The Best Turneffe Atoll Dive Resorts & Diving Packages

Turneffe Resort Diving: All-Inclusive Adventure Meets Relaxation

The islands of Turneffe Atoll are considered by most to have the best resort-based diving that Belize has to offer. Turneffe Atoll dive resorts place you right at the heart of a conservation area, with dive sites suitable for every level of diver. The western side has shallow reefs that are perfect for novices, while the varied topography on the east side is more suited for the seasoned diver. Wrecks, drop-offs and sometimes strong currents can make for some challenging dives, but sightings of large fish are frequent. Spotted eagle rays, turtles and blacktip sharks are common visitors to Turneffe's reefs. Choosing one of the dive resorts on Turneffe Atoll means you wake up steps from the water.

The highlight of diving at Turneffe, and one of the best sites in Belize, is The Elbow. This exposed southern point is a congregation area for for large schools of jacks and snappers, thousands of groupers come here to spawn, and sharks and rays are also attracted to the area by all the fish action. It's a 'must do' dive site. For guests staying at Turneffe Atoll dive resorts, The Elbow is often just a short boat ride away.

Around 450 hundred mangrove covered islands interspersed with creeks and picturesque lagoons make up Belize's largest atoll. Lying just a short boat ride east of Belize City, the islands of Turneffe that make up the atoll are 31 miles (50 km) long and 9 miles (15 km) across. Away from the crowds and with some of the Caribbean's best diving right on your doorstep, this unspoiled natural paradise is equally stunning, both above and below its nutrient rich water's surface. Whether you are an experienced diver seeking challenging walls or a beginner looking for gentle slopes, Turneffe Atoll diving resorts cater to all levels while keeping you immersed in a remote island setting.

Where to Stay on Turneffe Atoll

There is good diving all around the atoll, with each area offering something a little different to the rest. There only a few small dive resorts dotted around Turneffe, each built on its own idyllic palm fringed island (caye).

Turneffe Atoll Dive Resorts

Considering the absence of infrastructure out here, the resorts all have surprisingly high standards of accommodation and facilities. Our range runs from a deluxe resort option in the south to more affordable beach cabana style accommodation along the atoll's eastern coast.

There is no center of activity on Turneffe Reef Atoll so you can expect a laid-back vacation experience wherever you choose to stay. Each resort though boasts a swimming pool and some encourage other adventure activities that are suitable for exploring the natural surrounds of the atoll, such as canoeing, snorkeling, fishing and manatee spotting, although scuba diving remains the main focus of all the resorts.

Day trips to Belize's best known dive sites at Lighthouse Reef, including the Great Blue Hole, are arranged once a week and are often included in your package. [More information on these dive sites: Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef, The Blue Hole].

With over 70 different sites to dive at the atoll, stays of 1 week are ideal although shorter stays are possible too. Turneffe diving packages are normally inclusive of full board accommodation, dives and boat transfers from Belize City.

> [More details: Turneffe Atoll Dive Resorts]

Check out your dive package options to stay at this diving and nature retreat:

Find Your Resort

Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow

Blackbird Caye Resort

From USD 470 per day

Customer rating: Excellent!

Max 34

Nitrox

Wi-Fi

Fresh water swimming pool
Free use of sea kayaks/paddleboa...
Natural and bio-diverse environm...
Airstrip for guest flight charte...
Offers full board and diving pac...

Turneffe Flats Resort

From USD 496 per day

Customer rating: Excellent!

Max 20

Nitrox

Wi-Fi

Infinity pool to cool off
Atoll adventure progamme
Free use of sea kayaks
Single travellers may share a ro...
Offers full board and diving pac...

Useful Information for Turneffe Dive Resorts

The Climate and Best Time to Visit

Turneffe enjoys a sub-tropical climate, lies in the belt with the least rainfall in the whole of Belize, and enjoys plenty of sunshine throughout the year. The pronounced dry season runs from January through May and the rainy season is between June and December, with a mini-dry period in July and August, followed by the tropical storm season in October/November. The mean annual temperature is 80°F (27°C), fluctuating from a maximum of 85°F (29°C) in June and August to 75°F (24°C) in December.

You can dive in Turneffe Atoll all the year round although Christmas through to the end of April is often noted as the high season. There are also some seasonal factors that may affect your preferred time to travel so please check our Turneffe Atoll dive site descriptions for more details on these. Usually, any passing tropical storms just mean the switching of scuba diving activities to the more sheltered western coast of the atoll.

How to Get There

All of our diving resorts at Turneffe Atoll supply free boat transfers from Belize City. It's a scenic 1 hour 30 minute journey, taking you through one of the cuts in the barrier reef and close to some of the cayes before meandering your way along the mangrove-lined creeks to your resort. There is also an airstrip located on Blackbird Caye which allows for the option of a short flight from Belize City for guests staying there.

Sometimes unexpected events can cause travelers to change their plans and cancel their dive trip. For this reason we recommend you consider scuba, travel and trip cancellation insurance. See our insurance program for a competitive quotation:

Choose Your Own Accommodation

Make the most of your Turneffe dive trip by discovering Belize’s incredible landscapes, culture, and wildlife. For seamless hotel bookings before or after your resort stay, we recommend our trusted partner HotelsCombined.com:

Find your ideal stay, whether you want a jungle eco-lodge, beachfront resort, or city hotel, and book with confidence!

TESTIMONIAL

Zhai Ming

China

At the beginning of our dive vacation planning, you provided detailed options for us. During the quotation phase, you answered our questions patiently. In general, it is a pleasing experience to order a vacation by you. Through your website you give a overall and clear options of dive vacations to the customer, so before they contact you, they know some basic information, so it is a great saving of time and energy for both sides