Scuba Diving in Belize
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.