Belize and San Pedro Scuba Diving & SnorkelingBarrier Reef is 185 meandering miles (298 km) of unspoiled beauty. It varies from 8 to 16 miles (13-26 km) from the mainland to less than one mile (1.6 km) offshore from Ambergris Caye. Much of it is totally unexplored and all of it is easily accessible by boat. The reef is like a gigantic wall running parallel to the coast. Between the mainland and the reef are shallow, sandy waters with numerous mangrove-covered islands (cayes).Click here for map of Ambergris Caye and Belize dive sites. We also have an extensive selection of diving and snorkeling photographs.
Ambergris Caye is justly the most popular attraction to the tourists who
come to Belize. The factor that most contributes to this is the unbelievably
superb diving & snorkeling conditions. Accessibility to the dive sites, such as Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe Islands, as well as many excellent sites right off Ambergris Caye, combined with excellent weather
conditions, clear warm water, the variety of dive sites and in the unlikely chance
that a diving accident should occur, the hyperbaric chamber is minutes away
from any of the dive sites. For general information on diving & snorkeling in Belize, click here.
Conservation and protection of the natural resources is very important for
the government and people of Belize. Proof of this is the designation of one
of the most popular dive sites off Ambergris Caye, Hol Chan, a marine reserve.
Strict supervision is in place and no fishing or removal of coral is permitted.
Mooring buoys have been installed so that anchors may not destroy the coral.
Click here for information showing
the main points of the Outer Reef Lagoon, San Pedro and South, and the main
cuts through the reef east of the island.
The San Pedro Tourist Guide Association which is 175 members strong plays
a significant role in making sure that guides perform well, and guiding is
safe.
A detailed list of the various mammals, invertebrates, fish, birds, and other creatures that inhabit these waters
can be read by clicking here.
Click here for a thorough examination of the plant life on and around the island. The tree, bushes, underwater grasses, a botanical sweep of the
island...
Several professionally run dive shops serve the divers with clean air and
well kept diving and snorkeling equipment. Dive instructors work out of
these dive shops providing full PADI and NAUl certifcation, referrals for
divers wishing to complete the open water certification, and "discover
diving" for the snorkelers who dare taste the exciting world of scuba diving.
Scuba diving & snorkeling have come a long way in Ambergris Caye! Safety, protection
of the natural resources and convenience to the diver are very important to
our diving community. The government and people of Belize have decided
that development of our tourist industry will be planned; it will grow slowly
and gradually, never losing sight of the vital importance of protection of our
precious reef and the dangers of over-development. But, please don't take
my word for it, come check it out yourselves!
For those interested in diving with Nitrox, the dive operators on Ambergris Caye
that handle it are Ramons and the Caye Dive Resort.
You can snorkel off the beach at your hotel or anywhere on the island,
but you don't usually see as much. Some hotels work hard to keep their piers as appetizing to the fish as possible. It can be quite pleasant to float around
and see what you can see off shore. The three most-popular areas for snorkeling from boats near Ambergris
Caye are Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark-Sting Ray Alley and Mexico Rocks.
A visit to Hol Chan and Shark-Ray Alley to the south of San Pedro are usually
combined into one trip, while Mexico Rocks to the north of town is usually
a separate trip. Boat trips to either of these destinations cost around
US$20 to $25 per adult, which usually includes snorkel mask and fin rental
and a guide who will go into the water with you and point out the sights.
Kids under about age 12 go for half price. There is an additional US$2.50
per-adult fee for admission to Hol Chan Reserve. The fee, which goes toward
preservation of the Belize's parks, is collected at the reserve by rangers
in power boats, so be sure to bring your money. These snorkeling trips usually last two to three hours. Typically, snorkel
boats go out once in the morning and once in the afternoon, more frequently
during busy periods. A couple of dozen dive and snorkel operators offer
snorkel trips. It is difficult to recommend one over another, as the quality
of the experience depends on who is your guide on a particular trip and
also the weather and sea conditions. However, see the list of recommended
dive shops at the top and bottom of this page. Note that boats cannot always go out, due to wind and weather conditions.
