1st Time To Belize - 5/28-6/4 - Need Recommendations!

[abnormalkit]

A group of us (5ppl) are planning to dive in Belize 5/28-6/4. We are all AOW with 50+ dives (some of us 100+) and none of us have ever been there and would like some recommendations of where to stay or any dive charter recommendations. We are mainly going to dive, so we want the best dives we can get within the week we are there. Liveaboard was our first choice, but they are all booked up already.

Does anyone have any recommendations base on our preference below?
-Blue hole for 1 day
-Air conditioning in rooms (I know some smaller resorts only have fans)
-Resort to dive site is not too far away. We don't mind traveling far for a day or 2, but not every day.
-No Budget

Thanks!

Kitty

 

[Downing]

If you're really wanting to do the BH for a day, then based on the rest of it I'd recommend Turneffe Island Resort. Dive, eat, sleep. It's like summer camp for adults. Almost all dive sites are within a five minute boat ride, including The Elbow. The longest ride is about 10 minutes except for the Blue Hole Day (Tuesdays, weather permitting), which is about an hour. All surface intervals are done on the island, except again, the BH trip.

Small, private 12-acre island about 30 miles off the coast at the southern tip of the Turneffe Atoll. Two small dive boats with no more than 10 and probably more like 6 divers. Your group would be on the same boat every day. They have a 42 foot Newton to ferry you to and from the island and to and from the Blue Hole. The BH, btw, is the first dive of a pretty great day as you'll go from there to Half Moon Caye for your SI, then dive again in the area, lunch back on the caye and another dive on the return trip to TIR. The latter two dives will be some of the best Belize has to offer.

Transfer days from and to the island are Saturdays and Wednesdays. You need to be at the marina by mid-afternoon to catch their boat, so you may want to fly in the day before, 5/27, to make sure you make it on time. Otherwise, you'll have to hire your own boat, which is expensive. TIR will furnish transportation from and to the airport to your hotel and from the hotel to the marina. I'd recommend staying either in The Great House or the Ft George Radisson. Don't stay at the Princess Hotel & Casino, it's kind of nasty, but it does have the advantage of being at the site of the marina.

Two other similar resorts to check out would be Blackbird Caye Resort and Turneffe Flats. They are similar, but I think TIR is the nicest. All three started off as fishing lodges and have transitioned into scuba lodges as well. Expensive, but not over the top considering it's food, lodging and accommodations with transportation provided. My wife and I have stayed at TIR twice for a total of three weeks and love it.

 

[Hank49]

I agree with Downing. I've done a bit of diving in Belize and the Elbow is my favourite place. Actually, if you're up for it, tell the boat you want to free dive it. Line up the light houses with the tall tree that's at the entrance going in to TIR on the south. Follow that line to the wall. Jump in. Huge school of dog snappers, usually muttons, permit, horse eye jacks.
Scuba tours don't see all that. I have my suspicions as to why but we won't go into that. Free dive it. Awesome place.

 

[ibj40]

Another resort you might check into is Turneffe Flats. My wife and I stayed there about five years ago, and we were the only divers for the entire week. I'd assume with a group your size, you would just about fill up their diving allotment.

 

[Stoo]

TIR is an awesome spot. Also check out Huracan Diving. I just posted a trip report this AM. This is the only place on the planet that we have returned to four times, if that tells you anything.

It's basically a liveaboard on land. (The Aggressor spends most of it's time anchored right near us)

If you contact them, you'll likely be corresponding with Christian... Tell him I sent you and you might actually get a little break. ;-)

 

[Downing]

Stoo: I thought Hurracan doesn't have air conditioning, which is on the OP's list of preferences.

 

[Stoo]

Stoo: I thought Hurracan doesn't have air conditioning, which is on the OP's list of preferences.

True enough. Lots of fans and they're on the cusp of installing some kind of cooling fans but no AC. We have never found that to be an issue as the place is well shaded but if it's a requirement, then it's not the place to go.

 

[Downing]

If I can crank up the fans then I'll probably be ok. My wife, on the other hand, is a creature comforts kind of gal.

 

[BDSC]

If the OP decides on TIR, I can hook you up with a killer deal. $1990 per person for the week and includes pretty much everything. That's like $1700 less than the published price. Just to be perfectly clear, there is nothing in it for me, I just happen to be friends and a customer of the outfit that can offer this. Of course it all depends on if they have availability.