If you’re looking for an adventurous and relaxing vacation destination with a touch of romance, Belize should be on your radar. This small country, located between Mexico and Guatemala, is home to a plethora of exciting activities.
What Belize Offers For SCUBA
With over 400 islands, stunning white sandy beaches, 298 kilometers/185 miles of coastline, and the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, Belize is an excellent place for scuba diving enthusiasts.
Although the Blue Hole is probably Belize’s most famous dive site, there are many other amazing spots waiting to be explored. The waters are clear, warm, and rich with marine life, offering great conditions for beginners and some thrilling diving experiences for more experienced divers. Additionally, most dive sites are less crowded than those found in similar diving destinations, which makes for a more peaceful underwater experience.
Belize is synonymous with world-class snorkeling and scuba diving. There are many exceptional dive sites to be found in Belize. One of the best ways to explore Belize waters is by chartering a sailboat or catamaran to make the most of your available dive time. For those with a smaller budget, snorkeling and driving excursions can be found along the beaches of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The most common excursions will take you to both Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley. These trips usually cost about $35USD and includes snorkel gear. Be mindful of an additional $10BZ charged to Foreigners as a park tax. This money goes toward the upkeep, and protection of the reef. Diving excursions are also offered to the Blue Hole, but expect to pay a lot more for the privilege.The Belize Barrier Reef is a living coral reef described as solid mounds of submerged limestone, and is the richest and most diverse habitat in the ocean. The underwater landscape structure, tropical latitude and sea ocean currents make Belize the proud home of the largest living coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. Many visitors to our shores are looking for a unique SCUBA diving or snorkeling experience. The wide range of dive and snorkel sites in within and outside the Mesoamerican reef provides endless opportunities for the sport diver looking for challenging adventure, or even for beginners looking for safe snorkelling or wanting to gain PADI certification or additional training
SCUBA is an acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. It may also refer to Scuba diving, the use of a self-contained breathing set to stay underwater for periods of time.
Snorkelling (U.S.A. spelling: Snorkeling ) is the sport of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped or curved breathing tube called a snorkel, and swim fins. The snorkel allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort. Snorkeling is also used by fishermen to harvest lobster, conch and other marine products in relatively shallow areas of up to 50 feet of water depth where they can spot their traps or targets from the surface, and then free dive for retrieval.
The following is an overview of the Belize marine environment and the types and locations of our coral reefs to help you better appreciate what you can see and experience during your visit.
Currents and Tides
In the Western Caribbean, which is really Northern Central America where Belize is located, surface currents tend to flow in a northerly direction. This northerly current creates a southerly counter current directly in front of the Barrier Reef and around the atolls off its coast. Between the barrier reef and the mainland, the currents tend to flow in a southern direction. The emptying of the several rivers coming down from the Maya Mountains and Guatemala, combined with the push of the prevailing trade winds creates a head of water that funnels to the south and out to the southern edge of the reefs.
Reef Types
The general seafloor profile of Belize’s coastal waters leads from the inland lagoons and beaches of the shoreline to the lagoon, barrier platform, barrier reef and wall and finally the coral atolls. Our inner lagoons consist mainly of sediments from river run off. Sea grass and hardy corals abound, and fishing at the river mouths is abundant. Snorkeling offshore is fine in most areas. But the water can be murky especially during the rainy season due to spill off into the rivers. Belize has some of the best diving and snorkeling spots in the Caribbean.
South of Gladden Spit, the outer platform narrows to about 1 mile, with wide passages through the barrier reef. The barrier platform ends in a hook form shape at the Sapodilla Cayes. The barrier platform is bordered on the east by the barrier reef, a wall of coral that breaks the surface of the Caribbean Sea.
Those SCUBA diving, snorkelling and exploring the underwater world of Belize, will discover a range of different reef types. Among these are fringing reefs, patch reefs, faroes, barrier reefs, and atolls.
Fringing Reefs – Fringing reefs are usually found hugging the mainland shores. The only fringing reef in Belize is at at Rocky Point in the Belize Corozal District at the northern end of Ambergris Caye. Here the reef literally rises out of the water at Rocky Point and you can actually walk on top of the coral skeletons embedded in the shoreline rocks.
Patch Reefs – Patch reefs vary from small coral formations to huge, sprawling reefs. They are common throughout the coastal zone, though more extensive in the south, particularly in the intricate barrier platform region south of Southwater Caye.
Faroe – A faroe better known as a ringed reef or angular atoll on a continental shelf, also known as a shelf atoll. Just like an atoll, a faroe is steep sided and encloses a central lagoon. One of the best examples of a faroe in Belize is Laughing Bird Caye.
“The Great Blue Hole, an aquatic sinkhole Jacques Cousteau named one of the best dives in the world, is one of 70 area SCUBA sites.
Barrier Reef and Atolls
The Belize Barrier Reef region has been extensively studied and has been shown to possess distinct zones from the lagoon seaward to the drop off wall. Directly landward of the barrier reef lies the back reef lagoon, characterized by corals and sea grass beds. The reef crest breaks the surface of the water and bears the main forces of heavy surf. Reason why the coast of Belize is great for swimming and water sports. Coral Atolls – the final reef type, seaward of the continental shelf is composed of three coral atolls. The three Belizean atolls have been described as “the finest structures of their type in the Caribbean Sea”.
