Diving Hol Chan Marine Reserve

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley are the most popular diving/snorkeling sites in all of Belize. The large amount of fish life found with the Hol Chan “cut” accessible by snorkelers and divers, the diversity of marine life encountered throughout the 4 zones of the park and the exitement and novelty of swimming with large numbers of nurse sharks and sting rays making this an experience not to miss.

Due to the protected status of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the fish populations have exploded. Divers can swim from one side of the cut to the other, experiencing shallow reef, drop offs over the steep sides of the “cut”, and seagrass and sand beds in the middle of the channel.

Outside the barrier reef, the ocean bottom gently slopes off into the Caribbean. All levels of diving can be accommodated here due to the variations in depth, from 30 to over 100 foot dives can be planned and executed. Spur and groove formations (hills of coral running parallel to valleys of sand) provide rich habitat for marine life. Spotted eagle rays and other pelagic creatures swim above the reef while the more cryptic life like lobsters and eels fill the holes and tunnels through the coral spurs.

Shark Ray Alley – This recently discovered dive site has been selected as one of the seven best “animal dives” in the Caribbean by SKIN DIVER MAGAZINE. For years, local fishermen cleaned their catch just inside the reef, to the south of Hol Chan Cut and Ambergris Caye. The fishermen soon noticed that the offal from cleaning fish was attracting Nurse Sharks and several Southern Sting Rays. The sharks and rays hear the dive boats approaching and begin to school in anticipation of bait being thrown into the water. When you arrive, you will see the surface often boiling with rolling sharks and sting ray wings as they vie for the scraps. These creatures have a great tolerance for divers and snorkelers. The rays, which have a ‘wing-span’ of two to four feet, swim directly towards the divers, mouths often turned up hoping for a hand held tid bit to be placed near their mouths. Other have learned to swim in circles around the divers, as if performing for food. The docile Nurse Sharks average four to six feet in length and can be a bit more aggressive than the sting rays.