Explore the best places to dive in Belize. 51 dive sites with real reviews and ratings from divers.
Turneffe Islands, Turneffe Atoll
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.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Boca Bacalar lies inside the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Ambergris Caye's northern tip where Belize's barrier reef meets Mexican waters. Reachable only by boat, about an hour from San Pedro or Caye Caulker, it sees less traffic than reefs to the south, and the coral shows it: healthier cover, more color, less boat damage. Expect reef flats and coral heads worked by parrotfish, wrasse, black grouper and horse-eye jacks. Green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles turn up regularly, nurse sharks rest on sandy breaks, and spotted eagle rays cross open water. Antillean manatees hold year-round in the reserve's seagrass. A five-year survey found hard coral cover rising here even as the reef's overall health declined. Good for reef life without crowds.
Dangriga, South Water Caye Marine Reserve
Carrie Bow Caye is a tiny sand caye that sits directly on the barrier reef and hosts a Smithsonian Institution field station that has run continuous reef research at the site since 1972, making it one of the longest-running coral reef monitoring programmes in the world. The reef in front of the caye is a classic spur-and-groove formation, with the reef crest in 4 to 8 metres and sand channels descending to about 30 metres at the wall edge. Healthy stands of mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral and pillar coral structure the dive, accompanied by deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges and elephant-ear sponges. Reef life includes schools of horse-eye jacks, big mutton snappers, schoolmasters, midnight parrotfish, French and queen angelfish, large groupers, hawksbill turtles and southern stingrays. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the wall edge. Currents are usually moderate, visibility 20 to 30 metres. Access from Dangriga or via liveaboard.
Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Cathedral Reef sits on the eastern wall of Lighthouse Reef Atoll between Long Caye and Half Moon Caye and gets its name from the towering coral pillars that form natural arches and chambers along the wall. The reef top sits in 12 metres and the wall descends past 30 metres. The cathedral pillars and arches are draped with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges, rope sponges and dense colonies of black coral below 25 metres. Schools of yellowtail snapper, creole wrasse, big horse-eye jacks and midnight parrotfish swim through the structure. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the wall, eagle rays cruise the rim and hawksbill turtles graze the sponges. Macro photographers find banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs, secretary blennies and Caribbean reef octopus on night dives. Currents are moderate and the dive is typically run as a drift along the wall. Visibility 25 to 35 metres. A common stop on Lighthouse Reef liveaboards.
Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker
Coral Gardens is a shallow reef dive on the inner side of the barrier reef in front of Caye Caulker, within the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. Average depth is around 12 metres, with the deepest sand patches at 18 metres, making the site accessible to open water divers and snorkellers alike. The reef is a patchwork of large brain corals, mountainous star coral colonies, sheet coral, fire coral and gorgonian fans, separated by sand channels. Reef life includes schools of yellowtail snapper, blue chromis, queen angelfish, French angelfish, midnight and stoplight parrotfish, sergeant majors, and a wide variety of wrasses. Spotted moray eels, lobsters, banded coral shrimp and arrow crabs hide in the cracks; southern stingrays rest in the sand and hawksbill turtles graze the sponges. Currents are very mild and visibility is usually 15 to 25 metres. The site is run as a single-tank dive on most local trips and a regular night dive for divers staying on Caye Caulker.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Cypress Canyons is a network of deep, narrow swim-throughs and tunnels carved into the Belize Barrier Reef off Ambergris Caye, between Tackle Box and Mata Cut. The reef top sits in 12 to 15 metres, and the canyons drop to sand floors at 25 to 30 metres before opening out onto the deeper wall. The tunnels are draped with deep-water sea fans, sponges, black coral and gorgonians, with sunlight beams piercing through holes in the reef roof. Schools of grunts and snappers congregate inside the larger chambers, and divers regularly find spotted morays, green morays, lobsters, banded coral shrimp and king crabs in the cracks. Above the canyons hawksbill turtles, large midnight parrotfish, big mutton snappers and occasional Caribbean reef sharks cruise the reef. Currents are moderate and visibility ranges from 20 to 30 metres. Cypress is one of the favourite advanced sites out of San Pedro and works best on rising tide, when the canyons fill with clear water from the wall.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Eagle Ray Canyon is a wide swim-through on the wall edge of the barrier reef off Ambergris Caye, named for the spotted eagle rays that habitually use the canyon as a corridor between the reef and open water. The reef top sits at 14 metres, the canyon floor slopes from 20 to 28 metres, and the outer wall drops past 40 metres beyond. Walls are decorated with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges, vase sponges and black coral colonies in the deeper sections. Beyond eagle rays, divers see Caribbean reef sharks along the wall, schools of horse-eye jacks, mutton snappers, large groupers, green and spotted moray eels, and the occasional southern stingray cruising over the sand. Turtles are common. Eagle ray encounters are most reliable on slack tide between current cycles. Currents in the canyon are typically moderate. Visibility 20 to 35 metres. Recommended for divers with prior wall experience and a deep specialty.
