How is the diving/weather in Belize in early June?

[DelightedDiver]

We are planning our first trip to Belize in early June and plan to stay on Ambergris Caye. I've checked a lot of web sites and have been getting conflicting reports about the weather/diving that time of year. Some say that it is the rainy season and we'll have rain through the entire trip. Others say the rain is mainly in the jungle and inland. Can anyone give me any advice. Would it be better to wait until later in the year?

 

[Doc]

April through June is ideal.

Enjoy this lovely country and its diving.

 

[Blackwood]

When does hurricane season start? After June?

 

[Hank49]

The hurricanes usually come after June but I believe June 1 is the official start of hurricane season.
But the conflicting reports you got are accurate. In 2006 we had the wettest June on record with some parts of the country getting over 20 inches of rain and not just the mountains. This June was pretty dry. You never know because it's the end of the dry season and the beginning of the wet season. Either way the diving should be good though.

 

[DelightedDiver]

Thanks all. I'll start planning for a June dive then.

 

[ScubaRx]

I went to Belize last July. For the first half of the trip we went south, down near Punta Gorda. It rained a LOT down there, but it seemed to be much drier in the northern part of the country especially on the Cayes. We went diving off Caye Caulker and it was absolutely fabulous. Granted, this was the first 2 dives I had ever been on. The reef and marine life was spectacular. I can't wait until I go back.

Just a side note, while you are on Ambergris Caye, you should head over to Caye Caulker for a day to check out a quiter, more laid back atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, Ambergris Caye is very nice, but it is also VERY commercial. Both places are extremely nice and I must say I am somewhat jealous that you will be diving there. Good luck and have a blast!!

One last thing, don't claim anything when you are going through customs. It can be VERY hectic if you do.

 

[DelightedDiver]

ScubaRX, thanks for the advice. I'm excited about the dive. It will be the first for me in about 18 months. I haven't been able to dive on our last trips because of medical reasons and I've had to watch my hubby and our dive buddies go down without me. Talk about jealous. I'm cleared to go back now and can't wait. (I guess it won't really be the first, I'm doing a scuba tune up in the local quarry first, but I don't think that counts.)

 

[Hank49]

One last thing, don't claim anything when you are going through customs. It can be VERY hectic if you do.

When you come in as a tourist, declare nothing. If they search you and question anything, just smile and play dumb. They gouge us residents for everything but tourists are pretty much left alone.

 

[Doc]

One last thing, don't claim anything when you are going through customs. It can be VERY hectic if you do.

Personal possessions aint what this is about.

Customs is looking for the importation of goods that you intend to leave in their country. Ostensibly "new goods" and "for resale". They would be subject to import duty or tax.

Most every customs form asks you if you are bringing in "new goods" and often they specify "for commercial purposes". If you don't have the guts to lie, go ahead, remove the store tags and wrappers from the 6 pack of BVD seconds you bought at MallWart. (K-Mart, as Rain Man told us, sucks.)

"Dumb looks" to explain your smuggling aside, if somehow you have done something else so incredibly and spectacularly doofus to make the nice police officer take time out of his busy day to ask you about your stuff, the correct answer is: "this is for my personal use on my vacation".

Next?

(And remember... in the transit lounge, be sure to notice "Jet". He's hard to miss! Police Officers? Bring him a shoulder patch!)

 

[DelightedDiver]

Rotan --

It's for my use, It's for my use, It's for my use. Just practicin'