Belize has long been one of the most unknown American countries for most Europeans, despite having dozens of ancient Mayan settlements and impressive national parks in its jungle, scuba diving spots, and in the sea, the second longest coral barrier reef on the planet.
This small territory has been kept out of the traditional tourist circuits, without overcrowding, with small hotels, few boats sailing its waters and therefore one of the most virgin reefs in the entire Caribbean region. A destination with multiple and tempting possibilities.
Diving in Belize
Source: Diving Belize 2019
The diving in Belize is characterized by steep walls adorned with beautiful coral, huge orange and crimson gorgonians and giant sponges. In them reside all kinds of creatures, from moray eels, lobsters or sharks. This country offers diving sites such as the Painted Wall, Half Moon Caye Wall and Quebrada, Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Cay or Turneffe Reef that truly stand out.
You can scuba dive Belize in the mythical Blue Hole. Once you have descended the Blue Hole you will see beautiful formations of vertical stalactites.
Experience diving in a system of freshwater caves approximately 985 feet wide and more than 393 deep, which was explored by the marine pioneer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who declared it one of the ten best sites of diving in the world.
Top 13 Scuba dives in Belize
1. Angelfish Wall
Source: Scuba Diving Belize. 2-14-19. Angel Fish Wall. Light House Reef. 73ft, 55′. Aggressor III
Located off the south coast of Half Moon Caye. This wall, in one of the most open diving areas, gets its name from the large number of angel fish that are usually seen in the upper part of the reef, especially the French angel. Sponges of all kinds and gorgonians are very abundant, but pay attention to the blue, since rays, barracudas and sharks, the latter more occasionally, usually cross before the submarine cliff.
These waters are famous for being the home of the gray angelfish, which gives its name to this scuba dive Belize site. The top of the wall is full of small fish. Families of eagle rays and cruising sharks occasionally pass through the wall.
2. Aquarium
Source: DIVING THE AQUARIUM BELIZE
One of the most biodiverse places in the area, and possibly the best wall in Belize. The dive takes place between 32 and 65 feet, and the color is unimaginable, since the red, orange, yellow, brown and violet sponges intermingle with the black coral mantas and the gorgonians. It is possible to find huge black groupers and lots of lutjanids, surgeon fish, squirrel fish, crossbows and the restless gramma loreto.
Corals and sponges also contain nudibranchs and small crustaceans. An immersion at night is a must, the huge tarpones hunt small fish in the upper part of the reef, and in each hollow it is possible to find some resting fish. In the anemones are permanently transparent prawns, and in the spider crabs gorgonians.
3. Blue Hole
Source: Blue Hole Diving, Belize 2018
The blue holes are ancient aerial caverns, which were formed millions of years ago and then were left under the waters of the sea. The weight of the water on the roof caused it to collapse and the cavity was flooded. From the air what you see in the sea is a circle of intense blue, a “Blue Hole”. Belize is the largest in the world, with more than 328 feet in diameter. Diving at this point is a must, despite the fact that there is practically no wildlife inside except sharks. It descends by the extraplomada wall until 105 feet, where the submarine gallery begins. The stalactites, of unimaginable proportions, added to the penumbra, the incredible clarity of the water, the colder temperature and the depth (131 feet are reached) create a very special atmosphere.
4. Cathedral
Source: Belize Diving 2019
Unlike other points, in this area the attention is concentrated on the platform, where the large coral formations give name to the place. The coral massifs form narrow, deep corridors, where the 82 feet height can be reached. In these places are frequent encounters with small groups of barracudas and tarpons, which are hidden in the penumbra. Lobsters and sea cicadas are also common marauders.
Outside the narrow labyrinth of channels, the intense light highlights all the color of the brains of Neptune and other hard corals, food of the insatiable parrot fish. Equally frequent are Nassau groupers and different types of grammátidos.
5. Half Moon Caye
Source: Scuba Diving at Half Moon Caye in Belize – in English
Considered as a snorkeling point, but not to be missed. This island is a real show that has been declared a nature reserve. In it nests a colony of red-footed boobies, along with other birds, and we can also see the lighthouse of 1848 that gives its name to the atoll. On the north coast, in a wide area, no more than 7 feet deep, it is possible to find numerous nurse sharks, resting on the sandy bed. Other fish such as parrots and angelfish are also frequent. Less frequent, but possible to find in the sand, is the short-nosed batfish.
