It's a very nice big boat! Reasonably comfortable too, though no lounge chairs.
Spendy trip too!! I've only snorkeled out there a couple of times over the years because I'm a diver, of course. Regardless, I really enjoyed it!! That said westher was lovely each time. Don't know if it would be much fun in bad weather and the price doesn't change with the weather either.
Yes, very early start to a long day, yet I repeat the trip almost every time I go to Belize. So, 3-4 times a year, year after year after year.
It's a wonderful way to spend a day. Lunch is served on the idyllic Halfmoon Caye. Too me, thst island in and of itself, is almost worth the price of admission.
As for the Great Blue Hole, well, I love it too! Watch some YouTube videos, read some articles, try to balance what you read in dive forums, and consider it's magnificence. If you like wreck diving and/or formations maybe you'll enjoy it. If you're a my glass is half empty, I want more bottom time on a pretty reef type, maybe you won't. My hope is that you do enjoy it. I know there are nay sayers on message boards but I've never met any on the boat.
As you noted, the two follow up dives are fabulous.
For some reason I don't enjoy the Turneffe Elbow trips as much. Don't know why. I'm thinking of giving it another shot to see if it can convince me otherwise. This is not to say that it isn't verry good diving because it is! And have experienced at least one trip out there thst was spent in the "zone". Besides everything turning up that day, the dive group was awesome too; pretty sure that contributed to my overall pleasure. YMMV
---------- Post added May 7th, 2014 at 10:54 PM ----------
Oh! Almost forgot, no need to pre-arrange. Do go in when you first arrive, find out what days they are going. Do try to find out how many people they have signed up already; not enough trip might not go; lots and you may need to sign up to ensure your place. If you can, avoid booking right away unless you are reasonably comfortable with the upcoming weather forecast. Though in July, bad weather shouldn't be much of a concern. The boat carries up to 20 passengers but not uncomfortably so. once under say some like to go up top, which leaves lots of room down below.