Belize: An Awesome Diving Adventure

The Island of Belize is located in Central America next to Guatemala, right below Mexico. Belize is labeled as having the largest coral reef in the Caribbean! The major reason for this being the barrier reef which consists of almost 140 miles of coral reef stretching from Mexico to the north and Sapodilla Caye in the south. Anywhere on or around the Barrier reef, snorkeling and diving await you with awesome dive spots teeming with marine life. Their is a diverse array of reef types as well to add in the total diving experience. Reef atolls, patch reefs, Faroes, fringing reefs, barrier reef and also lagoons can be explored, each offering its own flavor, uniqueness and distinctly different dive.

Diving in Belize is unmistakeably awesome, however, most of the dive sites are located far off shore, and for good reason as their is alot of silt and water run off from local river runoff causing the water to be somewhat cloudy. The northern part of Belize is home to the Hol Chan Marine Park and Shark Ray Alley. Some of the best diving and snorkeling in the country can be found here. Prevailing warm trade winds, pristine waters and an abundance of marine life makes for a formula that can't be beat! The Hol Chan Marine Park is home to many species of fish and corals. Stony (hermatypic)corals such as Monastrea, Brain, Star and Acropora species are frequently seen along with countless Purple Sea Fans and Knobby Finger Gorgonians and various species of sponge. Schools of Shark Rays, Snapper, Grunts, Tangs and Jacks are common at the park. Areas of lush algae and plant life can be found here, especially in the shallower reef biotopes such as back reefs, reef flats and lagoons. Numerous breaks in the coral and rock formations give way to sandy, sea grass areas offering a different perspective and array of life. Some of the best areas to dive are evident in breaks in the Belize Barrier Reef. Often larger fish like Grouper, Jewfish, Rays,Snook, Barracuda and Tarpon can be found inhabiting these areas. Caye Caulker and Goff's English Caye as well as other select areas north of the park along the barrier reef offer great diving.

Centrally located within the barrier reef area can be found the famous and amazing "BLUE HOLE" and Halfmoon Caye situated near Lighthouse Reef. Arguably, the best diving comes at Turneffe Islands with the Elbow! Glover's Reef Marine Reserve afford one the best wall dives due to amazingly clear water. Coral caverns and the hole looks like a bomb went off or huge meteor left a gigantic hole right in the midst of the Belize Barrier Reef. Massive Brain corals, Elkhorn and Staghorn Acropora run the gamut here with breaks in the wall and rock formations resulting in a spur and groove zone, averaging 20-30 feet in depth with sand and rock/coral areas becoming intermittent, offering great places to see larger fish species in the spur areas and cryptic, smaller fish and inverts within the confines of the groove areas for safety. You may be lucky enough to spot Tarpon, Barracuda and Eagle Rays in the area as well as enormous schools of Grunts, Snapper and Jacks making this a breathtaking panoramic view.

The most southern part of Belize takes you to such locations as Pompion and Ranguana Cay, extending down to the Belize Barrier Reefs southernmost point, the Sapodilla Cayes. There is a nice diving area located closer to shore in the southern part of Belize, called the Snake Cayes/Port Honduras. Southwater Caye Marine Reserve and Laughing Bird National Park are two of the best park dives in all of Belize. Grottos, caves, caverns, steep drop offs and shallow dives can be experienced in the southern portion of Belize.

The opportunity exists to be able to explore a diverse amount of undersea marine life ranging from such small fish as the Sailfin Blenny, Royal Gramma, Trumpet fish and various Damselfish species all the way up to some whoppers that can tip the scale at well over a couple hundred pounds. Fitting in that category are the Jewfish, Tarpon, Grouper and Green Giant Moray. It is not surprising to see an occasional Whale Shark, Large Rays, Nurse and Reef Shark or pod of Dolphin in your excursion on any particular day.

Care must be taken to ensure that you know where you are in regards to the coral and rock formations while diving. Breaks in the reef can cause sever water fluctuations in current and flow causing the potential to get carried into the coral reef itself causing serious injury. Generally, in the Western Caribbean the water current flows in a northern direction, however this northerly flow causes a counter current in between the Barrier Reef and the shores of Belize. This counter current causes the flow to change direction to a southerly direction till the Sapodilla Cayes, where the current switches direction again to a northerly direction.

For the most part water temperatures remain constant around mid 70's to low 80's, however their will be times when the temperature will cool of due to "northers" or cold fronts from the north that will affect the water temperature for a period of time forcing divers to take extra precautions to stay warm during these times in the winter months.

A wonderful combination of diverse, populated areas of marine life along with the ever changing topography encountered in various locations along the Barrier Reef affords divers of all sort an unparalleled opportunity to see the undersea world in all it beauty, with much of it untouched and unspoiled, partially due to its being a ways from the shores of Belize. At any rate, you will surely be pleased and in awe as you venture out into the pristine waters of the Western Caribbean in Belize.