When there's a strong wind or during "Northers" in the winter,
snorkeling is unpleasant at best and could be dangerous. Night snorkeling trips also are available, at around US$20 per person.
Night snorkelers may see lobster, eels, octopus and other creatures.
The most common question after the
general water temperature is what is the temp. in the Blue Hole at
130ft.....about 76f with hardly any change throughout the year at that
depth.
Several snorkel boats may congregate
at one time. In fact, it's a good idea to make a mental note of the name
or identifying colors of your boat, so you don't swim back to the wrong
boat. Do not touch the coral with your hands or fins,
and do not feed or touch the fish. Caution! Tidal currents here can be quite strong. Weak swimmers or younger
children may tire quickly swimming against the current. Ask your guide about
the strength of the current at the time you are there, and let the guide
know if you are not a good swimmer or have any disability. Don't be shy
about accepting a life jacket. Shark- Ray Alley is a shallow cut to the south of Hol Chan where nurse
sharks and sting rays congregate. Guides sometimes chum to attract the sharks,
and you can jump in and swim with them. It's not half as scary as it sounds,
and most of the people who come on the snorkel boats do get in the water
here. At Mexico Rocks, off North Ambergris opposite a former coconut plantation,
you may not see as many fish as at Hol Chan, but the coral is beautiful.
Also, this area is protected from ocean swells and currents, so it makes
for easier snorkeling. Depth is only about 6 to 12 feet, so you can see
everything up close. Water viz is about the same as at Hol Chan, 50 feet
or more. Catamarans and other vessels based in San Pedro visit some of Belize's
other cayes and atolls, on longer trips for snorkeling and picnics. You
typically pay US$35 to $75 for these trips, depending on the length of the
trip, where you go and whether lunch and drinks are included. San Pedro
also has several glass-bottom boats which offer trips for around US$20. It's a long way to go for snorkeling, but Belize's atolls offer good
snorkeling in shallow water around patch reefs. Day snorkel trips to Lighthouse
or Turneffe ato
Divers and snorkelers will enjoy the shallow dives and get to see a good variety of sea life and coral. Those willing to make a larger investment in time and money can use San Pedro as a base for day trips to distant cayes and atolls, which offer some of the best diving & snorkeling in all of the Caribbean. Diving around the atolls is mostly wall diving, while diving around Ambergris is spur-and-groove with some deep canyons, swim throughs and reef cuts. Heavy wave action from Hurricane Mitch did only limited damage to dive sites around Ambergris Caye. It destroyed some fragile coral, such as elk horn and seafans, especially near the water surface, and caused temporary loss of pigmentation in hard coral, but it scoured out green algae and cleaned out sand. One of the good things about Ambergris Caye, in the eyes of many, is that it does not cater only to divers. Indeed, the majority of visitors to the island now are not divers, and this means that those who don't dive will not feel they are just extra baggage on a dive machine. Ambergris Caye offers a good mix of dive and non-dive activities. Those who wish to do nothing but dive, eat, sleep, and dive may be better off choosing a dive lodge on one of the remote atolls or a live-aboard dive boat. 
Among the popular dive sites around Ambergris Caye are Hol Chan Cut, Tackle Box Canyon, Punta Arena Canyons, Tres Cocos and Basil Jones Canyons. Two-tank dives around Ambergris Caye typically go for US$45 to $55, averaging US$50. One-tank dives are about US$20 less; three-tank dives about US$20 more. Rates usually include tanks, weights and belts. Other equipment is extra; US$20 is about average for a full set of gear. Those looking for even better diving likely will consider diving one of Belize's atolls. These are Pacific-style atolls with coral islands surrounding a fairly shallow lagoon. Only four true atolls exist in the Western Hemisphere; three of them are off Belize. Belize's three atolls are Turneffe Islands, Lighthouse Reef, and Glover's. Turneffe and Lighthouse are closest to Ambergris Caye and are practical day trips. 
