@mgdesert, I've only done trips to Huracan so I don't have much to offer regarding Caye Caulker or San Pedro. I will mention that if you're interested in the Blue Hole, the experience won't be as good as what you get with Huracan or Itza. By being located near the Blue Hole, they get you in before the other boats arrive. Once you've got multiple boats on site (pretty much daily), there are a ton of divers are kicking sediment into the hole reducing viz. When you get there early with a small group, it's pretty spectacular. As @d^2b, mentioned, they do lack AC and there's no town to walk around and do things, like you have in San Pedro. So not everyone's cup of tea.
Help Planning first Dive trip to Belize
- Thread starter mgdesert
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Kharon
Contributor
Avoid Splash in Placencia like the plague. PM me if you want to know why.
I really appreciate all the responses and information, thank you. I really like the look of the all inclusive on long caye, ticks every box, but is too expensive for this trip. At the moment it looks like we found a very reasonable deal staying at Mata Rocks resort in San Pedro. It looks nice enough and has a pier to get picked up from once I can settle on a dive shop to go with.
Any specific dive shop suggestions in the area, especially ones that go to the blue hole and maybe offer nearer diving for the other two days? Belize Pro isn't sure they have enough people booked to do a blue hole trip so I am back to hunting around.
Any specific dive shop suggestions in the area, especially ones that go to the blue hole and maybe offer nearer diving for the other two days? Belize Pro isn't sure they have enough people booked to do a blue hole trip so I am back to hunting around.
coldwaterglutton
Contributor
If you can afford it, Turneffe Island Resort is the place. The coral is in good shape, tons of marine life big and small with sharks on every dive and turtles and manatee being occasional visitors, all dives are 5-10 minutes by skiff from the dock, and you are quite close to the Blue Hole to which they do an excursion one day a week. The lodging is great but is pretty remote, it is an all-inclusive though.
Heads up on the Blue Hole: it's a bucket list item to check, but a relatively meh dive. Most operators will do a second dive after at the Half Moon Caye marine preserve which is absolutely spectacular.
Heads up on the Blue Hole: it's a bucket list item to check, but a relatively meh dive. Most operators will do a second dive after at the Half Moon Caye marine preserve which is absolutely spectacular.
Scared Silly
Contributor
I am going to suggest that you perhaps postpone your trip by a month and plan for the full moon in April as whale sharks come in during spring months. Might see them in March but April - May is better.
Seeing them requires an outfit that has a permit to dive at Gladden Spit Marine Reserve which is quite regulated.
As for places we dove out of Placencia and had great accommodations. We and others found the dive operation at Seahorse to quite rigid and controlling to the point that I would not recommend them. Mid week I had long chat with Brian jr the owner and once finished with the week we left zero tip.
Seeing them requires an outfit that has a permit to dive at Gladden Spit Marine Reserve which is quite regulated.
As for places we dove out of Placencia and had great accommodations. We and others found the dive operation at Seahorse to quite rigid and controlling to the point that I would not recommend them. Mid week I had long chat with Brian jr the owner and once finished with the week we left zero tip.
Post up as I have read good reviews on SB about them.
dirtfarmer
Contributor
@mgdesert yes the resorts on Long Caye are pricey, but the quality of diving in the area is what I'm after. I've spoiled myself with all the diving I've done in Southeast Asia and have pretty high standards. The last few years I have been keeping closer to home and doing trips in the Caribbean, trying dive locations out to get my dive fix in. Mediocre diving is not what I'm after so hence the choice of Long Caye over Caye Caulker or San Pedro.
@RyanT I'm a huge foodie even taking trips to cities just for the food so that's why I picked Huracan. I'm looking forward to the food and the diving.
@RyanT I'm a huge foodie even taking trips to cities just for the food so that's why I picked Huracan. I'm looking forward to the food and the diving.
Ray and Pam
Contributor
You didn"t like Maui? Haven't been there ourselves, waters too cold.
Of the others places you mentioned, how did you like Cozumel?
In Honduras, was it Roatan, Utila, Guanja?
About 30 years ago we would go to Ambergris Caye for snorkeling, about 10 years ago went there for diving. The snorkeling and diving inside the reef was better than the diving outside the reef.
It is well known the best diving in Belize is on the expensive out islands. Don't go just to say you did the Blue Hole.
There are many better dive locals, Caymans, Turks, take a cruise out of Puerto Rico that hits 5 or 6 different islands.
Our go to is Bonaire.
Of the others places you mentioned, how did you like Cozumel?
In Honduras, was it Roatan, Utila, Guanja?
About 30 years ago we would go to Ambergris Caye for snorkeling, about 10 years ago went there for diving. The snorkeling and diving inside the reef was better than the diving outside the reef.
It is well known the best diving in Belize is on the expensive out islands. Don't go just to say you did the Blue Hole.
There are many better dive locals, Caymans, Turks, take a cruise out of Puerto Rico that hits 5 or 6 different islands.
Our go to is Bonaire.
Sorry to hijack this thread a bit, but @dirtfarmer I think you'll love the food. Chef Shannon is amazing and is kind of their celebrity. I've been twice and we had chef Shannon once and different chef on the other trip; both produced amazing food. The accommodations are a bit rustic, no AC and composting toilets, but I didn't mind it at all. The lodge is really beautiful and yes, the diving was some of the best I've seen in the Caribbean. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me.
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