One of the most famous dive sites in the world, The Great Blue Hole is what puts Belize on the scuba map. Yet there is so much more to see on a Belize liveaboard adventure. The region offers some of the finest diving in the whole of the Caribbean. This small Central American country is home to the longest stretch of coral in the western hemisphere and boasts 3 distinct Caribbean atolls.
You will be amazed by the colorful reefs with visibility often exceeding 130 ft (40m), spectacular soft coral gardens, sponges and channel formations. The warm waters teeming with large and small fish, are what make Belize a premiere liveaboard diving destination. The easy diving conditions make this destination attractive to scuba divers of all experience levels and safari cruises here concentrate their regular itineraries around the magnificent atolls of Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Atoll. And let's not forget the presence of one of the most iconic dive sites in the world - The Blue Hole!
The combination of having the second largest barrier reef in the world located on its Caribbean coast, some stunning palm-fringed beaches, vast rainforests full of wildlife, and dozens of ancient Mayan ruins to explore, make Belize an ideal travel destination for both liveaboard divers and non-divers alike. So whether it's immersing yourself in clear warm waters, jungle adventures, or simply kicking back Caribbean style on the beach, Belize is a wonderful diving and vacation destination.
To witness the region at its best, there really is no substitute for a liveaboard diving safari, operating out of Belize City:
These tours including diving at Turneffe and Lighthouse reefs, including the Blue Hole. Lighthouse Atoll has no established accommodation options so the most practical means of diving at both of Belize's 2 premier destinations is by liveaboard safari.
Furthest from the mainland is the most easterly and best area for diving in Belize, the world renowned Lighthouse Reef. Great visibility all year round, critters galore, fantastic steep drop-offs and walls plastered with huge gorgonians can be found all along the eastern and southern side of the atoll. But perhaps the key attraction are the vibrant reef flats - jungle-like, swaying soft coral gardens that are cut with gullies and fissures and make ideal sites for divers to explore. Spotted eagle rays, barracudas and hawksbill turtles are frequently sighted at Half Moon Caye Wall and Que Brada. [More details on these dive sites: Lighthouse Reef].
Lighthouse Reef is home to The Blue Hole, a collapsed freshwater cave system approximately 1,000 feet across and over 400 feet deep. Most liveaboard cruises include multiple dives on Half Moon Caye, another spectacular site where the wonderful visibility means great sightings in the blue of turtles, sharks and rays, as well as a lot of macro creatures to marvel at. [More details on these dive sites: Blue Hole].
Turneffe Reef is the nearest of the 3 atolls to the mainland. The lagoon inside the mangrove covered islands that make up the atoll acts as an important nursery for reef fish such as snappers and groupers. It is also home to several pods of dolphins and manatees, which are sometimes seen on visits here. The surrounding waters are home to many of the larger fish species such as dog and cubera snapper, permits, horse eye jacks and black groupers. Dives here tend to be shallow but on healthy reefs teeming with life.
The Elbow is the highlight here with schools of spawning fish congregating in vast numbers off the wall. The sight of a slowly swirling wall of large fish is enough to put a smile on the most world-weary of diver's faces. Other dive sites include the Front Porch, a great place for underwater photographers to snap pictures of Turneffe's endemic spotted toadfish. [More details on these dive sites: Turneffe Atoll].
Most trips are 7 nights (but there are some of 10 nights) and they are surprisingly affordable. The liveaboard boats follow the same route so your choice of boat will be a judgement of price vs boat facilities/service/accommodation. Most of the dives are suitable for qualified divers of all levels of experience.
> [More details: The Great Blue Hole, Lighthouse Reef & Turneffe Atoll Trips]
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Belize enjoys a sub-tropical climate with temperatures at 77-95°F (25-35°C) from April through October, and at 70-90°F (20-30°C) from November through March. May is often the hottest month. Oceans breezes are a welcome respite from the heat given the high humidity of over 80%. There are 2 seasons - the dry season which runs from December through May. The rainy season which is June through November, but more than a short squall of rain is rare. it rains less offshore at the atolls than on the Belize mainland. Although there hasn't been a big one since 2000, August through October is historically the hurricane season.
Belize is a year round liveaboard diving destination, although April through June is the period generally regarded as the peak season for divers. Visibility is best in dry season when it can exceed 130 feet (40m). Water temperatures hardly ever fall below 79°F (27°C) and reach a high of 85°F (29°C) from August through October.
Turneffe Atoll in particular is a favored spot for fish to spawn. From January through July different fish species aggregate in vast numbers on the reefs, especially at The Elbow. Sea turtles nest at both Lighthouse and Turneffe atolls. June through November is when they nest at Lighthouse and July/August is the time you will see more loggerheads in the water at Turneffe.
Not sure when to go? Explore the best times to dive with our detailed seasonal guide on our Belize diving destinations page.
International flights arrive in Belize City. Some buses and taxis run from the airport to the city center which takes about 30 minutes. However, all boat operators run an airport (and hotel) pick-up service in an air-conditioned van to the dock at Radisson Fort George Hotel.
There are 2 hour international flights to Belize from various cities in the USA such as Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Houston and Miami, as well as from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Cancun in Mexico. Airlines that operate flights to Belize include Continental, Delta, American, TACA, US Airways, as well as the local airline Tropic Air.
Sometimes unexpected circumstances can cause travelers to cancel their trip. For this reason we recommend you take out insurance to cover trip cancellation, as well as scuba diving and travel activities. See our insurance program for a competitive quotation:
Extending your stay in Belize? For convenient hotel bookings before or after your liveaboard adventure, visit our trusted partner HotelsCombined.com. Explore their wide selection of accommodations, get instant answers via their live chat, and book securely with your credit card. Plus, enjoy their 'Low Price Guarantee' for the best deals on your stay:
Planning your Belize getaway? Find everything you need to know on our FAQ page - your go-to guide for dive tips, travel info, and more!