Long Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll
Emerald Forest Reef takes its name from the dense, towering thickets of green elkhorn and staghorn coral that cover the reef top in the southern lagoon of Glover's Reef Atoll. The site is a shallow spur-and-groove system, with the reef crest in 5 to 8 metres of water and the deepest sand channels at around 25 metres before the outer wall starts. The robust Acropora colonies, increasingly rare across the Caribbean due to white band disease, are particularly notable here, supported by the strict no-take protection of the Glover's Reef Marine Reserve. Reef life is abundant: schools of blue tang, ocean surgeonfish, sergeant majors, French grunts and a wide variety of butterflyfish and parrotfish swarm the coral tops. Spotted moray eels, lobsters, banded coral shrimp and arrow crabs live in the cracks. Hawksbill turtles graze sponges, southern stingrays and yellow stingrays rest in the sand channels. Currents are mild and visibility is consistently 25 metres or more, making this an outstanding training and snorkeller dive.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Esmeralda Canyons is a series of narrow, twisting swim-throughs on the outer edge of the barrier reef north-east of San Pedro. The reef top sits at about 14 metres and the canyons drop to sand floors near 25 metres, with the outer wall continuing to deeper water. The canyons are densely covered with colourful sponges and gorgonians, including elephant-ear sponges, sea plumes, sea rods and orange tube sponges, giving the site its emerald-and-orange appearance. Resident fish include schools of horse-eye jacks, schoolmasters, big mutton snappers, queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, and large green moray eels. Hawksbill turtles are reliable visitors and Caribbean reef sharks patrol the wall outside the canyons. Macro life includes secretary blennies, banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs and Caribbean reef octopus on night dives. Currents are usually moderate; visibility ranges from 20 to 30 metres. Suitable for divers with at least open water and some wall experience and a regular stop on multi-tank itineraries from San Pedro.
Turneffe Islands, Turneffe Atoll
Front Porch is a shallow patch reef and coral garden on the southern edge of Turneffe Atoll, often used as a check-out dive at the start of liveaboard trips and as a relaxed third tank of the day. The dive is run on a coral plateau between 8 and 14 metres, with the deepest sand patches at about 25 metres. The plateau is covered in healthy mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral, gorgonian fans and a wide variety of sponges. Reef life is dense: queen angelfish, French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, stoplight parrotfish, butterflyfishes, blue chromis, sergeant majors, schoolmasters and the resident schools of yellowtail snapper. Spotted moray eels, lobsters, banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs and Caribbean reef octopus on night dives are easy macro subjects. Hawksbill turtles and southern stingrays are common. Currents are very mild and visibility 18 to 25 metres. Suitable for new divers; an outstanding training and night dive site.
Placencia, Stann Creek
Gladden Spit is a sharp promontory on the outer Belize Barrier Reef inside the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve, world-renowned for hosting one of the most reliable whale shark aggregations in the Caribbean. Each year between March and June, around the full moon, large numbers of cubera snappers, dog snappers and mutton snappers gather at the spit to spawn. The plankton-rich spawn clouds attract whale sharks that come in to feed at the surface and through the water column. Outside of spawning season the site remains an excellent wall dive, with the reef top at 14 metres and a vertical drop past 40 metres. The wall is decorated with deep-water sea fans, barrel sponges, vase sponges, wire corals and black coral colonies. Caribbean reef sharks, big horse-eye jacks, eagle rays and large groupers patrol the wall. Currents at the spit can be unpredictable, so dives are run as drifts. Advanced divers only during whale shark season.
Lighthouse Reef, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
The Great Blue Hole is a large marine sinkhole in the centre of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, roughly 60 nautical miles off the coast of Belize City. The near-perfect circular shaft measures approximately 318 metres in diameter and reaches a depth of 124 metres, formed during glacial periods when sea levels were much lower and the original limestone cave system collapsed. Jacques-Yves Cousteau brought the site to international attention in 1971 aboard the Calypso, and it remains one of the most photographed dive sites on Earth. Divers descend along the outer rim wall and pass beneath enormous limestone stalactites and stalagmite formations between 30 and 40 metres, evidence of the cave's dry past. Below 50 metres a layer of hydrogen sulphide creates a hazy stratum where light fades and the water turns anoxic, so most operators cap the dive at 40 to 42 metres. Sightings of Caribbean reef sharks, blacktip sharks and the occasional bull or hammerhead are common in the upper bowl, while midnight parrotfish and groupers cruise the rim. Currents are typically gentle inside the hole. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System and is best visited from April through June when seas are flattest. Advanced certification and a deep specialty are usually required.
Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Half Moon Caye Wall lies off the southern tip of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, beside the Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Belize's first protected area and a Belize Audubon Society reserve. The wall begins at a sandy plateau in roughly 10 metres and drops vertically into deep blue water beyond 600 metres. Tube sponges, deep-water sea fans, black coral and large barrel sponges cover the wall face. Divers regularly encounter Caribbean reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, schools of horse-eye jacks, eagle spotted rays gliding along the rim, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles, midnight parrotfish and big tiger groupers. The garden eels in the sandy plateau above the wall are a hallmark of the site, and bottlenose dolphins occasionally pass through during the boat ride. Visibility is consistently 25 to 35 metres and currents are usually mild but can pick up on the corner. The combination of a healthy sheer wall, abundant pelagic life and the postcard caye topside, home to a red-footed booby colony, makes this one of the highlights of any liveaboard itinerary in Belize. Advanced open water certification is recommended.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
The northern entrance to the Hol Chan channel, also referred to as Hol Chan Channel North, is the lagoon-side approach to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve cut. The dive runs along the inner reef edge in 6 to 18 metres of water, parallel to the channel proper. Tidal currents through the cut sweep this approach, drawing dense fish life. The reef structure includes mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral, gorgonian fans and yellow tube sponges. Resident schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmasters, French grunts, sergeant majors, blue chromis and creole wrasse hover over the structure. Spotted moray eels, lobsters, banded coral shrimp and queen triggerfish are common. Hawksbill and green turtles, southern stingrays and the occasional permit are reliable sightings. The Hol Chan resident Goliath grouper and resident schools of permit are sometimes seen at this approach as well. Visibility 12 to 22 metres. A regular second tank for divers visiting the main Hol Chan channel.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Hol Chan, Mayan for 'little channel', is a narrow cut through the Belize Barrier Reef just south of Ambergris Caye, declared Belize's first marine protected area in 1987. The dive is centred on the channel itself, roughly 10 to 12 metres deep, with steep walls of coral on both sides. Strong tidal currents through the cut concentrate fish life into a dense, constantly moving cloud. The site holds one of the highest fish biomass concentrations documented on the barrier reef. Resident schools of permits, big mutton and dog snappers, black grouper, schoolmasters, large midnight parrotfish, French and queen angelfish, and swarms of grunts hover in the channel. Green moray eels, spotted morays, lobsters and king crabs hide in the wall crevices. Hawksbill and green turtles are common, and the resident Goliath grouper has been a fixture for years. Currents range from mild to strong depending on tide. The shallow average depth makes it accessible to open water divers; long bottom times and excellent macro and wide-angle photography opportunities.
Punta Gorda, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve
Hunting Caye is the most accessible island in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, the southernmost protected area on the Belize Barrier Reef and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The dive runs along the seaward edge of the caye, with the reef top at 10 metres and a slope through coral garden to the wall edge at 22 to 25 metres. The structure is built on healthy coral cover including mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral, pillar coral and rare elkhorn and staghorn coral. The wall edge is decorated with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges, vase sponges and rope sponges. Reef life includes schools of horse-eye jacks, yellowtail snapper, big mutton snappers, schoolmasters, French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, large groupers and queen triggerfish. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the deeper wall, eagle rays cruise the rim and hawksbill turtles graze sponges. Loggerhead turtles nest on the caye's beach. Visibility 18 to 28 metres.
Placencia, Stann Creek
Laughing Bird Caye is a small uninhabited island and surrounding shelf-edge reef inside Laughing Bird Caye National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site within the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System and one of the most biodiverse reef sections in the southern reef. The park sits on a faro, a unique shelf-edge atoll structure, with the dive following the atoll rim from 5 metres on the reef top to about 18 metres on the sandy plateau. Coral cover here is exceptional, with stands of rare elkhorn and staghorn coral, large brain and star coral colonies, sheet coral and pillar coral. Reef fish include schools of yellowtail snapper, blue chromis, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, sergeant majors, blue tangs and large numbers of butterflyfishes. Hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays, spotted moray eels and lobsters are common. Currents are mild, visibility 12 to 22 metres. Day-trip access from Placencia. Suitable for snorkellers and divers from open water level.
Turneffe Islands, Turneffe Atoll
Lefty's Ledge sits on Turneffe Atoll's straight eastern reef line, just south of Black Beauty, where the wall carves a small scalloped notch. The dive begins near 15m as the reef ramps down through massive coral bastions forming stepped ledges before dropping vertically around 30m into open blue. Visibility runs a reliable 24m. Expect horse-eye jacks, snappers and Spanish mackerel working mid-water, hammerhead, blacktip and bull sharks cruising past, and spotted eagle rays gliding through the blue. Reef crevices hold lobster, arrow crabs and moray eels. Current swings from none to strong, so this intermediate boat dive rewards divers comfortable adjusting to Turneffe's changeable water.
Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Long Caye Aquarium, sometimes called Long Caye Wall, runs along the western edge of Long Caye in Lighthouse Reef Atoll. The reef top sits between 8 and 12 metres and a vertical drop plunges past 40 metres into the open Caribbean. The wall is decorated with vase sponges, rope sponges, deep-water sea fans, plate corals and stands of black coral below 30 metres. The shallow plateau hosts large groupers, schoolmasters, queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish and clouds of creole wrasse. Eagle rays cruise the wall in the early morning, and Caribbean reef sharks patrol the deeper sections. The site frequently has a mild northbound current that lets divers drift along the wall and exit over the sand plateau. Visibility ranges from 25 to 40 metres in the dry season. Long Caye Aquarium is a staple of the Lighthouse Reef Aggressor and Sun Dancer itineraries and is suitable for divers with at least open water plus deep training, given the temptation to drift below the recreational limit on the wall.
Long Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll
Long Caye Wall is a classic drop-off dive on the eastern edge of Glover's Reef Atoll, the southernmost of the three Belizean atolls and a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. The reef top sits between 8 and 12 metres and the wall plunges vertically past 40 metres, with the abyssal seafloor more than 700 metres below. Massive barrel sponges, deep-water sea fans, black coral whips and a healthy mix of plate, brain and pillar coral cover the wall. The shallow plateau is alive with creole wrasses, blue chromis, yellowtail snappers, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish and Nassau groupers. Caribbean reef sharks and blacktip sharks patrol the deeper sections, eagle rays glide along the rim, and hawksbill turtles are commonly seen in the shallows. Glover's relative isolation and protection by Wildlife Conservation Society researchers and the Belize Fisheries Department keep the reef remarkably healthy. Visibility ranges from 25 to 40 metres, currents are usually moderate. Suitable for intermediate divers; access is via long boat ride or liveaboard.
