Belize Barrier Reef

The Belize Barrier Reef runs along the coast of Belize and is often described as the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. Its reserve system is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beyond it lie three offshore atolls, Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef and Glover's Reef, where steep walls drop into deep blue water and visibility is usually better than on the inner reef. The best-known dive is the Great Blue Hole, a near-circular sinkhole in the middle of Lighthouse Reef.

Diving here ranges from easy to demanding. Many reefs inside the barrier and on the sheltered side of the atolls are calm and suit Open Water divers. The Blue Hole is different: it is a short, deep dive to around 40 m where stalactites hang under ledges, so operators usually ask for Advanced Open Water and keep bottom time strict. Exposed points such as The Elbow at Turneffe can have strong current and surge.

The dry season, roughly February to May, usually brings the calmest seas, and April to June is often named as the peak for divers. Whale sharks gather at Gladden Spit in the south around the full moons of about March to June to feed on snapper spawn, although sightings are never certain. The wet season from June to November brings rain, lower visibility near the coast and hurricane risk, highest in September and October.

Divers stay on the cayes, such as Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, or at resorts on the atolls, and take day boats. Trips to the Blue Hole from the northern cayes take two to three hours each way. Liveaboards cover Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe in more depth. Park fees apply at the protected sites, so check current rates with your operator.