A new marine reserve around the Silk Cayes and Galdden entrance opened recently with whale sharks a major attraction. Click here for more information on whale sharks. For detailed information on the reserve, click here. For the more-serious diver, there is variety enough here to make for many weeks of diving. Visibility is terrific, often 150 feet or more. While many of the sites are best for intermediate and advanced divers, some are suitable for novice divers. From San Pedro, expect to pay about US$125 to US$185 for a day trip to Lighthouse or Turneffe, depending on the number of dives. Lunch is usually included. A typical trip to Lighthouse takes one and a half hours or a little longer each way, includes three dives, lunch and snacks and costs about US$150 per person. Note that sometimes dive trips are canceled if not enough divers sign up for a specific trip. The Turneffe Islands are about 20 miles east of Belize City. This is the largest atoll and the closest to the mainland. It differs somewhat from the other two atolls in that most of the islands here are densely covered in mangroves, especially on the west side. Black Beauty, Myrtle's Turtle and Mauger Caye (north of the atoll, with a lighthouse) are among the popular dive sites here. Mauger is known for its sharks. 
Lighthouse Reef is about 60 miles east of Belize City. Lighthouse is home to Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, comprising about 15 square miles of atoll plus another 15 square miles of surrounding waters. Protected as a marine reserve since 1981, Lighthouse teems with birds, including a nesting colony of rare red-footed boobies. Under water life is also rich here, with dolphins and other creatures. At Lighthouse also is the Blue Hole, a limestone sinkhole several hundred feet across and more than 400 feet deep, made famous by Jacques Cousteau. Divers usually report that while the Blue Hole is worth doing once, it is more spectacular when seen from the air then from underwater. Glover's Reef is about 30 miles east of Dangriga. The perimeter of the atoll has elk horn coral forests. Here and in a deeper sandy area is a great variety of fish and sea life, including many sharks. Shark Point, northeast of North Caye with its lighthouse, is well-known for hammerhead and tiger sharks. San Pedro has the country's only hyperbaric chamber. It's located near the airstrip. Most dive shops ask for a small donation with each tank fill which goes toward funding the chamber. 
For those who don't dive but would like to, several Ambergris Caye dive shops offer courses and training. A resort course costs about US$125. This includes classroom training, practice in a pool or in the water, and an actual dive, usually at Hol Chan. Complete open water certification runs US$350 to $400 and requires four days. For those who have completed classroom instruction elsewhere, the two-day open water training is about US$200. I would rate the safety of dive shops in San Pedro as much higher than dive shops in, say, Florida, where dive shops are afraid to put divemasters in the water with their diving & snorkeling guests. The reason? If a dive shop elects to properly supervise diving activities in Florida, and there is an accident, even a minor one, then the diver can sue the tar out of the dive shop and divemaster. It is actually better for a Florida dive shop to have 5 unsupervised diving deaths a year than have 1 minor supervised diving accident (where, say, a diver has to go to a dive chamber for a few hours treatment, full recovery, and sues dive shop for 50million for "pain and suffering caused"). In Florida, it is standard practice for a dive boat to leave port with 20-45 divers, one captain and one non-diving divemaster. Here in San Pedro we would never dream of such a terrible mis-match of divers to divemasters, and our dives are ALWAYS in-water supervised by qualified divemasters. Dive shops here are not afraid to tell a guest that the chamber is needed treatment if that guest is feeling funny after diving. The great thing about chamber treatment is that it's fairly routine....the crime is letting mild symptoms get worse by not admitting one of your divers to the chamber because of the potential for getting a bad reputation. Every serious dive shop on Ambergris Caye has an excellent safety record, and no dive shop can or should claim to have the "best safety record" on the island. Belize is not -- and never will be -- a big chartering center as, for example, is the British Virgin Islands. For one thing, stiff winds, strong currents and the barrier reef with its hidden coral heads can make navigation dicey, even for sailors who know local waters. Still, a few bareboat and crewed charters are available in Belize. To the right are a few of those who handle charters. For more on boating in Belize and around the island, click here. 
