We’ve got a port stop in Belize next on a cruise, any recommendations for a dive op or must see sites? Cheers…
Cruise port dive
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I was going to use Sea Sports Belize on a cruise I stop in 2024 but it got cancelled due to weather. From my reviews on SB and Trip Advisor they looked good. They're a short 5 minute walk from the pier.
Be advised that Belize is a tender port, which means that most of the cruise ships are too big to dock directly at the port so you have to take a small ferry from your cruise ship to the port. Because the ferries are small it takes many trips to get everyone off the ship. Check with your cruise line if you need to be ferried off and if so, plan it will take at least an hour from when your port arrival time until you can get to the shop. They usually take passengers with official shore excursions off first. They're supposed to be building a new pier but that won't be completed until 2026 at the earliest.
Be advised that Belize is a tender port, which means that most of the cruise ships are too big to dock directly at the port so you have to take a small ferry from your cruise ship to the port. Because the ferries are small it takes many trips to get everyone off the ship. Check with your cruise line if you need to be ferried off and if so, plan it will take at least an hour from when your port arrival time until you can get to the shop. They usually take passengers with official shore excursions off first. They're supposed to be building a new pier but that won't be completed until 2026 at the earliest.
TNEngineer
Contributor
It's definitely a tender port, and for the same reason (shallow near the shore) the dive boats have to shuttle you quite a ways out and back. I've seen one LDS whose dive boat was able to pick up and drop off divers right at their cruise ship, saving hours of time, but that's been several years ago and I don't know who it was.
I don’t think they’re still in operation anymore. When I checked last year, the only operators I could find near Belize City were Jaguar Adventure Tours and Sea Sports Belize (both a few minutes from the pier) and Belize Dive Haven Resort & Marina (20 minute drive from pier).
OP - I also read good things about Jaguard Adventure Tours as well.
TNEngineer
Contributor
I agree that Sea Sports is excellent. Short walk down one street from the port, friendly and competent staff.
However, when we've been diving off Belize it's been pretty choppy surface conditions. Enough that we cancelled one dive day there. I'm up for anything but my wife said "nope" based on previous experience. Just something to watch.
However, when we've been diving off Belize it's been pretty choppy surface conditions. Enough that we cancelled one dive day there. I'm up for anything but my wife said "nope" based on previous experience. Just something to watch.
Hugh Parkey was the dive op that used to be able to pick up divers directly from the cruise ship, and it was a wonderful thing not to have to tender from ship to shore and back again.
Bookworm11
Contributor
Be advised it can be very iffy. I booked with Sea Sports and missed my diving. The ship was late, the tenders were late, and I missed my dive. Unless you have a,whole group that makes the entire boat, it is very dicey,,especially with a,big cruise ship..
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