The Turneffe Island in Belize, the largest of the atolls, has a length of 31 miles and varies in width up to a maximum of 10 miles. Numerous mangrove covered sand cayes rim Turneffe.
Lighthouse Reef has a length of 25 miles and a width of approximately 4.5 miles with an area of over 78 square miles. Lighthouse Reef is the smallest of the three atolls.
Halfmoon Cay Natural Monument lies along the southeastern portion of the reef and the Blue Hole Protected area lies within the interior of the atoll.
Glover’s Reef is 15 miles in length and its greatest width is 6.5 miles. The approximate area of over 80 square miles. making it slightly larger than Lighthouse Reef but much smaller than Turneffe Island.
Lighthouse Reef is best known for its famous Great Blue Hole -a huge sunken cave 300 by 400 feet that was the subject of a documentary by underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau. The Blue Hole is probably Belize’s best known scuba diving attraction, but Lighthouse Reef is also the site of Half Moon Caye National Monument, established as Belize’s first nature reserve in 1982.
The reserve is managed by the Belize Audubon Society – its most well known inhabitants are its thousands of booby birds. Endangered hawksbill and loggerhead turtles nest on Long Caye’s beaches, as to several species of iguanas, lizards and large land crabs. Camping is permitted by arrangement, as are swimming, diving and snorkeling. No food or services are available.
Because most islands on the Barrier Reef are not yet developed, there is abundant bird life, including egrets, herons, roseate spoonbills, flamingos, pelicans, cormorants and frigate birds. About a mile north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, an 80 foot channel, the San Pedro River, separates the southern part of Ambergris from the rest of the island.
Need To Know
If you’re planning to scuba dive in Belize, there are some important things you need to know. For starters, the best time to dive in Belize is year-round, but the water temperature can vary between the cooler months of November to July (at around 78°F) and the warmer months of August to October (at around 82-84°F). Visibility is generally great on the barrier reef and atolls, at around 100 feet or more, but slightly less inside the reef.
Belize has a subtropical climate, which means it’s pretty warm all year round, especially on the coast, cayes, and atolls. However, a brisk prevailing wind from the Caribbean moderates hot summer temperatures. In the summer, you can expect highs in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-70s, while in the winter, it’s cooler, with highs in the low 80s and lows in the high 60s.
If you’re looking for the best dive sites in Belize, there are plenty of options to choose from. Some popular choices include the Great Blue Hole, Ambergris Caye, and the Atolls. But there are also lesser-known sites that are worth exploring.
In addition to diving, Belize offers a range of other activities and destinations. From whale shark encounters to green turtle sightings, there’s something for every type of traveler. If you’re traveling with a non-diver, there are still plenty of options to keep them entertained.
Whether you’re an experienced diver or a beginner, Belize has plenty to offer. So pack your bags, grab your gear, and get ready for an adventure!
What To Wear When Scuba Diving
Board Shorts: Board shorts are a popular choice for men when heading to the beach, but they’re not suitable for scuba diving. These shorts are loose-fitting, and when worn under a wetsuit, they can wrinkle and bunch up, causing discomfort. Divers need to make sure they straighten them out after putting on their wetsuits.
Speedos: If you’re a male diver, a Speedo swimsuit is the ideal option. It won’t bunch or shift when putting on or taking off your wetsuit, and its snug fit and minimal fabric make it perfect for diving. However, some men may feel self-conscious wearing a Speedo and choose to wear shorts over their swimsuits until it’s time to put on the wetsuit for modesty and comfort.
Swimsuits and Bikinis for Women: For female divers, swimsuits and bikinis are excellent choices as they hug the body closely and don’t shift while wearing a wetsuit. It’s best to choose a swimsuit without any embellishments, as wetsuits should be snug and can rub against these adornments, causing irritation and discomfort. Athletic-style swimsuits are usually the best option.
Rash Guard: A rash guard is an excellent choice for warm-water scuba diving. It provides protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays, rubbing from scuba diving equipment, and sea lice that can irritate your skin. It doesn’t provide much warmth, but it’s perfect for keeping you comfortable and protected.
Leggings: Leggings can be worn with a bikini top or rash guard and are great for keeping sea lice at bay. They’re also perfect for covering your modesty if you’re wearing a tiny bikini bottom or loose board shorts. They’re a practical and comfortable option when scuba diving.
Shorty Wetsuit: In warm water, a 3mm shorty wetsuit is a great option. It provides protection from UV radiation, potential scratches from rocks and coral, and keeps your torso warm. It also prevents the BCD from rubbing against your skin. However, if you’re making several dives in warm weather, you may become cooler as the day goes on, so a shorty wetsuit is a good idea.
When diving, it’s important to wear comfortable clothing and avoid anything too thick or heated. It’s easy to overheat on the surface, which can lead to heatstroke. If the weather is warm, a semi-dry or dry suit won’t be necessary. You can wear a hood or gloves for scuba diving, but remember to take them off once you’re out of the water and stay hydrated. These clothing options will ensure you have a comfortable and enjoyable scuba diving experience.