When you think of scuba diving in Belize, what is the first place you think of? If you said the Belize Blue Hole you are like many other avid divers looking to explore Belize’s beautiful underwater world. While the Blue Hole is an incredible bucket list item, there are many other sites along the Belize Barrier reef to discover. Recently, the Belize Barrier Reef celebrated its 10,000th birthday. This impressive reef is approximately 185 miles long, spanning from southern Mexico around the Yucatan, down to the southernmost regions of Belize. The 10,000 year old reef boasts incredible coral formations of both hard and soft coral and vibrant marine life.
Check out some of the best dive sites in Belize that you may not have heard of:
5) Tobacco Caye Range- Tobacco Cut & Tobacco Reef
If you love to eat fresh fish while helping the reef by hunting an invasive species, then Lionfish hunting may be the perfect activity for you! The Tobacco Caye Wall is a promising dive site to hunt and catch Lionfish for that night’s dinner. They are the only fish you can hunt while scuba diving in an effort to eradicate the voracious species that dines on Belize’s native fish. If you are not interested in hunting, the Tobacco Caye range has many other highlights. It is a great location for a shallow dive and spotting schools of tarpon that are common in the area. Keep your eyes peeled for other interesting sea creatures such as lobster, nurse sharks, sea turtles, and even the occasional dolphin!
4) Turneffe Islands Atoll- The Elbow
Turneffe Islands Atoll is the largest atoll in Belize measuring a whopping 30 miles long and 10 miles wide. Turneffe is known for being the most biologically diverse atoll in this hemisphere. The 150 mangrove islands that are a part of this atoll provide a nursery for many fish species, conch, lobster and other crustaceans. A particular dive you can’t miss out on is the Elbow. Located at the southernmost point of the atoll at a confluence of sea currents, this site is a hang out for marine life such as the Caribbean reef shark, snapper, grouper, Atlantic spadefish, horse-eye jack, and other interesting species.
3) Half Moon Caye- Aquarium, Half Moon Caye Wall & Silver Cave
Within Lighthouse Reef Atoll, you’ll find a special place called Half Moon Caye. If you like bright, healthy and mature coral, lively marine life, interesting rock formations, canyons, and even a swim through, then the sites near Half Moon Caye are what you are looking for! Swim through massive schools of silver side fish and spot some tarpons hanging out by the towering coral formations at Half Moon Caye Wall. The island is a great place for a surface interval where you can enjoy a delicious lunch, beautiful sands and spot the Red Footed Booby Birds. Then enjoy either the Aquarium, known for being a shallower dive, but boasting colorful fish and coral, or Silver Cave with incredible canyons and cave formations. You will see bountiful and colorful reef fish while admiring the color and texture of the majestic coral formations.
2) Glover’s Reef Atoll- SW Caye Wall & Pinnacle
Glover’s Reef Atoll is beyond the barrier reef, approximately 28 miles off the Belize coastline. Glover’s Reef is one of three Atolls in Belize and is the furthest south and least dived — making it the most pristine! In 1996, the Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve was given UNESCO World Heritage status. Enjoy multiple dives sites at Glover’s Atoll where the ocean currents create a perfect atmosphere to see healthy coral and pelagic fish. Be sure to check out the South West Wall where the black grouper tends to aggregate or the Pinnacle, a site with enormous pillar-shaped coral heads emerging from the ocean floor.
1) South Water Caye Marine Reserve- Trick Ridge, Discovery & The Abyss
Found along the Southern Barrier reef, the South Water Caye Marine Reserve is the largest marine reserve in Belize and has abundant dive sites to explore with rich wildlife and mature coral formations. Don’t miss out on diving at Trick Ridge, where you can swim through ‘Eagle Ray City’. This site is commonly known for the large groups of Spotted Eagle Rays gliding through the water. Other notable dive sites in the area include Discovery, with its abundant marine life, and the Abyss, which boasts incredible cuts in the reef with impressive vertical drop offs.
There are so many dive sites along Belize’s beautiful 185 mile long barrier reef. Celebrate the reef’s 10,000th birthday by booking a scuba diving vacation to explore these sites! Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort has a 5-star PADI dive shop, taking trips daily to the South Water Caye Marine Reserve along the Southern Barrier Reef. Sign up for an atoll trip which is scheduled depending on weather and meeting the minimal number of divers. Happy diving!
