and there are ferries between the two taking about an hour. Scuba diving is similar for the two locations, with close in finger and grove formations and the barrier reef itself just a mile offshore. Caye Caulker is a little more rustic of the two locations and slightly cheaper. Many dive shops at both locations offer a few times a week, day trips to the Atolls and the Blue Hole past the barrier reef. Trips to the Blue Hole will take between 2 and 3 hours depending on where you depart and sea conditions.

Western Hemisphere Atolls

While the barrier reef system is a great attraction, Belize also has something else. If you have done any diving in the Indo-Pacific, you likely have heard of and even scuba-dived an atoll. At one time, an atoll was an island with a fringing reef. Rising seawater caused the islands to flood, while the fringing reef continued to grow. Eventually, the fringing reef became higher than the island and the atoll is formed with an internal lagoon. Patches of reefs then start forming on what was once the island. Some portions of the original island may still be higher than the fringing reef, and appear as cays, islets of small islands.

While atolls are commonly found in the Indo-Pacific, there are only four atolls outside of that region. Generally called the Western Hemisphere Atolls, three are located in Belize. Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Glover's Reef Atoll, and Turneffe Atoll each offer something unique. The atolls are outside of the barrier reef, beyond the fringing reef around the atolls is deep water.

Half moon caye Lighthouse Reef, Belize by Falco Ermert

Lighthouse Reef Atoll is the most famous of the three Belize Atolls being the home of the three top dive sites in the region. The famous Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye Wall, and Long Caye Aquarium. The Atoll is located 50 miles (ca 80km) from the Belize coast and is about a 4-hour boat ride. It is about 22 miles (ca 35km) north to south and about 5 miles (8km) east to west. The depth within the lagoon is mostly between 6 feet ( ca 1.8 meters) and 20 feet (ca 6 meters), and except near the cut has little or no current. Diving outside of the atoll, such as at Half Moon Caye wall, the depth exceeds 6,000 feet (ca 1.8 km).

The Great Blue Hole aka Belize Blue Hole is about 1,000 feet (ca 300 meters) across and drops more than 400 feet (ca 120 meters). At some point in the far past, the blue hole was a cave complex in a mountain complete with stalactites and stalagmites. At some point with erosion and raising water levels, the roof collapsed, and a sinkhole similar to the cenotes of Mexico formed. As the water continue to rise, the land above the “cenote” was flooded, patch reefs grew, and the blue hole was formed. Many of the stalactites and stalagmites which were formed when it was a dry cave are over 35 feet long (ca 10 Meters) and are found at a depth of 130 feet (ca 40 meters).

Within the Atoll are six major cayes and 25 dive sites. Most divers that dive the Blue Hole do so as day trips from the Cayes closer to the mainland. However, there are a few simple accommodations on a few of the cayes within the atoll. Divers staying in the atoll can dive into the most popular dive sites before the day tourist arrive, as well as explore the other dive sites and do night dives.

Southern Belize Reef Complex (SBRC).

Placencia is a small fishing village at the southern tip of Belize, that also has a small relaxed tourism industry. Jungle visits and scuba diving along the coast and the marine reserves are the main attractions. Around 22 miles (36 km) off the coast of Placencia is the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR)which is located in the Southern Belize Reef Complex (SBRC). This area became a marine reserve because it is the spawning grounds for over 25 species of fish including grouper and snapper. It is the largest aggregation breeding site in the Caribbean. The spawning attracts whale sharks who come to feed on the eggs.

We have mentioned diving and snorkeling with whale sharks before, however, this site is unique. In most places, you can only snorkel with them or perhaps come upon one while diving. Here divers will descend to around 50 feet,(ca 15 meters) and hover. The whale sharks confused the sound of the diver’s exhaust at being fish spawning and approach looking for a buffet. This season runs from late March to early July. If you are looking for a marine conservation program. Reef Conservation International has an outstanding program located in this area.