Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize

Half Moon Caye Wall

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.