Belize rightly deserves its reputation as one the Caribbean's best dive destinations. Unlike some of the region's other destinations where scuba is an add-on to your beach holiday, the diving in Belize is so good that it can be considered an excellent dive destination with some nice beach activity as an add-on! It's home to the world's second-longest barrier reef and 3 of only 4 true coral atolls in the western hemisphere.
Belize's barrier reef runs almost parallel to the coastline and your best bet for land-based diving package is to stay close to the action in a resort on either of Ambergris Caye or Turneffe Atoll: This way you are right in the heart of some of the best diving and within reach of places like the famous Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef. Exploring the local sites will keep you interested for several days and both places have impressive variety, both in terms of topography and marine life.
If you plan on touring around Belize during your visit, pristine rainforest, ancient ruins, the Belize Barrier Reef and its beautiful atolls, all testify to the country as a unique and exceptional dive trip destination. With 93% of its land under forest cover and 42% of it under some form of legal protected status, it is one of the world's most biologically diverse countries. And unlike most other places in Central America, English is widely spoken.
To be right on the doorstep of some of Belize's finest diving, we strongly recommend you take a resort package on one of the offshore islands which cater well to scuba divers:
Ambergris is Belize's largest offshore key and ideal for a resort stay close to Belize's barrier reef. The reef runs parallel to the shore and consists of a great variety of diving in different ecosystems: mangrove cayes, coral reefs, seagrass bed and lagoons. The close proximity of the reef minimizes trip times to the sites. [More information on these dive sites: Ambergris Caye].
It is the country's most popular travel destination and features many shops, restaurants, and bars as well as some resorts for divers, ranging from luxury to budget. If you prefer to be close to all the activity and enjoy both the barrier reef and capture the nightlife and Caribbean island charm of Belize, resort diving packages in this area are a good option. For those that prefer to find their own accommodation, we also offer day trips from Ambergris Caye.
> [More details: Ambergris Caye Dive Resort Packages]Turneffe is the largest and most spectacular of the 3 atolls in Belize and there are dive sites here to suit all experience levels, from shallow reefs to wrecks and drop-offs. Big fish action can include groupers, large schools of snappers, manta rays, eagle rays, nurse sharks and, if you are lucky, even toadfish and dolphins. [More information on these dive sites: Turneffe Atoll].
It is home to a small number of picturesque dive resorts that allow diving from your doorstep. The marine biodiversity and sheer numbers if fish are unmatched in this region and this means that scuba is the main focus of most guests who choose to stay here. Due to its remote location, the dive sites of Turneffe are less busy than those at Ambergris.
> [More details: Turneffe Atoll Dive Resort Packages]
Blackbird Caye Resort
Customer rating: Excellent!
Ramon’s Village Resort
Customer rating: Excellent!
Turneffe Flats Resort
Customer rating: Excellent!
Steve and Becky’s
Customer rating: Good
Ambergris Dive Daytrips
Customer rating: Be first to rate!
Rainy season is roughly June through November and the dry season is December through May, which tends to be the warmest month. Temperatures from April through October are 77-95°F (25-35°C), November through March are cooler at between 70-90°F (20-30°C). It may be slightly cooler than this on the mainland, especially in the south. There is usually a breeze, which is good considering the high humidity of above 80%.
Although Belize is a year round diving destination, the best conditions are generally considered to be from March through December as there is generally less wind at that time. Water temperatures range from 79-84°F (26-29°C). Conditions do vary across the country and there is some important seasonal information regarding specific marine creatures, so check our Belize dive site descriptions for more details on the seasons in each resort destination.
The Philip Goldson International Airport is in Ladyville, some 10 miles (16 km) from Belize City. Unreliable buses and taxis run from the airport to the city center which takes about 30 minutes. However, many tourism operators run an airport pick-up service.
There are international flights to Belize from various cities in the USA such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Houston and Miami, as well as from various Central American countries. It is only a 2 hour flight from continental United States. Major airlines which service Belize include Continental, Delta, American, Grupo TACA and US Airways. There are also 2 local airlines, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air, that fly to Belize every day from Flores in Guatemala and Cancun in Mexico.
Sometimes travelers need to cancel trips for the most unexpected reasons so we recommend you consider insurance to cover both diving and travel activities. Visit our insurance program section for a competitive price:
If you plan on staying in Belize either before or after your resort diving vacation, you can get the best value rooms with hotelscombined.com, our affiliated resort reservation specialists:
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Getting ready for your Belize dive trip? Our frequently asked questions page has all the answers - dive insights, travel details, and essential tips to make your adventure unforgettable!.
Dive The World were more than helpful, always quick to get back with an email response, and were more then willing to assist the 3 of us sending in different emails at all hours!! Didn't see any real weaknesses in your service. I arrived fully aware of what to expect and full of info from you!