6. Half Moon Wall
Source: HALF MOON WALL~Lighthouse Reef Belize
On the southern side of Half Moon Island. It is a dive in which small tunnels and chimneys predominate. Being an open wall to the ocean you can find different species from the western slope of the atoll, such as sea eagles, schools of carangids and occasionally a shark. Other species, more common, but also very abundant are the pig fish, haemulones, damsels, a good number of serranids, and the curious juveniles of drumstick fish, that usually hide in the reef hollows.
7. Long Caye
Source: Scuba dive near Southern Long Caye, Belize
It is a dive point further south of Lighthouse Reef atoll. Despite having a beautiful wall, the upper area and the reef platform is a focus of interest to divers. Long and narrow sandy corridors, bordered by reefs 7 and 10 feet high, empty into small esplanades where colonies of garden eels, sand gobies, flounders or rat fish are frequent.
8. Painted Wall
Source: Belize Aggressor III May 6 2019 Painted Wall
The name of this place is due to the large amount of painted ascidias that can be found on the wall, between 39 and 65 feet. The high part of the reef begins at 26 feet from the surface, forming a wide coral platform, with numerous sandy corridors, where vertebrate fauna abounds. In the west end the reef gains verticality, until it gets lost in the depths. In this area the sponge has the role, both tube and elephant ear and horse rib. The most interesting of this area is above 82 feet, where it is also possible to find large solitary barracudas, and some green turtles.
9. West Point
Source: Diving with Turtle at West Point Wall, Belize
A classic point for wall diving, but sometimes is stirred up by the wind. If the wind is mild, the visibility is usually excellent, exceeding 130 feet. The reef starts at 23 fee and is dominated by hard corals and purple gorgonians. As depth is gained, the yellow tube sponges – of considerable size – colonize the wall. In the hollows it is possible to find curious crustaceans, while in the open waters the parrot, angel, grouper, trumpet, chest and butterfly fish swim from one place to another, eager to get food, ignoring the divers.
10. Eagle Ray Canyons
Source: Diving The Belize Barrier Reef, Eagle Ray Canyon
A point where you have to cross your fingers before diving, since luck plays an important role when it comes to seeing the best: spotted eagles. The reef is crossed by sand corridors that open into wide clearings, and if you are lucky you can see these majestic rays “flying over” the bottom. Easier to see are the gray stripes, which usually rest on the bottom, half-buried in the sand, next to the stylized garden eels. You will also see small crustaceans, ovulids, wrasses, surgeonfish, chests, angelfish and the ubiquitous butterfly fish. The corals, the main structure of the reef, are very well preserved, since this area is integrated into the marine reserve.
11. Love Tunnels
Source: Belize Favorite Diving Sites
The northernmost point of Ambergris Caye has several scuba diving locations, although most of them are a short distance by boat from San Pedro. The name of the place is given by a series of tunnels that run along the reef, in the direction of the open sea, falling down a gentle slope. The entrance to the tunnels is around the height of 65 feet and exiting some what deeper, between 91 and 98 feet. Inside the main attraction are crustaceans, such as red prawns, cleaning prawns, spider crabs, lobsters and crayfish. On the outside, the reef is dominated by hard corals, on which dozens of purple and ocher gorgonians have taken up positions. The fish of medium and small size, like loreto grammas,
12. Shark Alley
Source: Scuba Diving, Ambergris Caye, Belize: Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley
It is typical of Caribbean diving, that each destination has its “specialty dive”. In some places are rays, in others the dolphins, in others the gray sharks and in Ambergris Caye are the nurse sharks. This is a scuba dive that has been the subject of numerous publications, due to the large number of sharks that are concentrated. The origin, as it usually happens, is that this place was an anchorage for fishermen and the sharks came to devour the remains of the cleaning of the fish and the conches. At present fishing is not allowed is Shark Alley, since is located inside a reserve, but the diving centers come with the divers. Not only nurse sharks come, you almost always see some ray and other fish.
13. Black Beauty
Source: Scuba Diving at Turneffe Atoll – in English
Scuba diving at this location has divers focused on meeting turtles, which are usually located in the sandy channels that circulate between the coral blocks. On the purple gorgonians it is normal to see ovulids and on the top of the corals parrot fish, squirrels, haemulids, angelfish, Nassau groupers and tiger groupers. At the base of the coral masses, snappers can form small groups while resting , waiting for the night to come, at which point they are relentless hunters.
