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DESTINATIONS » Caribbean » Aruba | Bahamas | Bay Islands (Honduras) | Belize | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Caymans | Costa Rica | | Curaçao | Dominican Republic | Saba | St. Vincent | Turks & Caicos | US Virgin Islands
Belize is one of the western Caribbean's premier dive destinations. For the beginner, diving around San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia, and Hol
Chan Marine Reserve will provide more than enough variation in underwater scenery and marine life. But the more experienced divers or snorkelers will probably want to explore areas that have not suffered as much habitat damage at the hands of commercial fishermen and tourists.
There are many small species of fish, sponge, and coral in the more well traveled areas, but such larger and more timid creature as turtles and grouper are not seen often.
San Pedro and Caye Caulker are good places to find boats, escorts and instructors. To experience the best of what Belize has to offer, such
as the viewing of deepwater gorgonians, black coral forests, and the most exotic tropical fish, one may elect to head for one of the more
remote islands hotels or resorts. Good choices include one of the several tourist operations on the Turneffe Islands, Glover's Reef, Lighthouse
Reef, or South Water Caye. Or you can sign on with one of the liveaboard dive boats shuttling among Belize's many uninhabited islands and isolated reef structures.
One of the richest ecosystems on the planet, Belize's reef is punctuated by scores of beautiful islands, sand bores, patch reefs, and various
underwater structures that are home to hundreds of animal and plant species, including 220 types of fish and untold species of invertebrates.
Turneffe Atoll
The Elbow is Tuneffe island's most popular dive site. The coral colors are remarkable here and the variety of marine life is outstanding. The site is called the dive show piece of the atoll complex. The location is on the southern bend. The Corral, very nearby to the elbow, is an excellent drift dive. The Zoo, named so because the shear volumes of marine life found here. This is an excellent dive site for photography and videography. Other sites include Three Amigos, Myrtle's Turtles, Lefty's Ledge, Joyce's Jump, Gorgonian Bluff with large deep water gorgonians and blacktip sharks, Billy Bob's Shallows, Black Beauty, Majestic Point, Birthday Reef with a shearing vertical wall, Cockroach Slope, N.E. Point, and Rendezvous Wall.
Lighthouse Reef
At least 50 dives sites are to be explored at Lighthouse Reef. In the Central Lagoon is Belize's most famous underwater feature, the Great
Blue Hole. Nearly 1,000ft (300m) in diameter, this nearly perfect circle contains a cavern at about 130ft (40m) lined with stalactites up to
35ft (10m) long. Wall dives are great at Half Moon Caye and Long Caye.
Glover's Reef Atoll
This amazing atoll has 700 coral patches in it's lagoon and is surrounded by 50 miles (80km) of sheer drop-offs from 40ft (12m)
which head into the Bartlett Trough to a depth of 2600ft (800m). Glover's Atoll is 45 miles from the mainland. North of the island for 12 miles is a drop-off of 60ft (10m) with sand canyons of the Spur and Grove formation leading to it. At the north end of the reef is 6 miles of shallow drop-off again with wrecks and sharks. The 24 miles of the western reef is a series of 50ft drop-offs culminating in a 3 mile series of spires rising from 100ft (30m) to 10ft (3m) of the surface at the southern end. There are dolphins, turtles, Manta rays and Nurse sharks to swim with every day in most locations.
The overall climate of Belize can be described as sub-tropical. The humidity while high, is seldom oppressive for long and is most noticeable along the coast. The annual humidity is 83%, but many days the humidity is masked by the cooling sea breezes. The Belize coastal area is exposed to southeast tradewinds averaging 10-13 knots and attain an uncanny consistency during the month of July.
Temperatures in Belize range from 50°F to 95°F with an annual mean of 79°F. November to January are traditionally the coolest months with a 75°F average and May to September are the warmest at about a 81°F average.Water temperatures average 79-80 degrees in the Winter and 83 degrees in the Summer. Average water visibility is around 75 - 80 feet.
Diving Belize (Aqua Quest Diving), Ned Middleton
Best Dives of the Caribbean (2nd Ed) by Joyce Huber, Jon Huber
Pisces Dive Guide to Belize.
Diving & Snorkeling in Belize, Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Belize :: Online | Buy
Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Belize, Franz O. Meyer :: Buy
Belize Tourist Office
DESTINATIONS » Caribbean » Aruba | Bahamas | Bay Islands (Honduras) | Belize | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Caymans | Costa Rica | | Curaçao | Dominican Republic | Saba | St. Vincent | Turks & Caicos | US Virgin Islands
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