Trip Report My first ever trip report on SB: Belize 2/2022

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Just got back from 8 days in Hopkins Bay where I had two days of diving in Southwater Caye, and one in Glover's Reef.

While the diving overall was good as compared to Cove 2 (dramatically better), I was still unimpressed overall. I hired a private guide for the first two days at Southwater Caye. I did notice that the reefs were a little beat up in the shallower spots and on the third day at Glover's Reef when I didn't have my own guide, I understood why. You can figure out what that means. I didn't see as many fish as I expected. I am not sure if this is due to the lionfish (did see a number) of them.

I went diving with Belize Underwater which is an excellent operation. My guide, Oscar, was great. Finding stuff for me, moving really slow with one exception: when we came across 3 dolphins. When he started finning, I knew it was worth it to blow through some air.

Am I glad I went to Belize? Sure. Wonderful people, delicious food, interesting ruins, many activities. Would I recommend Belize for diving? Not so much to be honest. I think Cancun/PDC/Coz is a better destination. I haven't been to Utila or Roatan to compare.

Here are some unprocessed pics from my GoPro.

 

[jonhall]

See how easy it was to post a trip report! Nice pics. If for nothing else, I usually can pick something out from a report that gives me a new idea for a trip, whether in a new location or a place I've been before. Thanks for sharing.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

See how easy it was to post a trip report! Nice pics. If for nothing else, I usually can pick something out from a report that gives me a new idea for a trip, whether in a new location or a place I've been before. Thanks for sharing.

I used a Hero10 for video & pics and a focus light. It worked fairly well for such a small camera. Traveling with a 2 year old has its challenges. I did take all my own gear and discovered that a SS bp is all I need for weight with my 5 mil wetsuit.

Not related to diving, did visit the ruins at Xunatunich and Cahal Pech which were impressive. The Belize Zoo with no captured animals, only those abandoned or injured ones, was great for my daughter. We enjoyed swimming at the Blue Hole national park. I'm a wimp when it comes to temperature and it was surprisingly warm. How much of a wimp? Well I decided that if I ever take my rebreather to the tropics, I'm getting a tropical dry suit or taking my dry suit for 2+ hour dives. I did get cold in my 5 mil and small hood. When I go to Hawaii next, I'll take my K-01 hood. Feel free to laugh at me, especially as I'm a cold water diver.

EDIT: to the mod who edited the title, where are you going in Belize?

 

[scubadada]

...EDIT: to the mod who edited the title, where are you going in Belize?

Belize Aggressor IV, Lighthouse Reef and Half Moon Caye. I've never been to Belize, have wanted to get there, Aggressor had a 25% off sale last Fall.

I've been fortunate to have dived quite a few Caribbean locations, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Turks & Caicos, Bonaire, Curacao, Roatan, and Cozumel. This will knock off one more, many to go

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Belize Aggressor IV, Lighthouse Reef and Half Moon Caye. I've never been to Belize, have wanted to get there, Aggressor had a 25% off sale last Fall.

I've been fortunate to have dived quite a few Caribbean locations, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, Turks & Caicos, Bonaire, Curacao, Roatan, and Cozumel. This will knock off one more, many to go

I know people who have done a liveaboard in Belize and had far better impressions of the diving.

 

[bilboinsa]

I love your pics. I am taking my new GoPro 10 diving next week. Do you adjust the settings or leave or standard? I have the Backscatter filters, but was thinking about redding up the white balance instead. Thoughts?

 

[RobPNW]

I like the little shark.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I like the little shark.

People have been feeding them lionfish, so they basically escort you your entire dive.

I love your pics. I am taking my new GoPro 10 diving next week. Do you adjust the settings or leave or standard? I have the Backscatter filters, but was thinking about redding up the white balance instead. Thoughts?

I just used standard settings. It was the first time I used it. I'm fairly impressed for such a compact little camera. It is amazing how much sensor technologgy improves. I am going to install some presets for Lightroom to see if I can restore some of the color.

I'd experiment with and without the red filter, but you can see with what I did with just a focus light (which only helps for close up stuff) that it works fairly well. I wish I had brought a brighter wide angle hand held light that I mounted to my trary.

Where you headed?

 

[bilboinsa]

Diving off a cruise ship at Belize and Roatan. Was in Coz in January and shot some there with our old GP3. I had used the Backscatter filters before there, and it made everything purple. ( I have ZERO editing skills.).

So, based on lots of things, I bought a 10. This will be my first time using it. Experiment sounds right. Youtube video advice is all over the place regarding fps, iso, white balancing, etc…. I also bought a cheap, but well reviewed, lamp that throws quite a bit if light out. I have to keep reminding myself this is not something I am going to do every day. But I am excited to see how much better it is than the old 3.

 

[Jake 10]

nice report and pictures