Diving the Barrier Reef

Home to Belize’s most prestigious natural treasure, the world’s second largest living barrier reef at roughly 185 miles/298 kilometers in length, located just off its’ eastern shore, Ambergris Caye is a true diver’s haven.

The reef crest is well defined by a conspicuous line of breaking water that is clearly visible from the shore and at low tide, Staghorn and Elkhorn coral can even be seen protruding above the surface. Over 35 of Belize’s most spectacular dive sites are within close proximity and are accessible by boat via a series of natural channels that traverse the reef crest to the open water beyond.

Upon exiting the dive vessel, divers are engulfed in 40 feet of water that is inhabited by wavering sea fans and sea rods as well as pillar, boulder, and fleshy corals that dominate the underwater landscape and uniquely characterize Belize’s flourishing reef eco-system. The brink of the deep reef that starts at 60 feet and extends to a depth of well over 100 feet is within close swimming distance due east. Dives extend to depths of between 60 and 80 feet where mazes of lobster and Black drum inhabited spur and groove canyons can be intricately explored. Large groupers evasively linger around go-by cleaning stations while turtles and spotted eagle rays make sudden appearances by scurrying over the edges of oncoming canyons. The vibrant waters are also home to a multitude of shark and dolphin species. Swim-through caverns and tunnels provide more adventurous diving venues where divers may exit through sporadic chimneys to discover that they are in a totally different location from where they primarily entered.

The abundance of marine life along the barrier reef is remarkable. It is not usual to see a school of porpoises or turtles. Spotted eagle-rays ray often seen in groups of three or four while the rare manta rays usually travel alone. Schools of amber jacks a lone barracudas commonly swim in the open waters away from the corals. Come experience the underwater wonders of Belize. The largest living barrier reef in the world is host to a variety of species including sharks, rays, eels, groupers, parrot fish, trigger fish, sea horses, turtles, shrimp, sea fans, coral and many other wonderous aquatic life.