1st OW post cert dive in Belize saw Sharks!

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

Hi everyone!
Well, great news to report from Ambergris Caye, Belize. I went on my first OW dive since getting certified 2 weeks ago. We went with Protech and Minor was our divemaster (he rocks!). We went to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and saw Nurse Sharks as soon as we got there. We hopped on in and tons and tons of rays were all around. I almost stepped on a little one buried in the sand.
I had NO problems with my ears (those of you who have chatted with me lately know it was an issue) and completed the dive with no issues or incidents.
I had a blast and even took pictures although my camera ate my film
Then we snorkeled at Shark Alley. Didn't see any sharks then.
We wanted to do the Whale Shark dive in Palencia, but it's a 2 flight each way non-guaranteed 100' dive! Oh, and Xanadu resort www.xanaduresort-belize.com is the most fabulous resort ever!!!!!!!!!!!!
More later.....
Angela

 

[Walter]

Sounds exciting! I'm glad you had fun!

 

[Jcsgt]

Now you're ruined! You're going to expect sharks on every dive!

 

[Jim Ernst]

thats great!!! you are soo lucky, i have been diving 2 and on my way to 3 yrs ,close to 300 dives and just recently got to see sharks for the first time in the philippines,the dm took me to were he knew they would be so i could take pictures!! sorry to hear of you mishap with your camera though!!! keep on diving, be safe ,and enjoy

 

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

Oh, it was awesome. The divemaster hooked up my gear, was my dive buddy, took us thru a cave ( i went OVER it though since i'm a newbie) and was really helpful.
We aren't doing Blue Hole and have met lots of folks who also decided against it.
We're doing cave tubing, jungle hiking, zip lining tomorrow.
Trying to think of one more cool diving day. Anyone been down here and have a suggestion?
Angela

 

[jaydub]

Oh, it was awesome. The divemaster hooked up my gear, was my dive buddy, took us thru a cave ( i went OVER it though since i'm a newbie) and was really helpful.
We aren't doing Blue Hole and have met lots of folks who also decided against it.
We're doing cave tubing, jungle hiking, zip lining tomorrow.
Trying to think of one more cool diving day. Anyone been down here and have a suggestion?
Angela

Tell them you want to dive paradise canyons, if I remember correctly I saw 4 or 5 loggerhead turtles on that dive.

 

[tracker]

Sounds like you had a great time, and really have the 'fever' now!

 

[claplant]

Only in Belize have I experienced such an incredible level of attention and service from the crew, don't think that this is how it is everywhere...

Blue hole was my first dive... not the nicest but so unreal... you should inquire if it would be possible to skip the blue hole and do the other dives for a reduced price, because 80 dives later these two other dives that day are still in my top 3 dives.The reef if so amazing overthere.

Are you stuck on Ambergris? if not got to Placencia and stay there for a day or two it worth it.


p.s I too, saw shark (grey reef though) on my first dive

 

[occrider]

Glad to hear you had a good time in Belize! I got certified in Belize last year (Caye Caulker ... dove with Belize Diving Services) and have been hooked on diving ever since. Loved it so much that I went back again this year to do the blue hole (Ambergis Caye dove with Amigos Del Mar). Definitely saw tons of nurse sharks everywhere ... one small one was surprisingly playful and followed us around as we dove even through a tunnel area. When we stopped in a sand bar it rested in the sandbar about a foot or two away from where we were sitting ... not threatening at all it was like a dog.

Good to see you're checking out the mainland too. There's much more to Belize than diving. Both trips I've devoted at least half my vacation to doing mainland activities. As for suggestions, a MUST DO in Belize is to go to San Ignacio and do the Achtun Muchnal Tunikal (ATM) cave tour. It's like a spelunking/river/mayan ruin tour where you do some spelunking in a river cave. YOu eventually reach a site where there's mayan pottery, sacrificial skeletons, and beautiful cave scenery. Dare I say it was as spectacular as the diving? San Ignacio is a bit far so if you're looking for something closer the Belize Zoo is a fun place to visit (stay at the tropical education center and do the night tour). Also check out Ian's caves branch lodge (about 45 minutes away from Belmopan) and do the black hole drop. It's a 2 hour jungle hike to a huge sink hole that you rapelle down. Very beautiful and fun. Anyway, feel free to hit me up if you have any specific questions. I'm VERY familiar with the logistics of getting from the cayes to the mainland, time frames, costs, activities, etc.

A good source for me was www.belizeforums.com.

 

[NCSCUBADOOBA]

Tell them you want to dive paradise canyons, if I remember correctly I saw 4 or 5 loggerhead turtles on that dive.

I'll call protech today and see if they can hook us up on that one. Thank you.