Belize, nestled in Central America, is a premier destination for scuba diving enthusiasts, offering a breathtaking variety of marine life and corals. The country’s waters, part of the Caribbean Sea, provide ideal conditions for both novice and experienced divers.
Among the top dive sites, the Great Blue Hole stands out as a world-renowned wonder, surrounded by the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. This unique geological formation, alongside protected areas such as the Hol Chan Marine Reserve established in 1987, showcases Belize’s commitment to preserving its underwater treasures.
Table of Contents
Quick Look
- Ambergris Caye / Belize Barrier Reef
- The Great Blue Hole
- Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley
- Gladden Spit
- The Arena
- The Elbow
- Half Moon Caye Wall
- The Silk Cayes Wall
- The Coral Atols
Belize is not only celebrated for its world-class and easily accessible diving spots but also for the opportunity to explore Mayan Ruins on non-diving days.
Curious about the current top dive locations in Belize and the specific areas and zones across the islands worth visiting?
Continue reading to discover these premier underwater destinations.
With 400 islands and plenty of amazing spots, you may want to look at a cruise as the best way to visit belize.
Full Review Of Belize Liveaboards
Top Dive Sites in Belize
Belize is renowned for its exceptional scuba diving, offering access to the world’s second-largest barrier reef and the iconic Great Blue Hole. Divers are drawn to its diverse marine life, crystal-clear waters, and unique underwater landscapes, including vibrant coral gardens, sheer wall drop-offs, and intriguing wrecks.
Protected marine reserves and the commitment to conservation ensure the preservation of Belize’s underwater biodiversity, making it a premier destination for divers of all levels seeking incredible underwater experiences.
Ambergris Caye / Belize Barrier Reef
- Location: Northeast of the country's mainland
- Perfect For: Suitable for intermediate to advanced divers, as the depth ranges from 15 to 60 meters and there can be strong currents.
- Likely to See: Stunning beaches, clear turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs. Also, hammerhead sharks, parrotfish and eagle rays
- Temperature:78°F to 84°F (26°C to 29°C) throughout the year
- Visibility: 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters) or even more on clear days
- Depth: 30 feet (1 to 9 meters)
Ambergris Caye, beside the 190-mile-long Belize Barrier Reef, offers divers colourful coral gardens, steep wall dives, and a rich variety of marine life including rare corals and exotic fish. Divers can explore unique underwater topography such as caverns and tunnels, home to species like the elusive hammerhead shark, vibrant parrotfish, and majestic eagle rays.
Many dive shops in Belize arrange trips to Ambergris Caye and the Belize Barrier Reef. These shops offer a range of diving experiences suitable for beginners to advanced divers, providing easy access to the spectacular underwater landscapes and marine life that make this area a top diving destination.
This site exemplifies the ecological diversity and beauty of Belize’s underwater world. It is a must-visit for enthusiasts seeking to discover the wonders of one of the world’s largest reef systems.
The Great Blue Hole
- Location: 70 kilometers off the coast of Belize, near Ambergris Caye
- Perfect For: Advanced Open Water Diver certification or an equivalent certification with experience in deep diving
- Likely to See: underwater formations such as stalactites and stalagmites, nurse sharks, and schools of fish. The focus is on geological features, with some marine life encounters.
- Temperature:78°F to 82°F (26°C to 28°C) throughout the year
- Visibility: 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters)
- Depth: 407 feet (124 meters).
The Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole off the coast of Belize, is one of the world’s most distinguished dive sites, renowned for its circular shape, over 300 meters across and 124 meters deep.
This iconic feature offers divers the chance to navigate through crystal-clear waters and explore ancient stalactites in underwater caves, providing a glimpse into Earth’s geological past.
Home to a variety of marine life and offering an unparalleled diving adventure, the Great Blue Hole is a must-visit for experienced divers seeking to explore one of the planet’s most unique underwater phenomena.
Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley
- Location: Off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye
- Perfect For: Many of the dive sites within Hol Chan are suitable for Open Water Divers, some sites may have deeper areas or stronger currents, making them more suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers or divers with experience in drift diving.
- Likely to See: Colorful coral formations, tropical fish, rays, nurse sharks, and other reef species
- Temperature:78°F to 82°F (26°C to 28°C)
- Visibility: 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters)
- Depth: 30 feet (9 meters) to deeper areas reaching 70 feet (21 meters) or more
Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley offer an exceptional snorkelling and diving experience, where clear waters allow close encounters with nurse sharks and stingrays. Shark Ray Alley, part of the larger protected area, is famous for its rich marine biodiversity, including colourful coral reefs and various Caribbean fish species, making it a vibrant underwater spectacle.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve was designated as a protected area in 1987. This establishment marked a significant step towards conserving Belize’s marine ecosystems, emphasising the importance of preserving its diverse marine life and habitats.