Northeast Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll
Manta Reef is a coral pinnacle and reef edge dive on the northern flank of Glover's Reef Atoll, between Northeast Caye and the outer wall. The dive is run on a coral plateau and edge between 10 and 25 metres, with the wall continuing into deeper water beyond. The site features tall coral pinnacles rising from the reef floor, surrounded by deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges and vase sponges. The shallow shoulder is a healthy garden of mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral and small pillar coral colonies. Reef life is abundant: schools of yellowtail snapper, horse-eye jacks, schoolmasters, large midnight parrotfish, queen and French angelfish, queen triggerfish, big black grouper and Nassau grouper. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the wall edge. Hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays and spotted eagle rays are commonly encountered. Manta rays are not actually frequent at the site, despite the name. Currents are usually moderate, visibility 25 to 32 metres.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Mata Cut is a barrier-reef cut and dive site north-east of San Pedro, where a natural break in the reef channels tidal water between the lagoon and open sea, concentrating fish life around the cut. The dive begins on the seaward side at 12 metres and follows the reef shoulder through canyons and small swim-throughs to the wall edge at 25 to 30 metres. The structure is supported by stands of mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral and pillar coral, with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges and yellow tube sponges decorating the wall. Reef life is dense: large schools of horse-eye jacks, yellowtail snapper, big mutton snappers, schoolmasters, midnight parrotfish, French and queen angelfish, large groupers and big barracudas. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the wall. Hawksbill turtles graze sponges and eagle rays cruise the rim. Currents are moderate and dives are typically run as gentle drifts; visibility 20 to 30 metres. Suitable for divers from open water level upward with deep specialty preferred. The site is part of multi-tank itineraries from San Pedro and is a regular alternative to Tackle Box Canyons.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Mexico Rocks is a cluster of large coral patch reefs about 8 kilometres north of San Pedro on the lagoon side of the Belize Barrier Reef. The site became a marine reserve extension of Hol Chan in 2015 to protect the unusually large boulder-shaped colonies of mountainous star and brain coral that give the place its name. Average depth is around 7 metres with the deepest sand patches at 12, making it accessible to open water divers and snorkellers. Each coral head is a self-contained micro-ecosystem hosting French and queen angelfish, stoplight and rainbow parrotfish, Caribbean reef squids, octopus, spotted moray eels, lobsters, banded coral shrimp and arrow crabs. Schools of grunts, schoolmasters, bar jacks and yellowtail snappers patrol the channels between the heads. Hawksbill turtles and southern stingrays are regular visitors. Currents are typically very mild and visibility 12 to 20 metres. A favourite for new divers, photographers and night dives.
Middle Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll
Middle Caye is the heart of Glover's Reef Atoll and home to the Wildlife Conservation Society research station that has monitored the reef since the 1990s. The dive sites in front of the caye combine reef shelves, coral pinnacles and a wall that drops past 30 metres into deeper blue water. The reef structure includes large brain corals, mountainous star coral, sheet corals, big barrel sponges and dense gorgonian fans. Marine life sightings include schoolmaster snappers, large dog snappers, black grouper, Nassau grouper, hawksbill turtles, southern stingrays and the occasional Caribbean reef shark. Macro photographers find banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs, secretary blennies, Pederson cleaning shrimp on anemones, and a wide variety of nudibranchs. The strict marine reserve protection keeps both fish biomass and coral cover well above regional averages, as documented in WCS surveys. Currents are mild and visibility usually 25 to 35 metres. Open water with several wall dives logged is appropriate.
Long Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll
Nautilus Wall is a vertical wall dive on the eastern edge of Glover's Reef Atoll, just north of Long Caye. The reef top sits at 12 metres and the wall drops vertically past 35 metres into the deep blue. The face is decorated with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges, vase sponges, elephant-ear sponges, sea plumes and dense colonies of black coral below 25 metres. The shallow shoulder is a coral garden of mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral and small pillar coral colonies. Reef life is abundant: schools of yellowtail snapper, big horse-eye jacks, schoolmasters, midnight parrotfish, queen and French angelfish, large groupers and queen triggerfish. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the wall and eagle rays cruise the rim. Hawksbill turtles graze sponges in the shallows. Currents are moderate; the dive is typically run as a drift. Visibility 25 to 35 metres. Recommended for divers with deep specialty and wall experience.
Punta Gorda, Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve
Nicholas Caye lies in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve next to Hunting Caye, on the southern barrier reef. The dive runs along the seaward edge of the caye, with the reef top at 10 metres and a slope through coral garden to the wall edge at 22 to 25 metres. The structure features mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral, pillar coral and gorgonian fans in good health thanks to remote location and protection. The wall is decorated with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges and yellow tube sponges. Reef life is abundant: schools of horse-eye jacks, yellowtail snapper, big mutton snappers, schoolmasters, French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, large groupers and queen triggerfish. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the deeper wall, eagle rays glide along the rim and hawksbill turtles graze the sponges. Visibility 18 to 28 metres. Currents are moderate; dives are typically run as drifts. Recommended for divers with deep specialty and wall experience.
Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker
North Cut is a barrier-reef dive site at the northern end of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, where a natural break in the reef creates strong tidal exchange between the lagoon and the open Caribbean. The reef top sits at about 12 metres and the dive follows the reef edge down through canyons and small swim-throughs to the wall at 22 to 25 metres. Healthy stands of pillar coral, mountainous star coral, large brain corals and sheet corals carry the structure, with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges and yellow tube sponges adding colour. Schools of horse-eye jacks, big mutton and dog snappers, schoolmasters, French and queen angelfish, and large midnight parrotfish are common. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the deeper wall, eagle rays glide along the reef shoulder, and hawksbill turtles graze the sponges in the shallows. Currents are typically moderate and dives are run as drifts with the tide. Visibility 18 to 30 metres. Recommended for divers with a few wall dives in their logbook.
Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Painted Wall is a colourful wall dive on the western side of Long Caye in Lighthouse Reef Atoll, named for the dense profusion of orange, yellow, purple and red sponges that paint the wall in vivid colours. The reef top sits at 10 metres and the wall drops vertically past 35 metres into the deep blue. Tube sponges, vase sponges, elephant-ear sponges, deep water sea fans, sea plumes and large black coral colonies decorate the face. The shallow shoulder is a coral garden of star, brain, sheet and pillar corals. Reef life includes schools of horse-eye jacks, schoolmasters, midnight parrotfish, queen and French angelfish, large groupers and the occasional permit. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the deeper wall and eagle rays cruise the rim. Hawksbill turtles graze the sponges and spotted moray eels live in the cracks. Currents are usually moderate, dives are run as drifts. Visibility 25 to 40 metres. Open water with deep specialty recommended.
Caye Bokel, Turneffe Atoll
Permit Paradise is a wall and pinnacle complex on the south-eastern edge of Turneffe Atoll, named for the resident schools of permit fish that often greet divers near the corner. The site features a healthy reef ridge at 10 to 12 metres dropping to a wall that descends past 30 metres. Large barrel sponges, deep-water gorgonians, plate corals and a profusion of vase and rope sponges decorate the wall. Besides the namesake permits, the site reliably produces big horse-eye jacks, mutton snapper, big black grouper, occasional schools of Atlantic spadefish, southern stingrays and free-swimming spotted eagle rays. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the deeper sections. Currents pick up around the corner, and dives are usually run as gentle drifts along the wall, finishing on the shallow reef. Visibility is typically 20 to 30 metres. The site complements The Elbow as a slightly easier alternative on Turneffe liveaboard itineraries; suitable for intermediate divers and above.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Pillar Coral is a gentle reef dive named for the unusually tall and dense colonies of pillar coral (Dendrogyra cylindrus) that dominate this stretch of the barrier reef north of San Pedro. Pillar coral is in serious decline across the Caribbean due to stony coral tissue loss disease and is on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered, making the remaining tall pillars at this site particularly noteworthy. The reef top sits in 8 to 12 metres and the surrounding coral garden slopes gently to about 22 metres at the wall edge. Massive star coral, brain coral, plate coral and giant barrel sponges accompany the pillars. Reef life includes queen angelfish, French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, yellowtail snappers, blue chromis, rock beauty, banded butterflyfish, secretary blennies, spotted morays and lobsters. Hawksbill turtles graze the sponges, and southern stingrays rest in the sand patches. Currents are mild, visibility 15 to 25 metres. Excellent for new divers and photographers.
Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker
Pyramid Flats is a flat patch reef site within the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, named for the pyramid-shaped coral heads that rise from the seabed. The dive runs on a sandy bottom between 8 and 22 metres, with isolated coral pinnacles and patch reefs scattered across the area. Each pinnacle is a coral oasis hosting French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, stoplight parrotfish, butterflyfishes, blue chromis, sergeant majors, schoolmasters and a wide variety of wrasses. Spotted moray eels, banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs, secretary blennies and Caribbean reef octopus are easy macro subjects in the cracks. Southern stingrays and yellow stingrays rest in sand patches between the pinnacles, and hawksbill turtles graze the sponges. Currents are very mild, visibility 15 to 25 metres. Excellent for new divers, training and night dives. Operators based on Caye Caulker run the site as part of multi-tank packages and as a regular night dive due to its shallow profile and predictable conditions. The macro photography opportunities, especially after dark when octopus, lobsters and sleeping parrotfish emerge, make this a favourite among photographers.
Placencia, Stann Creek
Queen Cayes is a pair of small uninhabited sand cayes east of Placencia, sitting on the barrier reef inside the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve area. The site is shallow, running on a coral plateau and patch reef between 5 and 18 metres. The plateau is built on healthy stands of mountainous star coral, brain coral, sheet coral, pillar coral and gorgonian fans, with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges and yellow tube sponges decorating the structure. Reef life is dense: schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmasters, French grunts, sergeant majors, blue chromis, queen and French angelfish, midnight and stoplight parrotfish and a wide variety of butterflyfishes and wrasses. Spotted moray eels, lobsters, banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs and Caribbean reef octopus are common in the cracks. Hawksbill turtles graze sponges and southern stingrays patrol the sand patches. Currents are mild and visibility ranges from 15 to 22 metres. The site is run as part of multi-tank trips from Placencia and is suitable for divers from open water level upward; an outstanding choice for snorkellers as well thanks to the very shallow coral cover and consistent fish density.
