Turneffe Islands, Turneffe Atoll, Belize

Black Beauty

Black Beauty is a wall dive on the eastern edge of Turneffe Atoll named for the dense forest of black coral colonies that hang from its face below 25 metres. The site begins on a healthy reef shelf at about 12 metres and the wall drops vertically past 40 metres into the deep blue. Above the black coral, large vase and barrel sponges, sea plumes, gorgonian fans and stands of tube sponges build a layered tropical wall. Permits, big horse-eye jacks, dog snappers and southern stingrays cruise the rim, and Caribbean reef sharks pass through regularly. Sharp-eyed divers can spot longsnout seahorses, banded coral shrimp and a wide variety of nudibranchs in the gorgonians. Currents are usually moderate and predictable, making Black Beauty a forgiving wall dive in Turneffe and a common second tank after stronger drift sites. Visibility ranges from 20 to 30 metres. Open Water certification with prior wall experience is the right minimum.