Ambergris Caye placed in Belize offers some breathtaking diving and has more than 40 dive sites for you to dive when you visit Belize.

I recently held a poll for divers to vote which of the dive sites off Ambergris Caye were the most enjoyable for the majority of divers and the following are the results of this poll.

Coming in at whole 5 is:

Pillar Corals Hol Chan marine Reserve

Pillar Corals is placed in the Hol Chan marine keep which is a 7.5 square mile keep placed on the southern tip of Ambergris Caye. Median depth of this dive is 50-75ft and you are going down to see the cool Pillar Corals some standing 10ft tall. The site has a healthy array of marine life and lots of healthy Coral and is convenient for all divers.

Experience required: novice

Depth: 60-70ft

Location: South Ambergris Caye

Type of Dive: Boat

In at whole 4 is :

Esmeralda Canyons

Located just a few minutes from San Pedro Ambergris Caye, is Esmeralda Canyons. This dive site offers a large plenty of fish life along with a resident Moray and lots of tropical fish. The corals are abundant and generally the visibility is very good. Median depth of this site is 50-75ft and convenient for all levels of diver.

Experience required: novice

Depth: 60-80ft

Location: South Ambergris Caye

Type of Dive: Boat

Number 3:

Tackle Box

Tackle Box is placed just 5 minutes from shore and is placed directly in front of the Tackle box bar. This site is an excellent marine life dive with lots of Groupers, Nurse Sharks and lots of fish. Corals are healthy and this site also offers nice canyons and tunnels. Tackle Box is carefully one of the best of Ambergris Caye. Median depth is 60-80ft.

Experience required: novice

Depth: 60-70ft

Location: In front San Pedro Ambergris Caye

Type of Dive: Boat

Number 2:

Cyprus Gardens

One of my favorite dives on the island, Cyprus Gardens is placed in the marine keep and starts off in just 40ft of water averaging out to 60ft more if you head into the canyons.

The site is full of life such as big Groupers lots of shoals of fish, Nurse Sharks and the odd pelagic that swim by. This dive site was voted the 2nd best dive on Ambergris Caye and can be combined with the #1 top dive site on a day’s diving since both are placed in the marine Reserve.

Experience required: novice

Depth: 40-70ft

Location: South Ambergris Caye

Type of Dive: Boat

And in at #1 Voted the Very Best Dive on Ambergris Caye Belize

Eagle Ray Canyons Voted the #1 Best Dive on Ambergris Caye

This site is known for regular sightings of spotted Eagle Rays. I dove this spot with some friends from Rodale’s Magazine. Steve, one of the dive masters, was guiding the dive and during his briefing guaranteed that we were going to see Eagle Rays, and was quite adamant about it. I asked him if he was sure because we now had some excited divers aboard who were expecting to see Eagle Rays and they would be disappointed if they didn’t. Steve assured me and down we went, sure sufficient after 15 minutes we saw our first 3 Eagle Rays, 5 minutes later we saw an added 5 a lot closer this time. In expanding to the Eagle Rays, lots of coral formations, spur and groove formation and the usual congregation of juveniles.

This is a marine keep so nothing may be touched or taken, we ask that you are right with your fins and avoid accidentally touching the reef.

Experience required: Novice/Intermediate

Depth: 60-80ft

Location: South Ambergris Caye

Type of Dive: Boat

So there you have the Ambergris Caye’s Top 5 Dive sites and now you can ask these dive sites when you visit the island.

There are so many other excellent sites in expanding to these 5, and I was quite surprised that more northern sites were not picked such as M&M Caverns or Happy Hours Reef or Palmero canyons etc. I carefully that the fancy was that not as many divers get the chance to dive North Ambergris because it’s added away from town and they are suggested less because of the fuel cost to get there. Let’s face it if I can keep you happy with the closest dive sites why recommend sites added afield.

Be sure to add at least a day’s diving north of town to get a unblemished feel of the diving off Ambergris Caye Belize.

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