Father-daughter San Pedro trip - need dive recs

[Tumbler31]

Hello friends,

I'll be in San Pedro in early March with my daughter for 3 days of diving. I am a Master Diver and she is an Instructor. We've dove there (and Hopkins & Placenscia) before when she was like 12 and kept to the shallow stuff, and now I'm looking for recs for the best dive shop, sites to not miss, and even considering a private charter.

And I've heard mixed reviews about the Blue Hole. Is it really worth it?

Many thanks!

 

[34109411]

the blue hole is usually 3 dive early departure at 5 am and 2-3 boat ride.

Is the blue hole worth it ? Yes back in the days there was plenty of reef shark don't know if it s still the case.

Usually people will rush with the DM at 140 feet to go see the rock formation. So it give you about 8 min bottom time if you check your ndl.

Because i dove it many time my suggestion it to stay in the shallower part of the hole ( at the ring). You could than go for 45 minutes after the other are done way before you do. If you do this let know the DM on the boat. You will notice people piss off cause they stay for about 15 min total and you will do 45 min ! LOL

Check out also Hol Chan marine park and the canyon dive.

Let me know if you have other questions.

 

[Damselfish]

BH is a long pricey trip from San Pedro. What many will say is it’s worth it for the other dives they will do in the area. From what I’ve always heard, those should be much better dives than around San Pedro. (It's a shame no one offers 3 tanks out there without doing the BH, but I guess they can’t sell that.)

I’ve dove the area from a LOB 3 times so didn’t even have to do the long day trip. Only bothered doing BH once. Whether it is worth it for you hard to say. Some people think BH is great and others not so much.

Not all boats may allow diving the rim for longer while others sit on the boat.

 

[YSU]

I live in San Pedro in the winters. I am there now. DM me, happy to offer advice.

 

[YSU]

BH is a long pricey trip from San Pedro. What many will say is it’s worth it for the other dives they will do in the area. From what I’ve always heard, those should be much better dives than around San Pedro. (It's a shame no one offers 3 tanks out there without doing the BH, but I guess they can’t sell that.)

I’ve dove the area from a LOB 3 times so didn’t even have to do the long day trip. Only bothered doing BH once. Whether it is worth it for you hard to say. Some people think BH is great and others not so much.

Not all boats may allow diving the rim for longer while others sit on the boat.

You can stay out there, resorts exist at Turneffe/Lighthouse. That gives you three tank days w.o Blue Hole.

Otherwise Blue Hole is the unlimted breadsticks they offer to you before they bring out the main course. Can't avoid it, but you can always skip it if you've done it before. Either way it is included in the price.

 

[Damselfish]

You can stay out there, resorts exist at Turneffe/Lighthouse. That gives you three tank days w.o Blue Hole.

Otherwise Blue Hole is the unlimted breadsticks they offer to you before they bring out the main course. Can't avoid it, but you can always skip it if you've done it before. Either way it is included in the price.

Yeah I know you can stay out thete. I meant for all the people on Ambergris trying to go out there.

 

[YSU]

Yeah I know you can stay out thete. I meant for all the people on Ambergris trying to go out there.

If it is a lot of people then you can easily do a trip out to Turneffe without BH. Just tell the dive shop you want to fill the boat and pick your own sites. Otherwise unfortunately you are limited to the trips that are profitable to run, which apparently always includes BH for dive #1.

Also - I wouldn't be too hard on the quality of local reefs out of San Pedro. The Meso American Barrier Reef is a vast ecosystem and the Belize portion is as healthy as the rest of it. I've been on the local San Pedro reef a dozen times since Christmas and the dives have been great. No schooling hammerheads or whale sharks passing through, but very fun dives with very good friends...