Belize Suggestions: AC and Placencia

Howdy all.

I'm planning a trip for myself and the wife to Belize this coming Spring. I plan to have my Oly E330 housed with at least my existing (DS50) single strobe available. My wife is NOT a photographer, so I do have to factor that into my planning a bit.

We'd like to dive a lot - 3 or more (if available) dives a day, but will probably also do some topside stuff like the cave-tubing or ruins at least 1 day or so. I think we're going to go for 8-10 days in country. Right now I was planning a few days stay on Ambergris, and a few in Placencia on the mainland, since that time of year if we travel the latter half (fuller moon) part of the month the chance of doing scuba with the whale sharks off Glover's tip or whatnot from Placencia dock departures is supposedly pretty good.

Anyone have hotel, scuba operator, and other suggestions specific to those sites? I won't totally close my mind to other suggestions outside of AC and Placencia if you really want to make a case I should reconfigure my thinking in general...note that the purely back-to-nature 'rustic' stays more likely at Lighthouse, etc is probably outside my wife's comfort range.

Bottom line, this board's got a lot of experience, and I'd like to take advantage of it if possible. Merry-post-Xmas, everyone!

RTRski

Noticed my gaffe too late to edit it, but I'm actually looking for April/May 2008, not 2007 as the subtitle says.

Take a look at Hamanasi Adventure Resort near the town of Hopkins. I spent time there this last fall and loved it. They dive the Southern Barrier Reef with side trips to the Blue hole and Glover's reef.

The resort is gorgeous with wonderful food. They offer side trips like Kayaking, tubing, tours of the jaguar reserve, Mayan ruins and more. After we were there (a bunch of photographers) they know how to cater to shutterbugs better. They were very willing to accomodate us in every way they could.

Give them a look.

I think you should skip Ambergris and do a liveaboard followed by a land stay afterward. The liveaboards go to Turneffe and Lighthouse Atolls which are much healthier and see less divers than Ambergris.

Here is a link to a dive video I made from my trip a few weeks ago to give you an idea of what the diving is like.

I'd like to do a liveaboard, personally, but not sure I can get the wife on board (no pun intended). If someone offered 4 day type trips, maybe, but a full week might be a bit much for her. And to be honest, I wouldn't mind breaking it up myself a bit.

Thanks for the suggestions so far...keep em coming, if you got em! Wife won't be home from extended work assignment out of state until early Feb, so we'll start putting our heads together for real finalization then.

I would second doing a live-a-board. We did the Belize Aggressor in Oct 05' and are going back again in Jan 08'. The first time we stayed 3 additional days at the Radisson (right where the Aggressor docks). We did a tour to Jaguar Paw (cave tubing) and then a boat and ruins tour. Both were very nice tours and picked you up right at the hotel. They have zip lining at JP as well. We did zip lining in Costa Rica and had a blast. Regardless of where you end up when and if you do the cave tubing at JP do the longer tour. More of a hike at the beginning but it is well worth it.

Jeff

I spent a week at Isla Marisol on Glover's Atoll in Belize in Dec 2007.

I was very satisfied with the service and the diving. The food is very good as well.

If you are looking for a posh resort, this is not the place for you, but, if you are looking for good diving, I do recommend Isla Marisol.

But DEFINITELY bring your DEET. The no-see-ums = flying Jaws!

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately since I first posted we've decided on Dominica. Still, I'll file away the info for future trips!!