Cats, motorboats and sailboats temporarily in Belize may be available for charter from time to time. These boats come and go at the whim of the seas and their captains. Ask locally in San Pedro (especially at the Belize Yacht Club) or at the marinas at the Radisson Fort George or Fiesta Inn in Belize City or on Moho Caye. Catamarans for day or short charters may be available at Ramon's and Journey's End and elsewhere. Liveaboard dive boats are also an option for those seeking the salt. The two best-known operations are Peter Hughes Diving with its 120' Belize Wave Dancer, Netkon Pilot, and the Aggressor Fleet, with its similarly sized Belize Aggressor III. Per-person rates shown include a seven-day trip with around 5 1/2 days of diving, food, drinks and airport transfers. Port charges about an additional US$45. Peter Hughes Diving, 1390 South Dixie Highway, Suite 1109, Coral Gables, FL 33146, tel. 305-669-9391 or 800-932-6237, fax 305-669-9475, e-mail dancer@peterhughes.com. Rates US$1595 to US$1695 Aggressor Fleet, P.O. Box 1470, Morgan City, LA 70381, tel. 800-348-2628 or 504-385-2628, fax 504-384-0817, e-mail: 103261.1275@compuserve.com. Rates US$1,695. The Belize River Lodge near Belize City offers a liveaboard fishing boat, a 58" Hatteras. Tel. 888-275-4843. Nekton Pilot at http://www.nektoncruises.com/ Click here for more on the liveaboards... 
JELLYFISH- There is another irritating critter which we call 'pica pica' . The picas can show up at the same time of the year but are not serious stingers - they can leave mosquito bite sized welts on you that itch for a day or two. Most tourists do not get bothered much by them as the itch is associated with a sensitivity build up over multiple stings. The pica is common from florida to honduras. CLICK HERE for more information.....
By the end of november there are practically no stinging critters in the water due to the change of seasons and drop in water temperature. Coral scratches are self inflicted. a dive skin is a good thing to wear year around. a wetsuit is only necessary during the cold fronts in the winter months.
SPEARFISHING-
Note: The offshore reef and its protecting of the inland sea around the island makes for extremely clear and calm water for diving & snorkeling. Most of the area inside the reef is 6-8 feet deep, and you can see more here with just a mask and/or snorkle than you can see most places while diving. In that mere 6-10 feet deep of water, there is an amazing diversity of marine life. Dolphins (very friendly), nurse sharks, rays, zillions of multi-colored fish of many varieties highlight a quick dip in the water around Ambergris Caye. Any novice can come here and be amazed, and then go to the dive shops and become an expert! As a child said, "Its like Seaworld without the glass..." Marty, ChiefNerd, AmbergrisCaye.com
For more information, follow these links: Map and Info About Local Dive and Snorkeling Sites Underwater Photos of Local Diving & Snorkeling 
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The basic San Pedro dive boat is an island built skiff in the 20 to 26 foot
range powered by twin outboard motors. These are fairly fast, traveling to
most dive sites within 15 to 20 minutes. Dives are usually done one dive in
the morning at 9:00 a.m. and another dive at 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. The
cost for these two dives, including tanks and weights, ranges between $45.00
to $55.00 U.S. for the two dives the same day. Dives are also arranged to
suit diver's schedules. Night dives at the 
Rays and schooling jacks are frequently seen, and the most
common reef tropicals such as groupers, coneys, angelfish and barracuda
are almost sure to be seen. For a more interesting and convoluted bottom
featuring caves full of copper sweepers and a resident school of horse-eyed
jacks, the dive site Caverns, just outside the Mata Cut, is another local
favorite."
