Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker, Belize

North Cut

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.