Turneffe Islands, Turneffe Atoll
Rendezvous Point is a wall and coral pinnacle complex on the north-western corner of Turneffe Atoll, where two reef sections meet. The reef top sits in 10 to 12 metres of water and the wall steps down past 30 metres. The wall is decorated with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges, vase sponges, sea plumes and rope sponges, with black coral colonies in the deeper sections. The shallow shoulder is a coral garden of brain coral, star coral, sheet coral and small pillar coral colonies. Reef life is abundant and includes schools of yellowtail snapper, horse-eye jacks, big mutton snappers, French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, large groupers, queen triggerfish and large barracudas hovering above the structure. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the wall and eagle rays glide along the rim. Hawksbill turtles graze the sponges. Currents are moderate; dives are typically run as drifts along the wall. Visibility 20 to 30 metres.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Rocky Point sits at the northern tip of Ambergris Caye, where the Belize Barrier Reef meets the shoreline of the Bacalar Chico National Park, a marine and forest protected area straddling the border with Mexico. The site is one of the few places in the world where the barrier reef touches the coast. The dive is typically run on the seaward edge, with the reef top in 10 to 12 metres and a wall dropping past 30 metres. Healthy stands of elkhorn coral, mountainous star coral, brain coral and pillar coral structure the shallows; the wall is decorated with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges, vase sponges and dense colonies of black coral below 25 metres. Reef life includes schools of yellowtail snapper, horse-eye jacks, schoolmasters, French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, large groupers and queen triggerfish. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the wall and eagle rays glide along the rim. Hawksbill turtles graze sponges. Visibility 20 to 30 metres.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Sandbar is a sandy plateau and patch reef site on the inner side of the barrier reef in front of San Pedro, popular as a check-out and training dive. The site sits on a flat sandy bottom in 8 to 18 metres, with scattered coral patches and small pinnacles rising from the sand. The patches host queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish, stoplight parrotfish, butterflyfishes, blue chromis, sergeant majors and schoolmasters. In the cracks divers find spotted moray eels, banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs, secretary blennies and Caribbean reef octopus on night dives. Southern stingrays and yellow stingrays rest in the sand patches between the heads, and nurse sharks occasionally come in to rest. Garden eels populate the deeper sand. Hawksbill turtles graze the sponges. Currents are very mild and visibility 15 to 25 metres. A favourite for new divers, training and night dives, with very long bottom times possible at the average depth.
Northeast Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll
Shark Point sits on the north-eastern corner of Glover's Reef Atoll, where the reef bends and currents converge, attracting larger pelagic fish to the wall. The dive begins on a healthy reef plateau at 10 metres and follows the wall down to 30 to 35 metres. Mixed coral structures of mountainous star coral, sheet coral and pillar coral cover the wall, interspersed with deep-water sea fans and large barrel sponges. The site lives up to its name, with Caribbean reef sharks routinely cruising the wall and occasionally a bull shark or blacktip in the deeper water. Schools of horse-eye jacks, big mutton snappers, cubera snapper and the occasional permit hover at the corner. Eagle rays appear on the reef edge, and turtles are common over the plateau. Currents at the corner can run moderate to strong, so dives are typically run as drifts. Visibility is consistently 25 to 35 metres. Recommended for divers comfortable with current and wall depths.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Shark Ray Alley is a shallow sandy area south of Hol Chan and part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve since 1999. Originally a spot where local fishermen cleaned their catch, the site became habituated by nurse sharks and southern stingrays that learned to gather around the discarded scraps. Today it is a non-feeding observation site managed by Hol Chan rangers. Depths range from 3 to 10 metres on a flat sandy bottom interrupted by small coral patches and scattered turtle grass. On any given day divers and snorkellers see dozens of nurse sharks resting on the sand and southern stingrays gliding past at close range. Schools of yellowtail snapper, horse-eye jacks, bar jacks, mutton snapper, schoolmasters and grunts circle in the water column, and green moray eels, spotted eagle rays and bonefish are common visitors. The shallow profile, calm conditions and reliable wildlife encounters make this a top training and family snorkel site. Visibility is 12 to 20 metres.
Placencia, Stann Creek
The Silk Cayes are a trio of small sand islands roughly 30 kilometres east of Placencia, sitting directly on the barrier reef inside the Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. The dive sites around the cayes consist of patch reef, coral pinnacles and a wall edge in 5 to 22 metres. Reef fish life is dense and includes large schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmasters, French grunts, sergeant majors, blue chromis, queen and French angelfish, midnight parrotfish and a wide variety of butterflyfishes. Spotted eagle rays cruise the reef edge, southern stingrays rest in sand patches, and resident loggerhead and hawksbill turtles are common. Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks pass along the deeper edge. Visibility is consistently 20 to 30 metres and currents are mild to moderate. The reserve is most famous for the spawning aggregation of cubera snappers, dog snappers and mutton snappers in March, April and May, which attract whale sharks to the area for plankton feeding.
Dangriga, South Water Caye Marine Reserve
South Water Caye Wall sits on the seaward edge of the Belize Barrier Reef inside the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, the largest marine reserve in Belize and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The reef top sits between 10 and 14 metres and the wall drops vertically past 35 metres into the deeper Caribbean. Massive plate corals, mountainous star coral, large barrel sponges, deep-water gorgonians and yellow tube sponges decorate the wall. Reef life is abundant: schools of horse-eye jacks, big mutton snappers, schoolmasters, French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, queen triggerfish and large groupers. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the wall and southern stingrays patrol the sand patches at the wall shoulder. Hawksbill turtles are reliable visitors. Currents are moderate and visibility 20 to 30 metres. Access is via boat from Dangriga or Tobacco Caye, and the site is part of research programmes by the Smithsonian Institution at the Carrie Bow Caye field station nearby. Open water with deep specialty recommended.
