Belize first time

[AZDaran]

Hello,

Looking for some advice as I am not sure where to start even after reading a good number of posts. My wife and I normally go to Cozumel so I can dive as she is not a diver. We stay at Blue Angel and I normally dive with Scuba Tony for reference. My wife is wanting to do more than sit around once I get back from diving and she is wanting a more elevated place to stay this round. I have wanted to dive in Belize but I am not sure where to start as it doesn't seem as simple as Cozumel. What hotel/area would you recommend for our first time as well as dive op. Relaxing at the hotel with beach time is important as well as being able to explore and do some easy hikes or adventures. Any suggestion on where to start would be greatly appreciated. Looking to go in October 2025.

 

[ReefHound]

There are so many things to do on Cozumel. To be honest, if all you are doing is sitting around after diving you have a motivation problem not a things to do problem. Atlantis submarine, snorkeling, pirate cruise, walking food tours, shopping, rent a car/taxi to the east side, ruins, cooking workshops, ferry to Playa del Carmen, and many more.

For Belize, look at Caye Caulker. Small island, completely walkable, all the usual water activities. But need a water taxi to mainland for the land-based tours like pyramids, jungles, etc.

 

[salth2owannabe]

Maybe a little more information on what your wife would like to do while you're diving and what type of sideline trips you'd like to do after diving might be helpful. My wife and I have been to Belize a number of times in the last 15 years and lately have gone to doing combination trips of diving the outer atolls and then exploring the mainland. There aren't many diving options, that I can think of, that offer both. There are a number options to pretty easily split up your trip. If your hiking and exploring includes checking out a small island, riding bikes and a laid-back vibe Caye Caulker might work (We've stayed there, haven't dove from there). On the outer atolls, where the better diving is, the dive sites are a 5-10 minute boat ride and then you return to do your surface interval. The only time your spouse wouldn't see you is the during the 1 hr plus dives, 3 times a day. Turneffe and Glovers Atolls offer some more upscale places to stay. There isn't an upscale option out on Lighthouse.
We've been renting a car at the airport, so we can return it the day we fly out. Belize is a really easy country to explore on your own. There are a lot of great options to stay at inland and explore from there. It opens up so many jungle and Myan ruin options.

 

[FreqFlier]

It took me 30 years to convince my wife to try scuba. Got her certified when Covid hit. She has 320 dives now... Problem solved!

 

[34109411]

Hello,

Looking for some advice as I am not sure where to start even after reading a good number of posts. My wife and I normally go to Cozumel so I can dive as she is not a diver. We stay at Blue Angel and I normally dive with Scuba Tony for reference. My wife is wanting to do more than sit around once I get back from diving and she is wanting a more elevated place to stay this round. I have wanted to dive in Belize but I am not sure where to start as it doesn't seem as simple as Cozumel. What hotel/area would you recommend for our first time as well as dive op. Relaxing at the hotel with beach time is important as well as being able to explore and do some easy hikes or adventures. Any suggestion on where to start would be greatly appreciated. Looking to go in October 2025.

placencia, otherwize in the keys reef is dead. check mayan air and tropic air.

Other suggestions? Head down to utila.

Cheers

 

[Rob9876]

I was at Ambergris Caye, Belize last month with my non-diving wife. I don't want to be too negative, but honestly to me Cozumel is better in every aspect (diving, beaches, top-side activities, roads, prices, etc.).

Our dive op was Belize Pro Dive Center and they were a good operation. The dives were more "sharky" than Cozumel -- a number of nurse sharks following us around like puppies during many dives, 2 or 3 blacktip reef sharks circling us on many dives. Otherwise I'd say the reef formations and the diversity of critters were generally not as interesting as Cozumel. Viz was o.k. but not as clear as Cozumel.

Much of the island does not have natural beaches, but also doesn't have the kind of rocky shore that is good for snorkeling. The beach at our hotel (Grand Caribe) was honestly bad -- you could only walk out about twenty feet (covered in sea-grass) or so and then they had net-like fence to prevent further movement -- and the water was only up to my waist. We went up to Secret Beach one day, one of the only good beach areas, but it was quite a long drive on really bad roads/dirt. My wife has a bad back and the horrible roads on the island were very rough for her.

We did have a good snorkel boat tour to Hol Chan/Shark-Ray Alley and that was pretty good. Not that many other interesting activities on the island. There are worse places to be, but as for us we have no plans to return.

Honestly, it's hard to beat Coz for easy diving and top-side activities. If y'all are determined to go somewhere different, you might consider St. Croix or Curacao -- though to me Coz is still better, those have more attractions for non-divers and decent diving also.