I have just returned from my first trip to Belize, on the north end of Ambergris Caye, and I thought I would give a bit of a report because some of what I have to say might be helpful to others about to have a similar experience. (I know I would have done some things differently if I had known then what I know now.)
This was not planned as a classic dive trip. I went with a group of old friends who found the resort, and I was the only diver in the group. Thus, this was a trip that would include a little diving more than a real dive trip. I was thus starting with some self-imposed limitations. I asked about the local operator in this forum before I left, and I was given a good report. I figured I was OK given my situation.
Here is what I did not know:
On the first day, there was no diving, and it was too late to make other arrangements, so I lost a day right off the bat. After that, my operator set me up with alternatives when they were not running, and they had dives on only a couple of days while I waas there. On one occasion, I did a local dive with another northern operator. On another occasion, I went on the Blue Hole trip with a San Pedro operator. (Yes, the B.H. is overrated, but it was still a good trip.) On another day, I just said the heck with it and didn't dive.
The diving itself was excellent. The reef exceeded my expectations.
Because this was not truly a dive trip, I was OK with it all--I had a great time with my wife and friends. If I were really there to dive first and foremost, though, I would have had to do things differently.
SUMMARY: If you are staying on the north end during the off season and want to maximize your diving, be prepared to go wth a San Pedro operator, and be prepared to pay the cost of transportation.
This was not planned as a classic dive trip. I went with a group of old friends who found the resort, and I was the only diver in the group. Thus, this was a trip that would include a little diving more than a real dive trip. I was thus starting with some self-imposed limitations. I asked about the local operator in this forum before I left, and I was given a good report. I figured I was OK given my situation.
Here is what I did not know:
- The only real way to get from the north end of the caye to San Pedro is via a pretty expensive water taxi ride--$20 a round trip.
- The northern dive operators do not get a lot divers during the off season; if there are not enough divers, they don't go out, and you can't dive with them.
- Even on the best day, you are looking at morning two tank dives only from these operators. If you want something else, you need to go into town.
- The big trips (Blue Hole, Turneffe) are only done by the bigger operators in town, and you have to plan ahead. They will pick you up for those trips only--otherwise take the water taxi and add $20 to the cost of your dive.
- When the northern operators do get enough people for a trip, you can be sure that some of them will be true beginners. The dives are all group, DM-led dives, so the dives will not exceed the limits of these divers.
- Nitrox is not used much on the north end, and it would not do you any good to have it, since you would have to come up with the rest of the group anyway.
On the first day, there was no diving, and it was too late to make other arrangements, so I lost a day right off the bat. After that, my operator set me up with alternatives when they were not running, and they had dives on only a couple of days while I waas there. On one occasion, I did a local dive with another northern operator. On another occasion, I went on the Blue Hole trip with a San Pedro operator. (Yes, the B.H. is overrated, but it was still a good trip.) On another day, I just said the heck with it and didn't dive.
The diving itself was excellent. The reef exceeded my expectations.
Because this was not truly a dive trip, I was OK with it all--I had a great time with my wife and friends. If I were really there to dive first and foremost, though, I would have had to do things differently.
SUMMARY: If you are staying on the north end during the off season and want to maximize your diving, be prepared to go wth a San Pedro operator, and be prepared to pay the cost of transportation.