Divers and snorkelers flock here for the unique opportunity to swim alongside these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, an exemplary site for Belize’s commitment to marine conservation and sustainable tourism.
Gladden Spit
- Location: Off the coast of Belize
- Perfect For: Advanced Open Water Diver with Deep Diver Specialty or Technical Diver certifications may be necessary
- Likely to See: Whale sharks during their seasonal aggregation, as well as other marine life such as rays, turtles, and various reef fish.
- Temperature:78°F to 82°F (26°C to 28°C)
- Visibility: 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters)
- Depth: 60 feet (18 meters), reaching approximately 100 feet (30 meters) or more
Gladden Spit is distinguished by its seasonal gatherings of whale sharks, particularly during the months of March to June, aligning with the full moon. This natural event, where divers can swim alongside these gentle giants, sets Gladden Spit apart as a unique and unforgettable dive location.
The convergence of spawning fish attracting whale sharks to the area showcases a remarkable natural spectacle, underlining why Gladden Spit is considered one of the best diving sites in Belize for witnessing marine life on a grand scale.
The Gladden Spit dive site may not be the biggest spot for scuba diving in Belize, but what it does offer is an amazing, brief insight into the variety in the ecosystem and local wildlife.
The Arena
The Arena, located near Sergeant’s Caye, is celebrated for its diverse diving opportunities, offering everything from beginner-friendly scuba diving to advanced wall and night diving experiences. Its unique spur and groove formations, which are geological features created by the erosion of coral reefs, resulting in alternating ridges (spurs) and trenches (grooves), create a sanctuary for an array of marine life, including pelagic mantas and loggerhead turtles.
This creates an interesting landscape for divers to explore, with varying depths and environments within a single dive site.
This site’s distinctive underwater topography and rich marine habitat underscore why The Arena is considered one of the best dive sites in Belize.
The Elbow
- Location: Turneffe Atoll’s southernmost tip
- Perfect For: Considered an advanced diver’s hotspot
- Likely to See: large groups of eagle rays, largest Gorgonian “fan” corals, along with the numerous fishes and other marine life, such as: hammerheads, Mantas and more!
- Temperature: 80 F (26 C)
- Visibility: 76 feet (23 m)
- Depth: 60 feet to 100 feet (18 to 30 meters)
The Elbow, situated at the southern tip of Turneffe Atoll, is renowned for the dynamic confluence of currents that attract a spectacular array of marine life, making it a premier diving location. This site’s changing tides create an underwater spectacle, drawing in schools of fish among deep canyons and spur and groove formations, especially noted around the full moon.
Its unique environmental conditions and abundant marine gatherings highlight why The Elbow is celebrated as one of Belize’s top dive sites, offering divers a thrilling experience amid the vast biodiversity of the reef.
Half Moon Caye Wall
- Location: Half Moon Caye in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize
- Perfect For: Requires an intermediate to advanced level of scuba diving experience.
- Likely to See: Colorful corals, reef fish, rays, turtles, and the opportunity for encounters with larger pelagic species
- Temperature: 78°F to 82°F (26°C to 28°C)
- Visibility: 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters)
- Depth: 60 feet (18 meters) to well beyond 100 feet (30 meters)
Half Moon Caye Wall is a premier dive site in Belize, celebrated for its stunning drop-offs and abundant marine life. Divers at this site can explore the vibrant coral formations that teem with colorful fish, turtles, and occasional pelagics, making it a beautiful underwater haven.
The wall’s dramatic descent into the deep blue creates a breathtaking backdrop for an unforgettable diving experience, highlighting the unique underwater beauty that Belize offers.
Many dive shops in Belize arrange trips to Half Moon Caye Wall, catering to divers seeking to explore this exceptional site. Access to Half Moon Caye Wall typically involves a boat trip from nearby locations such as Belize City or the islands of the Belize Barrier Reef, providing a scenic journey to this remote diving destination.
The Silk Cayes Wall
- Location: Off the coast of Placencia in southern Belize
- Perfect For: Many of the dive sites around Silk Caye are suitable for Open Water Divers
- Likely to See: vibrant coral formations, tropical fish, rays, nurse sharks, and other marine species
- Temperature:78°F to 82°F (26°C to 28°C)
- Visibility: 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters)
- Depth: 30 feet (9 meters) to 60 feet (18 meters)
The Silk Cayes Wall offers divers the chance to explore pristine coral formations and vital marine life in crystal-clear Caribbean waters. This site is particularly famous for its diverse ecosystems, where divers can encounter everything from loggerhead turtles to an array of colorful reef fish.
The Silk Cayes Wall, like many of Belize’s underwater formations, was formed through geological processes over millennia, involving coral growth and the shifting of tectonic plates. Coral reefs begin as tiny organisms that attach to rock or other hard surfaces on the sea floor, growing and expanding over time.
