Belize - Scuba Diving Paradise

For one of the most spectacular dive experiences in the world, divers should look no further than Belize. This English-speaking Central American nation is home to the Belize Barrier Reef, the longest unbroken reef in the Western Hemisphere. Located within the Lighthouse Reef Atoll , this UNESCO World Heritage Site stretches nearly 185 miles long and is home more than 500 species of fish as well as sea turtles, dolphins and numerous invertebrates.

For a seriously unique dive experience, there’s no place like Belize’s Blue Hole, the world’s largest underwater sinkhole. Approximately 1,000 feet wide with spectacular stalactites and depths greater than 400 feet, the Blue Hole attracts advanced divers year-round. Many who have experienced the Blue Hole liken it to a religious experience. Because of its depth and darkness, the Blue Hole is best suited for experienced divers. Divers may never see any form of life other than their dive buddy, but hammerheads and tiger sharks can be spotted deeper down.

Another exceptional dive site located within Lighthouse Reef is the Half Moon Caye National Monument, a nature reserve that protects a 4,000-member booby colony, one of only two in the Caribbean. It was the Belize Audubon Society's first reserve, established in 1982.

Half Moon Caye Wall is described by some as “6,000 feet of vertical abyss”. These exquisite walls are unparalleled anywhere else in the world and provide a unique diving opportunity. A shallow beginning with huge corals lying on a white sand bottom where garden eels sway back and forth, drops vertically over spur-and-groove canyons with dense corals, swim-throughs, and some of the most spectacular sponge formations found anywhere. Larger pelagics such as eagle rays, sea turtles, and groupers are often seen swimming in the blue.

Because of their distance from mainland Belize, The Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye are typically arranged as day trips. There are many spectacular dive sites that lie closer to the mainland and are easily accessible from the coastline or the hundreds of offshore islands. Perhaps the most historic of these islands is St. George’s Caye, Belize’s original capital which was the bedrock of the nation’s independence from the imperial stronghold of Spain. Located just eight miles from Belize City, the tiny caye is home to St. George’s Caye Resort, one of Belize’s original dive resorts.

St. George’s Caye Resort recently underwent a major renovation and now offers divers a variety of accommodation options. But no matter if divers choose to stay in one of 12 private cabanas or bunk up with a friend in a lodge room, they are guaranteed to have the dive of their life.

The knowledgeable, on-site dive team is committed to ensure that guests have the most fulfilling and carefree experience possible scuba diving in Belize. With the resort’s signature “Valet Diving” program, the dive team does the work and guests have all the fun! All of equipment is checked, assembled and loaded on to the boat for guests. Even masks are cleaned in advance. Once back onshore, the crew washes and disassembles all equipment so that it is organized and ready to go for the next dive.

There’s no need to worry about cattle boat diving at St. George’s Caye Resort. Each boat is limited to no more than 14 divers, and the resort’s secluded location means that nearby dive sites are free of crowds from other resorts. The small group size equals personal attention and a comfortable and safe atmosphere for every diver.

Some of the most popular sites near St. George’s Caye include:
• The Turneffe Atoll, the largest of the three offshore atoll reefs in Belize, features varied depths suitable for all dive levels and diverse marine life including the rare whitespotted toadfish, eagle rays, sting rays, moray eels, jewfish, nurse sharks and reef sharks.
• Little Finger enchants divers with regular bottlenose dolphin encounters and depths greater than 100 feet.
• Gorgeous lives up to its name. With vivid coral formations and plenty of gorges for divers to explore, loggerhead turtles can be spotted year-round. Divers may even find lobster hiding in dark caves along with turtles and reef sharks nestled under shelves. Within 40 feet of the surface when the coral is touched by the sun rays, the colors are breathtaking.