dive operators in Hopkins, Belize?

[Ralph Capeling]

Splash Dive Shop offers packages with a number of resorts and hotels that will fit a range of budgets, including Laru Beya which is a very nice place to stay and is upper end.
Dive trips include whale sharks in season, inner and outer reef and Glover's Atoll.

I think you will find there is a lot to do in and around Placencia in addition to the diving.

Regarding whale sharks, generally people seem to think late afternoon is the best time to see them. I have seen whale sharks on 9 of 11 dives and almost all of those were in the morning. The key thing is to go with someone who has a good track record for finding whale sharks. Splash fits that criteria.

 

[fjd]

Don't forget Thatch Caye, a private island just off Dangriga. Close to the reef and superb diving in Southwater Caye Marine Reserve, and convenient for Gladden Spit and whale shark viewing.

peterbj7,

What is Gladden Spit??

 

[fjd]

Splash Dive Shop offers packages with a number of resorts and hotels that will fit a range of budgets, including Laru Beya which is a very nice place to stay and is upper end.
Dive trips include whale sharks in season, inner and outer reef and Glover's Atoll.

I think you will find there is a lot to do in and around Placencia in addition to the diving.

Regarding whale sharks, generally people seem to think late afternoon is the best time to see them. I have seen whale sharks on 9 of 11 dives and almost all of those were in the morning. The key thing is to go with someone who has a good track record for finding whale sharks. Splash fits that criteria.

Wow, 9 out of 11? That sounds like a very good track record.
Was this all in one trip? How many days were you down there?

 

[peterbj7]

Gladden Spit is the underwater reef promontary that attracts large numbers of "bait" fish, which in turn attracts the whale sharks. It is the place you are taken to view whale sharks.

In Placencia the places I've heard of that have good track records of whaleshark sightings are Seahorse, Avadon, and now Splash. If the idea of Thatch Caye interests you email them - you'll find that they have an exceptional record of success in these sightings. You'll also understand how they manage it.

 

[Hank49]

Adding to what Peter said, Gladden is a gathering area for groupers and snappers to spawn in the next few months. The come in hundreds and at around sunset just after the full moon they can actually "white out' the water with spawns and spermatophores being released by the fish. This is what the whale sharks love to eat and come cruising through sucking it in.
man, if we were just allowed to carry a speargun out there and free dive...hah

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Typically, dive boats leave Placencia around 09:00 am irrespective of the time slots, do one dive in the morning and the other in the afternoon in their allocated time slot (which is not the same each day). If the afternoon dive is a late time slot, then after lunch, typically divers and snorkellers spend some time snorkelling on the reef while waiting for the time slot. Whale sharks can show up early or late in the full moon period and there is little point in doing a whale shark dive too early or too late as all you will see is snapper and blue water. Best thing to do, is pick a dive operator with a good track record and leave the rest to them. I recommend Splash Dive Shop, but that could be expected as I am an investor in Splash. You can check them out at Belize by Splash Dive Shop located on the Placencia peninsula in southern Belize

 

[Ralph Capeling]

Wow, 9 out of 11? That sounds like a very good track record.
Was this all in one trip? How many days were you down there?

I live in Belize, about 12 miles north of Placencia. These dives were done over several years. I go out for whale shark dives once a year. There is a bit of a trick to get high success rates plus a bit of luck.

 

[Ralph Capeling]

You can check out diving and other activities in and around Placencia on Belize by Splash Dive Shop located on the Placencia peninsula in southern Belize or on the Placencia Breeze. Splash does inland tours as well as diving and partners with a number of hotels and resorts that can fit most peoples needs and budget. Boat trips vary from 30 to 60 minutes depending on destination but there is a lot more to do around Placencia than other destinations.