Diving Belize
Belize’s Blue Hole is its most famous dive spot. The Blue Hole is a sinkhole near the center of Lighthouse Reef that can be seen from the air. It’s 1,000 feet in diameter (300 m), is almost a perfect circle, and is deep blue in color. At 140 feet (43 m) there is an underwater cathedral, which is a huge underwater cave with stalactites that are 12 feet wide and suspend 20 to 60 feet from the cave ceiling and side passageways.
Belize is a preserve for the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The 185-mile long barrier reef parallels the shore from 10 to 30 miles offshore. All around the barrier reef are pristine diving locations where large grouper, manta rays, dolphins, spotted eagle rays, turtles, fish of all kinds, and over 700 coral heads live. The beauty of this barrier reef is spectacular.
Ambergris Cay is the primary dive tourism location in Belize. It is the largest of the outer islands and is a 20-minute flight or 1:15 ferry ride from the mainland. Ambergris Cay is a rustic and beautiful island with dive shacks on every beach. Dive sites off Ambergris Cay are close enough for beach diving, which allows for unlimited diving.
Best time to dive
March through August
Visibility
Visibility is often 100+ feet. The water is generally clearest outside the reef and off the atolls.
Water temperatures
Water temperature averages between 79 and 83 degrees F.
Weather and climate
Belize climate is subtropical with a brisk prevailing wind from the Caribbean Sea. Weather is very hot and humid. The rainy season is May to November and the dry season is February to May. The annual temperature averages about 80 degrees F. Winter storms may bring the temperature down to the low 60s, and it can reach the mid-90s on the mainland in the hottest part of summer. Rainfall is heaviest in the south and the jungle areas, lightest in the north and on the Cays.
Language
English, Creole, Spanish, and Mayan
Passport/Visa requirements
Valid passports for the planned length of stay and onward or return tickets are required to enter Belize. Some nationalities require visas; check with embassy office, consulate, or tourist office before traveling.
Currency
Belize dollar – Get exchange rates at http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Electrical current
110/220 volts AC, 60 Hz – compatible with U.S. electronics. It is recommended to use surge protectors with sensitive equipment.
Capital
Belmopan
General information
Belize is a country located in the southeast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean coast of the Central American isthmus. It shares borders with Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west. The country consists predominantly of tropical lowland and swampy plains, though the Maya Mountains in the west rise to almost 3,000 feet. Half of the country is covered by dense jungle; the rest is farmland, scrub, and swamp. The tropical forests provide habitats for a wide range of animals, including jaguar, puma, ocelot, armadillo, tapir, and crocodile. The country also harbors keel-billed toucans, an abundance of macaws and parrots, and heron and snowy egrets. Numerous nature parks have been created in Belize and are a must see.
Map
Get a map of Belize from WorldAtlas.com