Dangriga, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Belize

South Water Caye Wall

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.