Packing and Travel, Resort Info, and Diving Tips for the ScubaBoard Invasion 2025 to Belize

[ROXANNE]

I'm bummed to hear that there is no shore diving available. That is normally one of the great perks of staying at a dive resort.

If shore diving is available, we include that in your package deal. Unfortunately, not all resorts around the world have shore diving.
Don't be too bummed, you have 16 dives available for the week and more if you're diving the Blue hole.

 

[JMTtor]

It’s not only Dive Haven that doesn’t have shore diving; Belize in general doesn’t offer it, and definitely not on the atolls. The reef is too far offshore. Even snorkelers go on boat trips.

If shore diving is available, we include that in your package deal. Unfortunately, not all resorts around the world have shore diving.
Don't be too bummed, you have 16 dives available for the week and more if you're diving the Blue hole.

 

[KristenK]

I'm bummed to hear that there is no shore diving available. That is normally one of the great perks of staying at a dive resort.

Not to worry, we’ll be diving so much there’s no time for a shore dive.

 

[Chrisk919]

Hey all, looking for insight here:

Delta has asked me to fill out 'required government forms' from the Belize Digital Forms site.

All standard stuff until you submit the 'when am I coming/how long/where/etc'

Then you are given a 'Declarations' page with two sections to confirm you read with a checkbox that say things like:

"Under the Customs Laws of Belize, every person importing any goods whether for commercial, personal or any other use, must declare such goods to customs and pay the appropriate duties. The total value of all items acquired abroad whether new or used, dutiable or not or acquired as souvenirs or gifts, must be declared. If the value declared at B4 exceeds $400.00 BZD per person arriving through an International Airport"

And a form to 'Declare' all of your goods you'll have with you.

I don't read any exemptions in there for tourists bringing their own gear.

Given that most of us are arriving with > $800USD of gear (probably in regs/BCD's alone... not to mention cameras, computers, and whatnot) - how have y'all handled this in the past?

Are they looking to charge duties on our kit? (and if so, does anyone know the rate?)

Thanks,

--Chris

 

[ROXANNE]

Hey all, looking for insight here:

Delta has asked me to fill out 'required government forms' from the Belize Digital Forms site.

All standard stuff until you submit the 'when am I coming/how long/where/etc'

Then you are given a 'Declarations' page with two sections to confirm you read with a checkbox that say things like:


And a form to 'Declare' all of your goods you'll have with you.

I don't read any exemptions in there for tourists bringing their own gear.

Given that most of us are arriving with > $800USD of gear (probably in regs/BCD's alone... not to mention cameras, computers, and whatnot) - how have y'all handled this in the past?

Are they looking to charge duties on our kit? (and if so, does anyone know the rate?)

Thanks,

--Chris

I'll check with Maduro tomorrow to clarify.

 

[JMTtor]

I'll check with Maduro tomorrow to clarify.

Being a lawyer who advocates for plain language in all legal docs/forms, this one is aggravating. But from a cursory Internet search, my initial impression was correct: the term "goods" implies commercial activity. In other words, if you were bringing gear to sell or leave in Belize, you'd pay. Anything you would bring with you and take back home when you leave, or any consumables you use while in Belize, wouldn't be subject to tariffs.

Interpreting it any other way would mean EVERYTHING you bring (clothing; medicines; jewelry; books; electronic devices; personal appliances such as shavers, curling irons, or CPAP machines; ) would be subject to tariffs.

The best information on the personal use exemption is on this page: https://www.customs.gov.bz/added_files/Conditional Exemptions Duties and Taxes.pdf
"Wearing apparel, jewelry, toilet requisites and any portable article reasonably expected to be carried by him for his own private and personal use" is exempt. Since our gear is something we carry for our personal use, it's exempt.

As one Belizean put it, "If it's to stay, you pay." If you owned a home in Belize and brought pots and pans, towels, or other stuff that would live there, you'd have to report t and pay tariffs. If it's something consumable or stuff you'd keep and take back when you leave, no tariff. One person reported that he was charged at the airport for bringing in pots and pans that would stay in his Belize home, but his fishing gear that traveled with him wasn't hit with tariffs.

Hope this is helpful.

 

[Chrisk919]

Interpreting it any other way would mean EVERYTHING you bring (clothing; medicines; jewelry; books; electronic devices; personal appliances such as shavers, curling irons, or CPAP machines; ) would be subject to tariffs.

I was wondering if the vague wording was intentional, along the lines of the CZM “professional camera” duties etc to raise a little local income from scuba photographers.

So I am assuming we declare nothing then, as it’s all “personal” and carried with us.

 

[ROXANNE]

Hey all, looking for insight here:

Delta has asked me to fill out 'required government forms' from the Belize Digital Forms site.

All standard stuff until you submit the 'when am I coming/how long/where/etc'

Then you are given a 'Declarations' page with two sections to confirm you read with a checkbox that say things like:


And a form to 'Declare' all of your goods you'll have with you.

I don't read any exemptions in there for tourists bringing their own gear.

Given that most of us are arriving with > $800USD of gear (probably in regs/BCD's alone... not to mention cameras, computers, and whatnot) - how have y'all handled this in the past?

Are they looking to charge duties on our kit? (and if so, does anyone know the rate?)

Thanks,

--Chris

Being a lawyer who advocates for plain language in all legal docs/forms, this one is aggravating. But from a cursory Internet search, my initial impression was correct: the term "goods" implies commercial activity. In other words, if you were bringing gear to sell or leave in Belize, you'd pay. Anything you would bring with you and take back home when you leave, or any consumables you use while in Belize, wouldn't be subject to tariffs.

Interpreting it any other way would mean EVERYTHING you bring (clothing; medicines; jewelry; books; electronic devices; personal appliances such as shavers, curling irons, or CPAP machines; ) would be subject to tariffs.

The best information on the personal use exemption is on this page: https://www.customs.gov.bz/added_files/Conditional Exemptions Duties and Taxes.pdf
"Wearing apparel, jewelry, toilet requisites and any portable article reasonably expected to be carried by him for his own private and personal use" is exempt. Since our gear is something we carry for our personal use, it's exempt.

As one Belizean put it, "If it's to stay, you pay." If you owned a home in Belize and brought pots and pans, towels, or other stuff that would live there, you'd have to report t and pay tariffs. If it's something consumable or stuff you'd keep and take back when you leave, no tariff. One person reported that he was charged at the airport for bringing in pots and pans that would stay in his Belize home, but his fishing gear that traveled with him wasn't hit with tariffs.

Hope this is helpful.

I was wondering if the vague wording was intentional, along the lines of the CZM “professional camera” duties etc to raise a little local income from scuba photographers.

So I am assuming we declare nothing then, as it’s all “personal” and carried with us.

Jan is correct; if you were bringing gear to sell or leave in Belize, you'd pay. Anything you would bring with you and take back home when you leave, or any consumables you use while in Belize, wouldn't be subject to tariffs.