Southwest Caye, Glover's Reef Atoll
Southwest Caye Wall is a steep drop-off on the south-western corner of Glover's Reef Atoll, where the lagoon meets deep open water. The site begins on a reef shoulder at about 12 metres and the wall drops vertically past 40 metres into the blue. Massive plate corals, great star coral colonies, deep-water sea fans, large barrel and vase sponges and abundant black coral colonies decorate the wall. The shallow shoulder is a sandy plateau with garden eels, southern stingrays and yellow stingrays. Off the wall divers see eagle rays, Caribbean reef sharks, big horse-eye jacks, mutton and cubera snappers. The site is also well known for the chance of encountering juvenile spotted dolphins and reef squids in the shallows. Visibility is excellent, normally 25 to 40 metres, and currents range from mild to moderate. Recommended for divers with several wall dives in their logbook; commonly part of Glover's liveaboard schedules and weekly trips from Belize City.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
About a mile off San Pedro, on the seaward side of Belize's barrier reef, Tackle Box Canyons takes its name from a beachfront bar once facing the site. Narrow, deep canyons with vertical walls run 18-30m, threaded by a sponge-encrusted swim-through tunnel and a cave whose ceiling opening is just wide enough for a diver to pass. Visibility typically reaches a clear 30m with little to no current, though strong northeast winds can stir sediment off the sandy bottom near the reef cut, adding surge. Expect Caribbean reef and nurse sharks, green morays, green turtles, and horse-eye jacks schooling in the upper cavern reaches, plus occasional spotted eagle rays. Boat access only via permanent mooring; an intermediate site for certified divers comfortable with depth and swim-throughs.
Placencia, Stann Creek
Tarpon Caye is a small mangrove caye and shallow patch reef area in the Placencia lagoon, popular for snorkelling and shallow training dives. The site is named for the resident tarpon that gather in the channels around the caye. The dive runs on a mixed bottom of sand, seagrass and small coral patches in 3 to 12 metres of water. Reef life includes schools of grunts, schoolmasters, French and queen angelfish, sergeant majors, butterflyfishes and a wide variety of wrasses. Mangrove root systems shelter juvenile snappers, grunts and angelfish, making the site an important nursery within the Belize Barrier Reef ecosystem. Southern stingrays, yellow stingrays, spotted moray eels and lobsters are common. Resident tarpon up to 1.5 metres in length cruise the channels. Caribbean manatees occasionally pass through the seagrass beds. Currents are very mild, visibility 8 to 15 metres on a good day, lower after rain. Excellent for new divers, training, snorkellers and as a calm shake-down dive at the start of a Placencia trip before heading to the outer barrier reef sites.
Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
The Aquarium sits on the western side of Long Caye in Lighthouse Reef Atoll and earns its name from the unusual density and variety of reef fish that hover over its coral heads. The site is built on a series of spur-and-groove coral fingers separated by white sand channels, starting at 5 metres on top of the reef and sloping to about 30 metres at the wall edge. Healthy stands of elkhorn and staghorn coral, large brain corals, and bright orange elephant-ear sponges dominate the structure. Schools of yellowtail snapper, blue chromis, French and queen angelfish, stoplight parrotfish and sergeant majors turn the dive into a swim through a natural saltwater aquarium. Spotted moray eels, southern stingrays and nurse sharks rest in the sand channels, and reef sharks occasionally come up from deeper water. Currents are very mild and visibility usually exceeds 25 metres, making the Aquarium one of the easier dives on the Lighthouse Reef itinerary and a frequent choice for the second tank of the day after the Blue Hole. Suitable for divers from open water level upward.
Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker
The Cut, also known as the Caye Caulker Split, is a narrow channel through the island of Caye Caulker that originally was widened by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 and is dived as part of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. The dive site sits just outside the Split on the barrier reef side, where tidal water exiting the channel meets the reef and concentrates fish life. Depths range from about 5 metres on the reef top to 18 metres along the outer edge before the wall continues into deeper water. The site features a coral garden of star, brain and pillar corals, sea fans and yellow tube sponges. Resident schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmasters, horse-eye jacks, French grunts and sergeant majors swim above the structure. Spotted moray eels, lobsters, southern stingrays and queen angelfish are easy to find. Tidal currents can be moderate at peak flow. Visibility 12 to 20 metres. A popular site for new divers and as a quick second tank from Caye Caulker.
Caye Bokel, Turneffe Atoll
The Elbow marks the southernmost tip of Turneffe Atoll, where the reef bends sharply from the eastern wall to the western face and converging currents from the Cayman Trench sweep the corner. The site is the most famous dive in Turneffe and one of Belize's classic drift dives. The reef top starts around 12 metres and the wall plunges past 600 metres. Big black gorgonians, large barrel sponges, deep-water sea fans, plate corals and pillar coral colonies decorate the drop-off. The site is best known for schools of eagle rays, sometimes 12 to 20 individuals at a time, that hover in the current at the corner. Caribbean reef sharks, blacktips, big jacks, mutton snapper, cubera snapper and large groupers also frequent the site. Currents at the Elbow are routinely strong and unpredictable, so dives are run as negative-entry drifts with surface marker buoys mandatory. Visibility is usually 25 to 40 metres. Reserved for advanced divers comfortable in current and able to manage rapid depth changes; a typical visit by liveaboard or by long day trip from Belize City.
