Scuba Diving in Belize
Published 2012/01/25 | 
Scuba diving in Belize? Belize…Have you ever been there? If the answer is no, you are not alone. In fact, Belize is one of the most overlooked tour destinations in the world. Not very many travelers, no matter how widely traveled, can put a notch on their belt for visiting Belize. Could it be that Belize doesn’t have that much to offer or is it one of those gems that have yet to be discovered? The latter is most likely true, and the lack of interest in Belize has left its natural wonders intact and unspoiled by man. Mayan ruins, pristine rain forests, and the large Belize barricade Reef remain the same today as they have for scores of years.
Belize is settled in the heart of Central America right under Mexico and neighbors Guatemala. Its main attractions are scuba diving attractions and consist of amazing offshore atolls and the longest barricade reef in the Caribbean (185 miles). Not only is the Belize barricade reef the longest reef in the Caribbean, it is also the longest reef in the whole Western Hemisphere as well.
Scuba diving in Belize is extremely diverse and includes some dissimilar types of reefs together with fringing reefs, patch reefs, faroes, barricade reefs, and atolls. At each of these dissimilar types of dive spots it is likely that you will be thrilled to perceive numerous nautical life up close and personal such as lobster, barracuda, jaw fish, octopus, spotted drums, sea turtles, morays, scorpion fish, crabs, hog fish, lizard fish, sting rays, eagle rays, corals, sea fans, and sponges. Here is a brief overview of each of the dissimilar types of reefs that you can visit while scuba diving in Belize:
Fringing reefs – Fringing reefs are found in close presence of mainland shores. Belize is home to one such reef at Rocky Point on the northern tip of Ambergris Caye. Here the reef rises out of the water and you can walk over the coral skeletons that have come to be imbedded in the rock. Scuba diving and snorkeling is also very beloved at this spot:
Patch reefs – While patch reefs are abundant in the coastal region of Belize, the majority of them can bee found in the south in the involved barricade platform region south of Southwater Caye. Patch reefs range from small clumps of coral to huge sprawling reefs and are ideal spots for viewing nautical life while scuba diving in Belize.
Faroes – Faroes are ringed reefs that enclose a central lagoon. They are also called shelf atolls. The best example of a faroe in Belize is the Laughing Bird Caye.
Barrier reefs – barricade reefs are continuous walls of coral. The Belize barricade Reef is one of the largest in the world.
Atolls – Atolls are supplementary out to sea than the other types of reefs and can sometimes look as if small islands.
The variety to be found in the waters of Belize guarantees that you will never bore of scuba diving in this region.
Scuba Diving Belize – Ambergris Cayes Top 5 Dive Sites
Published 2012/01/25 | 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.