Belize 2020

[Damselfish]

I thought Belize was one of the good dive places to go

Belize is a pretty big county, at least as compared to most Caribbean islands. The diving varies a lot between the different regions, so talking about "Belize diving" in general terms isn't too meaningful. And since there are lots of other things to do in Belize, and things can be far apart, that might also play into someones decision on where to go.

I've only done liveaboard there, which plenty of people will say gets you the best diving in Belize. Mostly to Lighthouse atoll, but also some time spent off Placencia on a southern itinerary. What I saw off Placencia wasn't enough to draw me back there, and nothing I've heard about Ambergris entices me. Since I like liveaboards and haven't heard anything that tells me the other areas are right for us, we will probably skip them. (The other thing we might try sometime is a atoll resort like on Turneffe.)

 

[Tank601]

Maybe I need to change gears and not go there - you got me wondering....

 

[Kharon]

Apparently, it's not for everyone and bad sea conditions and failure to see what you'd hoped to see could definitely color one's opinoon. But you know, different strokes for different folks.

Actually what is coloring my opinion is comparing what I experienced here against what I experienced in other places - Bonaire, Dominica, Grand Cayman, Key Largo, Nassau, Roatan, and even local lakes in upstate New York.

The fact that I was outright lied to isn't entering into my opinion. That will be in a different discussion. It's a simple oranges to oranges comparason. Perhaps, since you are a Belize fanboy, that is coloring your opinion.

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

I will likely take a 10 day liveaboard in Belize every other year until i die. I love the remoteness of the atolls, you rarely see any other divers, there is no garbage, although it is more of a macro destination than a 'baitball' of fish and soft corals. I've been on the boat with people who have bemoaned the lack of sharks/soft corals etc...which always leads me to ask if they did their research before they came as the atolls are definitely not a shark destination or a soft coral destination and has never purported to be...they should be in Bahamas/Cocos etc for sharks.... i generally feel as though its the same as being p1ssed that you didn't see any mermaids..

All i can say is that i have been diving off Ambergris Caye for years. definitely 500+ dives and i also dive all over the world 5+ times a year, red sea/pacific/Indonesia/other Caribbean etc. I like diving off ambergris caye for several specific reasons, some of the dives have been great, some have been a bit too pedestrian, but overall:

: It's a great place to learnt to dive. Good visibility, lots of nurse sharks, turtles etc. stay at the Belizian cove estates, Belize pro dive pick you up and drop you off at your villa. I love diving with the guys. I generally like San Pedro and the vibe on Ambergris caye etc. It's just chilled diving/lionfish hunting territory.

That being said, i am just as happy if noone goes to Belize. The fewer divers there, the better for me.

 

[Tank601]

Where is the great blue hole? That hits all the top lists?

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

it's around a 3 hour run from ambergris. i would say that you are better off doing a liveaboard to see it. wake up, fall in the hole...

 

[Tank601]

I was looking for somewhere warm to go next year other than Cozumel. I dove there previously and it was excellent. Wanted something different

 

[Ministryofgiraffes]

Bonaire...Cozumel is likely a better diving destination that the ambergris caye reefs unless you are on lighthouse/glovers reef etc.

 

[Kharon]

deleted

 

[Kharon]

... Good visibility, lots of nurse sharks, turtles etc.

Good vis? Not my experience. Lot's of nurse sharks - yep. but nothing else in the way of fish. Turtles - I saw more when on the boat than when I was in the water.

Another delusional Belize fanboy heard from. Got to turn you off ===> Ignore