OP
I owe Caribbean Spring an apology, as I never answered this:-
I think Ambergris and Thatch Caye would both work for you. I've not stayed on Turneffe so I'm not qualified to comment on that, tho' IMO the diving there is good but not as good as that on Lighthouse.
Both places (AC & TCR) offer colourful marine life, dives at a variety of depths including those suitable for a beginner, and near-zero currents. Clearly on any particular day you have to choose a site that's suitable in the prevailing conditions. At the sort of depth you're talking about the presence of the wall is largely irrelevant and either location would offer satisfying topology, though if you extend down to the 100ft of AOW (OW max is 60ft) I really like the spur-and-groove formations found off AC.
In just a few dives from TCR in the Southwater Caye Marine Park I have seen more "interesting" creatures than on a typical AC dive. Dolphins are frequently sighted (far from common off AC), turtles are almost commonplace, and I've seen more manta rays in SWCMP in two or three weeks than in six years at AC.
But they both have excellent diving, albeit different. I think some guests I met at TCR on my second visit there (I've now been there three times) had it right. They stayed for a week at Portofino Resort in the north of Ambergris Caye and dived from there. They then spent a second week at TCR and dived there, and told me they loved both places. Like TCR, Portofino is relatively up-market, but like TCR is much more upmarket in what it offers than in what it charges. Staying at both these places in the same holiday seems to me near ideal (if you want to be on/near the sea, of course).
I think Ambergris and Thatch Caye would both work for you. I've not stayed on Turneffe so I'm not qualified to comment on that, tho' IMO the diving there is good but not as good as that on Lighthouse.
Both places (AC & TCR) offer colourful marine life, dives at a variety of depths including those suitable for a beginner, and near-zero currents. Clearly on any particular day you have to choose a site that's suitable in the prevailing conditions. At the sort of depth you're talking about the presence of the wall is largely irrelevant and either location would offer satisfying topology, though if you extend down to the 100ft of AOW (OW max is 60ft) I really like the spur-and-groove formations found off AC.
In just a few dives from TCR in the Southwater Caye Marine Park I have seen more "interesting" creatures than on a typical AC dive. Dolphins are frequently sighted (far from common off AC), turtles are almost commonplace, and I've seen more manta rays in SWCMP in two or three weeks than in six years at AC.
But they both have excellent diving, albeit different. I think some guests I met at TCR on my second visit there (I've now been there three times) had it right. They stayed for a week at Portofino Resort in the north of Ambergris Caye and dived from there. They then spent a second week at TCR and dived there, and told me they loved both places. Like TCR, Portofino is relatively up-market, but like TCR is much more upmarket in what it offers than in what it charges. Staying at both these places in the same holiday seems to me near ideal (if you want to be on/near the sea, of course).