Dangriga, South Water Caye Marine Reserve
Tobacco Range is a sheltered patch reef and lagoon area south of Tobacco Caye on the inside of the barrier reef, within South Water Caye Marine Reserve. The dive consists of small coral pinnacles and patch reefs scattered across a sandy and seagrass bottom in 6 to 25 metres of water. Each pinnacle is a coral oasis hosting French and queen angelfish, stoplight parrotfish, midnight parrotfish, foureye butterflyfish, blue chromis, schoolmasters and a wide variety of wrasses. Spotted moray eels, banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs, secretary blennies and Caribbean reef octopus are easy macro subjects in the cracks. The seagrass beds host green turtles and southern stingrays. Manatees occasionally pass through, drawn by the sheltered seagrass habitat that connects to nearby South Water Caye. Currents are very mild, visibility 12 to 20 metres. Excellent for new divers, training and night dives. Operators based on Tobacco Caye and South Water Caye run the site as a house reef.
Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Tres Cocos is a series of three reef fingers and sand channels on the eastern flank of Lighthouse Reef, named after the three coconut palms once used as the surface marker. The spurs run from a top reef around 10 metres down to a sandy plateau between 20 and 25 metres, then a wall continues into deeper water. Massive star and brain corals, gorgonian sea fans, yellow tube sponges and elephant-ear sponges form a colourful matrix. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the outer wall and nurse sharks rest in the swim-through arches between the fingers. Spotted eagle rays often cruise the sand channels, alongside southern stingrays, large permit and cubera snappers. Divers also see green moray eels, queen triggerfish, several species of butterflyfish and the occasional hawksbill turtle. The site combines mild current with very good visibility, typically 25 to 30 metres. It is offered on most multi-tank day trips out of Belize City and on liveaboard itineraries to Lighthouse Reef. Open water certification with a deep specialty is recommended.
Turneffe Islands, Turneffe Atoll
Triple Anchors takes its name from three large iron anchors, believed to be from late 19th century sailing ships, fused into the coral on the eastern wall of Turneffe Atoll. The dive starts on a reef shelf at 10 metres and follows a series of large coral heads down to a sand plateau at 25 metres before the wall continues into deeper water. The anchors themselves sit between 18 and 22 metres, encrusted in fire coral, sponges and wire corals. The reef around them is in good condition with star coral, brain coral, lettuce coral and sheet corals dominating the structure. Schools of yellowtail snapper and creole wrasse hover above; spotted eagle rays, southern stingrays, green moray eels and the occasional Caribbean reef shark are seen. It is also a good macro site, with banded coral shrimp, arrow crabs, secretary blennies and several juvenile angelfish species. Currents are normally light. Suitable for divers with open water and a few logged dives.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Tuffy Canyons lies on the seaward side of the barrier reef directly opposite San Pedro and is one of the most-dived sites out of Ambergris Caye. The reef top sits at 12 metres and is cut by a sequence of canyons running perpendicular to the wall, with sand floors between 18 and 25 metres. The canyon walls and reef shoulders carry the typical Caribbean wall flora: barrel sponges, vase sponges, deep-water sea fans, plate corals and pillar coral. Resident fish include big midnight parrotfish, queen angelfish, French angelfish, large mutton snappers, schoolmaster snappers and big horse-eye jacks. Spotted moray eels, green morays, lobsters and banded coral shrimp are easy macro subjects in the cracks. Hawksbill turtles and southern stingrays are common. Caribbean reef sharks patrol the wall on the outside of the canyons. Currents are usually moderate and visibility 20 to 30 metres. A staple of the two-tank morning trips offered by every operator on Ambergris Caye.
Turneffe Islands, Turneffe Atoll
West Point I is a wall and coral garden dive on the western side of Turneffe Atoll, on the lee side of the prevailing trade winds, which usually keeps the surface calm. The reef top sits in 10 metres of water and slopes through a coral garden of brain coral, mountainous star coral, sheet coral and pillar coral down to a sandy plateau at 18 metres before the wall drops past 35 metres. The wall is decorated with deep-water sea fans, large barrel sponges, vase sponges and black coral colonies. Reef life is abundant: schools of yellowtail snapper, schoolmasters, French and queen angelfish, midnight parrotfish, large groupers and the occasional big horse-eye jack school. Caribbean reef sharks pass along the deeper wall and eagle rays cruise the rim at depth. Hawksbill turtles and southern stingrays are common. Currents are usually mild to moderate, visibility 20 to 30 metres. Suitable for divers from open water level upward; popular as a check-out dive.
Caye Bokel, Turneffe Atoll
The Sayonara was a small wooden passenger and cargo vessel that ferried locals between Belize City and the Turneffe Islands until it sank near Caye Bokel in 1985. Today the wreck rests upright on a sand and rubble bottom near the southern Turneffe lagoon, with the deepest point at about 17 metres and the shallowest at 8 metres. Although the wood superstructure has largely collapsed, the engine block, propeller, hull ribs and assorted iron fittings remain in place, slowly being colonised by encrusting sponges, fire coral and small hard coral heads. The site is excellent for beginners and as a check-out dive at the start of a Turneffe trip: shallow, sheltered, with mild currents. Resident schools of grunts, schoolmasters and yellowtail snappers shelter under the structure, while green moray eels, spotted morays, lobsters, queen and grey angelfish and arrow crabs hide among the wreckage. The visibility is usually 15 to 25 metres. A great photography dive.