The wall’s structure is the result of coral polyps building upon each other, creating a habitat rich in biodiversity. The unique underwater topography of the area, including walls, is also influenced by natural erosion and the sea level changes over geological time scales.
Accessible through guided tours from Placencia or other nearby locations, the Silk Cayes provide an exceptional underwater experience, showcasing the rich biodiversity of Belize’s marine environments.
The Coral Atolls
Ok, I’m cheating here a little by rolling several locations into one! However, it’s really worth you taking in the various coral atolls on offer across Belize. This includes Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef and Glover’s Reef.
There are only four coral atolls in the West – by definition alone – meaning that it’s well worth diving down to spot the incredibly colours and shapes beneath the surface. It’s thought that some of the reefs here plunge down as far as 1000m – hard to believe!
The three mentioned atolls above all have their own assets that offer interest to exploring divers, Turneffe is the biggest and is the easiest to get to from the mainland. The best dive site in Turneffe is known as Elbow (see above), and the twist in coral is a sight to be seen.
Lighthouse Reef brandishes the beautiful blue hole that many travelling scuba divers love to visit, if you want to travel across the 30-mile lagoon then you will be able to enjoy this reef.
Glover’s Reef is a remote dive site in Belize and is home to some of the most incredible marine life, much of the surrounding area is rarely visited and for that reason there’s a lot of beautiful reef fish and various species.
The best way to travel across the Coral Atolls in Belize is by boat, often arranged through dive operators or tour companies specializing in marine excursions. These boats provide access to remote dive sites across Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef, and Glover’s Reef, allowing divers to explore the unique ecosystems and marine life of each atoll.
Liveaboard options are also popular, offering an immersive experience by staying directly on the water near these pristine diving locations.
Not sure if diving in Belize is the perfect location for you?
Why not start off by reading my blog on where you can find some of the locations for best diving holidays for more of a steer?
How to Dive Belize
Numerous dive resorts and liveaboards facilitate exploring Belize’s diverse underwater landscapes, offering year-round diving opportunities.
Begin by selecting dive operators who emphasise eco-friendly practices and offer courses from beginner to advanced levels. Consider enhancing your adventure by participating in marine conservation projects, such as coral restoration or species monitoring, which not only enrich your diving experience but also contribute positively to the preservation of Belize’s diverse marine ecosystems.
Belize has had great success at restoring the countries coral reefs, through coral transplantation techniques, particularly in the South following Hurricane Iris in 2001. In fact these techniques were so popular, they are now utilised in other South American coastlines and Caribbean Islands.
If you have a longer time to spend in Belize, have a look at the volunteer programmes offered by Reef Conservation International.
This eco-approach allows divers to explore Belize’s underwater wonders while actively participating in efforts to protect and sustain the natural beauty and biodiversity of the region.
Liveaboard trips, particularly appealing during autumn and winter, provide an immersive diving holiday, allowing extensive exploration of the over 400 island locations Belize has to offer.
Always plan ahead, especially for popular times in the dry season, to secure your spot for an unforgettable dive adventure
Make sure to check out diving resorts in the area to make a real holiday of it or take a look at some of the top Belize liveaboards.
Scuba Diving in Belize City
Belize City serves as an ideal launch point for diving adventures, granting unparalleled access to the Caribbean’s distinguished sites like Ambergris Caye and the Belize Barrier Reef.
Its strategic location enables day excursions to notable destinations such as the Blue Hole and Shark Ray Alley, where divers of all levels can enjoy the beauty of underwater canyons, walls, and reefs.
With a range of dive operators in the city, both novice and seasoned divers have the opportunity to experience the diverse marine environments Belize has to offer.
Other Places to Dive
When is the Best Time to Dive in Belize?
The best time to dive in Belize varies with the seasons, offering unique experiences throughout the year. Autumn is ideal for beginners due to the warmer waters and incredible surfacing conditions of the wet season. Conversely, the dry season, spanning November to July, boasts choppier waters but clearer visibility, making it popular among divers.
Be aware that booking in advance is recommended during the dry season. Ultimately, the optimal time for diving in Belize depends on individual preferences and experience levels, highlighting the importance of seeking tailored advice for your diving adventure.
Belize Water Temperature
Belize’s water temperature remains hot all year round, offering the perfect dive conditions. The water has a high of 29.5°C and a low of 27°C.
Here is a chart showing the Belize water temperature by month.
Conclusion
It’s clear this destination offers a range of special underwater experiences. From the awe-inspiring depths of the Great Blue Hole to the vibrant ecosystems of the Belize Barrier Reef and serene beauty of atolls like Turneffe and Glover’s, Belize caters to divers of all levels.
Many divers agree that Belize is a very easy place to dive, thanks to its accessible dive sites and generally calm conditions. With accessible dive sites near Belize City and conservation efforts ensuring the preservation of its marine wonders, Belize stands as a top diving destination, promising adventure, discovery, and the utmost respect for the ocean’s marvels.
