Diving Belize

Hi,

first of all, I want to thanks for the folks that sent me tips about Cayman. All tips was great. But after a lot tries with my dive buddy, we finally choose our destination, we are going to Belize in May!!

I received a lot of packages quotes, with similar prices, but I want to hear some thing about Belize hotels, locations and the best sites to dive there before get one.

does anyone was in Belize last 12 months ? Is a violent city ? Where stay there ? The famous blue hole dive site is really good ?

Thank you.

Fabio

Hi Fabio,

Belize is an excellent choice, I've been there several times, and I think it is as good as Cayman, but cheaper. The city is safe (as good as any Brazilian city) and the people are friendly.

Now, about the diving, the blue hole is ok, but not great. It is just a hole and there is not much life, very few fish and coral. The formation is impressive, and I think you should plan to go there, but not for more than one or two dives. There are other sites with a lot more fish and coral in the nearby reefs. The dropoff at the barrier reef is spectacular, and a must see.

I am sorry I can't give you any tips about hotels, everytime I go there I stay at the Smithsonian research station, which is at the barrier reef.

If you need more information you can send me a private message in Portuguese, I live in Panama, but I am from Brazil.

I was in Belize last summer for several weeks. First week was on Ambergris. Didn't really like it. Expensive, not much to see except bars and restaurants. Diving wasn't that exciting, but perhaps I am spoiled. It just seemed brown. Some large groupers and nurse sharks, and lots of green moray eels. A few turtles. Victoria's and Esmerelda were our favorite sites.

For diving, everyone raved about Amigos del Mar. I dove with Pro Dive. Too restrictive for my tastes. Others really liked them.

My second week was on The Sun Dancer II, diving Lighthouse Reef. MUCH better diving. Great boat. Nice walls, lots of encrusting colourful life. Not a lot of big stuff, except turtles on nearly every dive, and some eagle rays. Great for macro.

The Blue Hole: yawn. I hear if you see anything, it's because of feeding by the operator. Ours didn't, Amigos del Mar does apparently. I guess one has to consider whether you think this is a good thing, with novice divers at 130 feet over a 450 foot bottom.

Dive sites we enjoyed were Lighthouse Wall, and Half Moon Caye wall, and Quebrada.

Cheers,

Marli

Hi Marli,

thank you for comments about Belize.. I received a great offer to stay in Lighting house resort, I think that the most important dive sites are located near from this resort..

I'm looking for some web photo galleries to see a little bit more about undewater..

thank you.

Fabio

Los Angeles is a violent city, New York, etc. I woiuldn't get too hung up on that, just keep a low profile, and don't be silly with "displaying your toys" in the streets. I use a small pocket digital when I am shooting around different places in 3rd world countries. But get lots of culture pics...that always makes for a good addition to the underwater stuff. Go the the Blue Hole, nice diving opps if they feed, but can be crowded.

Joe

Hi Joe,

I also have some violent cities in Brazil as there are a lot of around the world. I asked about it because each city has your dangerous, but you tell me what I need to know. I will don't walk with my EOS 20D on the neck through the city.. I will just use my compact digi camera.

Thank you.

Fabio Amorim

I wouldn't be in a hurry to spend any time in Belize City if you're heading out to the islands. It is run down and lacks "cultural photo opportunities". Most people in transit hang out at the Radisson Hotel, as there isn't much else to see in the city itself. We went to the ruins on an arranged tour on our wait for our return flight, and it was interesting for a couple of hours. Apparently the Belize Zoo is interesting if you're into captive critters.

Cheers,

Marli

Hi Fabio,

I was in Belize a few years ago but was on a liveaboard and at that time I remember the diving being some of the best I'd had. Belize City is not much to look at and when I was there I felt somewhat safe by myself during the day but would not have ventured out alone at night. The police patrol the streets with huge guns (don't recall what they were exactly) but this is not uncommon in Central American countries.

I had no problems and had an amusing experience with an older Belizan gentlemen trying to flirt with me for change ;-)

As others have cautioned, if one uses common sense things generally go smoothly. Belize city is a bit dirty and not much to look at. I did have fun staying at the Chateau Caribbean which is right next to the Radisson. I didn't feel like paying the high prices at the Radisson.

No doubt you will have a great time.

Karen

The diving in Belize was excellent. Lots of coral, beautiful fish, pleanty of morays, nurse sharks etc. The diving was just offshore 10-15 minutes from the dock--excellent.

We stayed at Victoria House. True luxury. Most of the boats took us out for two tanks in the morning. They brought us back to the dock for lunch at the resort with an optional two more in the afternoon. I'd step off the dock and order room service in my wetsuit. As soon as I'd showered and dried off I could eat lunch.

I highly recommend Bradley's. Its a small operator with a little boat run by two brothers. He took us with as little as two divers. He is very very safe and flexible with great service. His family has been doing this for decades.

I did two big trips, one to the Blue hole and one to Turniff Atoll. I recommend doing both of them with Amigos de la Mare (I think they are the biggest dive operator on Ambergris). They were both excellent, three tanks and all day. The blue hole was fun, but only worth one dive. It was very deep 140' with interesting formations and LOTS of sharks. The trips took us to two other reefs that day and a lunch stop with a walk through the jungle to a booby preserve.

The mosquetos can be fierce after a rain--getting better after a few dry days. San Pedro seemed safe enough but it was a bit of a squalor. Poverty was extreme. I was there for diving and relaxing so I only went once. We took a trip to Walkers Key and it was much nicer for shopping around. The resort restaraunts were nice.

We also did two non-diving boat trips that were fabulious. We went birdwatching, shell collecting on remote beaches and snorkelling at a reef. It was just our family in a small boat and we went to serveral little islands. Annother trip was mananatee watching, lunch and snorkel on a sandbar, then WAlkers Key and snorkelling at stingray alley. Terriffic!

My only complaints were the mosquetos and that the beaches were poor. They don't really have sand and the water is filled with sea grass. Not great for kids who want to play on the beach/water and keep getting bitten. No snorkelling except by boat. Also, bring all your gear--you won't find any dive or photo equipment for sale on Ambergris.