Belize is located on the Yucatan Peninsula approximately 250 miles south of Cancun. Facing the Caribbean Sea, nestled snugly between Guatemala and Mexico, lies Belize. It's a narrow slice of land hugging the coast and rooted in the tropical rain forests. Out in the seas there are over 400 islands that belong to this geologically diverse nation, and in the background stand the Maya Mountains, framing the expanse of jungle and tropical rain forests below. In the north, near Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the land flattens out to make way for acres and acres of sugarcane. Nowhere in Belize does it ever feel too crowded, for this is the least densely populated country in Central America. Visitors come to Belize for all these reasons, and they grow to love Belize for so many more reasons as well. For here lies some of the world's best diving, fishing, eco-travel adventures, hundreds of species of birds, perfect beaches, breathtaking wildlife, and majestic Maya ruins. There is so much to do, so many new things to see, so many areas to explore, so many pathways to walk.
Usually amended as a premiere diving destination, Belize's Barrier Reef has been named one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. With warm, calm water and excellent visibility most of the year and spanning Belize's coastline for 185 miles is the Barrier Reef, including dive sites inside and outside of the reef. Divers may enjoy a different experience - snorkelling or diving near a mangrove coloured island so-called "the nursery of the sea" where is easy to find tiny barracuda, snapper and other fish whose parents only might be seen in deeper waters.
You can approach the Barrier Reef from Northern Belize through Stingray Flats, Mata Rocks, The Wall, Shark Ray Alley or Hol Chan, Belize's first marine reserve where the fish are huge and quite adapted to human presence. In Central Belize, through Goff's Caye and Rendezvous Caye or from Southern Belize the Barrier Reef include the coasts of Gladden Spit, Sapodilla Cayes, Tobacco Caye, with its great spur and grove formations just east of the island, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, the largest marine reserve in Belize, Laughingbird Caye (the smallest) or Silk Cayes, home to the world's largest population of whale sharks during the months of February to May.
Belize boasts three offshore atolls: Turneffe, Glover's Reef and Lighthouse Reef. All of them together provide over a hundred dive and snorkeling sites for the adventurous visitors who enjoy water sports. The Turneffe Atoll is the largest of the atolls found in Belize. Some dive sites in this atoll are Cabbage Patch, Hollywood, the Elbow, Jill's Thrill, The Coral, the Secret Spot, Birthday Reef Gorgonian Bluff, Rendezvous Wall and the snorkeling areas of Billy Bob's Shallows and Bat Brook Shallows.
The Glover's Reef is the most southern of the three and often overlooked, with a diameter of some 40 miles with over 700 shallow patch reefs in its interior, and numerous patch reefs this is a great place for snorkeling as well. Diving sites include Turtle Tavern, Hole in the Wall, Octopus Alley, Dolphin Dance, Parrotfish Falls, Manta Reef, Shark Point, Long Caye Cut, and Gorgonia Gallery.
The Lighthouse Reef is the farthest from the mainland. The great Blue Hole at the center of Lighthouse Reef is usually described as one of the best dive sites in the World and a must for all advanced divers. Approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Belize City, the almost perfectly circular Blue Hole is more than 305 metersacross and some 123 meters deep. The hole is the opening to what was a dry cave system during the Ice Age. When the ice melted and the sea level rose, the caves were flooded, creating what is now a magnet for intrepid divers. Today the Blue Hole is famed for its sponges, barracuda, corals, angelfish—and a school of sharks often seen patrolling the hole’s edge. However visitors may enjoy diving also at Manta Wall, the Zoo, Cathedral and Half Moon Wall or the waters off Hat Caye which are great for snorkelling
Visibility in excess of 120' can be expected and annual water temperatures range from 78 to 84° F. A wide variety of marine life can be observed during the dives, such as eagle rays, manta rays, turtles, tarpon and the occasional wild dolphin.
Best Time to Travel :
January-March. This is considered the dry season and also the season for Northers, winds which can bring in some rougher sea conditions, and a drop in visibility as well as short periods of rain. In January the Groupers spawn on the Northeast side of Lighthouse Reef. Seas are usually too rough to dive here, but the area may be accessible in the event of a Norther when wind direction reversals occur.
April-JuneSome intermittent rain is possible, but unlikely, and there is less humidity in the air. During March and April, Whale Sharks have been seen occasionally on the Barrier Reef.
July-SeptemberThis is typically hurricane season. Seas are usually calm during this time with good diving conditions. Heavy rain must be expected from time to time, usually lasting only a few hours, but longer periods of rainfall are possible. . In August and September Manta Rays sometimes present themselves.
