| Diving Ambergris Caye can be an exhilarating | | | | Depth: 80ft-120ft |
| experience when you Dive the islands best dive | | | | Location: North Ambergris Caye |
| sites. | | | | Type of Dive: Boat |
| HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE | | | | LOVE TUNNELS |
| THE CUT | | | | This site is located north of San Pedro and the |
| Another great site, this is a cut that allows | | | | site got its name as a couple got married in the |
| passage through the Belize barrier reef to the | | | | mouth of this huge tunnel. At a depth of 60ft we |
| open sea. Starting at 8ft and sloping down to a | | | | swim through the tunnel that comes out on the |
| maximum of 25ft, this is an underwater | | | | edge of the drop off at approx. 90ft, due to the |
| wonderland with literally thousands of fish, including | | | | unseen approach we have spotted many large |
| huge groupers and the biggest snappers you have | | | | pelagic cruising the drop-off, as we exit the tunnel. |
| ever seen. | | | | As we swim along the drop off you see many |
| As you enter the cut there are a variety of small | | | | varieties of hard and soft corals and the usual |
| caves which hide huge Moray Eels over 6ft in | | | | juveniles and groupers that are abundant in these |
| length. Because this park is in a protected area | | | | waters. |
| the animal life is abundant. At the buoy, which | | | | At all times you can see the surface as we swim |
| marks the maximum you may enter into the | | | | through the caverns and it is quite safe for all |
| channel, there is a small swim through cave which | | | | levels of experience, as we near the end of our |
| usually has a giant Dog Snapper lurking in the back | | | | dive we enter another small cavern that takes us |
| part of the swim, though he casually watches as | | | | to our exit point, a real exciting dive that 's a |
| you swim through. He is a very scary looking | | | | favorite with our visitors. |
| fellow showing his big teeth, but the slightest | | | | Experience required: Intermediate/Advanced |
| movement toward him and he's off. | | | | Depth: 70-100ft |
| This site is used as our primary night dive spot. | | | | Location: North Ambergris Caye |
| At night it is totally different: lobsters, giant spider | | | | Type of Dive: Boat |
| crabs, Stingrays, and on many occasions the odd | | | | HAPPY HOURS REEF |
| lemon Shark has passed through. All in all this is | | | | Because this Belize site is a little out of the way |
| one of the best sites for marine life found | | | | of most dive operators it gets dived very |
| anywhere in the Caribbean. | | | | seldom, which means lots of fish life and no signs |
| Experience required: Intermediate due to strong | | | | of damage caused by divers. We particularly like |
| current | | | | this site as it has a lot of barrel sponges and is |
| Depth:30ft | | | | wonderful for macro photography due to the |
| Location: South Ambergris Caye | | | | abundant small critters found at this site. Another |
| Type of Dive: Boat | | | | observation we made at this site is at a certain |
| HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE | | | | time of the year we have noticed the coral |
| PILLAR CORALS | | | | spawning. This site is currently being studied by |
| Hol-Chan Marine Reserve 7.5 square miles of | | | | Professors from Texas AM University and is part |
| protected habitat, makes for some great diving. | | | | of ongoing studied for the year of the reef. |
| One of our favorites is Pillar Coral, a 60ft dive | | | | Experience required: Novice/Intermediate |
| with some wonderful Pillar coral formations, great | | | | Depth: 60-80ft |
| for photography as during this dive there are | | | | Location: North Ambergris Caye |
| resident grouper and Snappers that will follow you | | | | Type of Dive: Boat |
| throughout the dive. It's easy to position them | | | | This is not a Dive Site but I thought I would |
| around the Pillar corals giving the opportunity for | | | | include it as it is unique and usually included as a |
| some great pictures. | | | | surface interval stop so you can snorkel with the |
| The site is protected and nothing dead or alive | | | | sharks and rays. The picture was taken in 1991 |
| may be removed, gloves are not allowed to be | | | | when we first discovered this site and diving was |
| worn in the marine reserve and there is an | | | | allowed. |
| entrance fee to the park which is used to | | | | This is an unbelievable snorkel site similar to |
| maintain the buoys and fund the ongoing research | | | | Caymans Stingray City except we have in |
| conducted at Hol-Chan marine reserve. | | | | addition to the resident Stingrays, 15 to 20 Nurse |
| Experience required: Novice/Intermediate | | | | Sharks which means double the action. Located |
| Depth: 60-80ft | | | | south of Hol-Chan Marine reserve, in only 8ft of |
| Location: South Ambergris Caye | | | | water, this spectacular site is the only site in the |
| Type of Dive: Boat | | | | world where you can interact with both Stingrays |
| CYPRESS GARDENS | | | | and Nurse Sharks. |
| An excellent site for all types of coral species, | | | | So unique is this site it attracted the attention of |
| such as huge Pillar Corals, Elkhorn, Stag horn and | | | | Jean Michel Cousteau and Skindiver magazine, who |
| very abundant with small reef fish and critters. | | | | have featured it on the cover page of Skindiver |
| Located in 50ft of water, this has long been one | | | | in 2 issues. Jean Michel told me that they are all |
| of my favorite sites for the sheer quality of the | | | | female juveniles and it is most likely a nursing |
| coral formations and the superb Macro photo | | | | ground and kept in the area from years of |
| opportunities. This site focuses on smaller marine | | | | fishermen cleaning their catch and discarding the |
| life associated with coral reef and is sure to be a | | | | scraps to the sharks. |
| hit with visiting divers. | | | | Most dive operators offer a complimentary stop |
| Experience required: Novice | | | | at Shark Alley during surface interval the |
| Depth: 40-80ft | | | | opportunity for photography is endless. |
| Location: South Ambergris Caye | | | | The Nurse Sharks and Stingrays steal the show |
| Type of Dive: Boat | | | | but the coral formations and other fish life is |
| M & M CAVERNS | | | | worth a mention. I visited Shark Ray Alley many |
| Located north of San Pedro town lie's M & M | | | | times before I discovered the superb coral |
| Caverns one of Ambergris Caye's best cavern | | | | formations and dense fish populations. Remember |
| dives. The underwater topography is deep spur | | | | to check them out when you visit Shark Ray |
| and groove formations formed by the wave | | | | Alley. |
| action over thousands of year's, it is literally | | | | Experience required: Novice |
| riddled with swim through and tunnels. | | | | Depth: 8ft |
| As you descend down to 90ft you see a small | | | | Location: South Ambergris Caye |
| entrance going up through the reef as you enter | | | | Type of Dive: Boat Snorkel ONLY |
| you see a small light at the end of the tunnel | | | | I hope this short article will give you an idea of |
| about 40ft away, it is an awesome feeling as you | | | | some of the excellent dives on offer when you |
| swim literally through the reef to come out at | | | | dive Ambergris Caye. Be sure to visit my website |
| 60ft then enter another, a totally different dive | | | | for additional articles on Diving Belize and Travel |
| that's always a hit with our visiting divers. | | | | Tips. |
| Experience required: Advanced | | | | |