Belize HELP: Blackbird, Turneffe or Lighthouse?

[ivi_1988]

Greetings!

I am planning a trip to Belize this April and am having trouble distinguishing between Blackbird Resort, Turneffe Island Lodge and Lighthouse Resort for a four night stay... Which is best? My main concerns are good service, a knowledgeable and professional dive staff, and good equipment (i.e. rental and boat). A nice setting for the resort would be wonderful as well. Any help in deciding between these three options would be GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

BJB

 

[cyklon_300]

Visited this resort in '99 and thought it had a nice layout...individual thatched-roof cabanas (9 or 10 IIRC), a dining lodge, nice beach, and a private dock. At the time of our visit they had just purchased a brand new 31' dive boat and all new Al80s. There were some windsurfers, canoes, and kayaks available for use at no charge.

Rooms were spacious, queen bed with mosquito netting, a bathroom with shower, dresser for storing clothes, wicker chairs. Each cabana had its own resident iguana as a pet.

Three dives per day, fairly decent food, free wine at dinner. The staff was excellent, but the resort manager (a Chicagoan) was a bit of a jerk...I'm sure he is long gone however. The diver master was very willing to let divers set their own profiles or babysit them if they needed that kind of oversight.

Diving was fair to good. One day reserved for a visit to Blue Hole. Dive site called the Elbow was very good. Rays, sharks, large barracuda, etc.

The lagoon on the lee side of the island is very pretty and a wonderful place to snorkel, lots of juvenile critters there...but it does have several saltwater crocodiles, so do so at your own risk.

PM me if you want more detail.