Belize Dive Sites

Black Beauty

Turneffe Atoll · 12–40 m

Black Beauty on the eastern wall of Turneffe Atoll is named for its dramatic black coral and sponge-clad drop-off. The wall hosts eagle rays, reef sharks, big groupers and turtles among healthy spur-and-groove coral. It is one of Turneffe's signature wall dives, typically run from the resort and live-aboard fleets.

Cathedral Reef

Ambergris Caye · 15–30 m

Cathedral Reef off Ambergris Caye is named for its tall, light-filled coral canyons and archways that evoke a cathedral interior. Sand-floored gullies between 15 and 30m wind past sponge-covered walls where turtles, rays and reef sharks pass. It is a scenic intermediate spur-and-groove dive popular on San Pedro boat trips.

Eagle Ray Canyon

Ambergris Caye · 12–21 m

Eagle Ray Canyon off Ambergris Caye is named for the schools of spotted eagle rays that ride the tidal currents through its coral gullies, typically between 12 and 21m. Yellowtail snapper and reef fish fill the canyons while rays glide overhead, making it a reliable and easy site for ray encounters. Best visited when current is running.

Emerald Forest Reef

Stann Creek · 5–21 m

On the west arm of Glover's Reef Atoll, Emerald Forest Reef is a shallow site famed for towering stands of healthy elkhorn coral that give it a forest-like appearance. The 5-21m depth and easy conditions make it ideal for beginners, photographers and long bottom times. Schools of reef fish, parrotfish and the occasional turtle populate the coral thickets.

Esmeralda Canyons

Ambergris Caye · 12–24 m

Esmeralda is a series of tall, narrow sand-floored canyons cutting through the barrier reef off Ambergris Caye, beginning around 12m and dropping to roughly 23-30m. Divers wind between coral walls draped in sponges as turtles, rays, nurse sharks and barracuda pass through the gullies. One of the shallower, easier Ambergris sites, it suits all skill levels.

Front Porch

Turneffe Atoll · 5–30 m

Front Porch is Turneffe Island Resort's house reef, an easy shallow site that begins at a coral shelf around 12-15m before sloping into deeper water. Its calm, accessible profile makes it a favourite for checkout dives, training and macro-rich night dives where octopus and seahorses appear. Eagle rays, turtles and reef fish frequent the slope.

Gladden Spit

Stann Creek · 12–30 m

Gladden Spit is a promontory of the barrier reef about 22 miles off Placencia where the reef drops steeply into deep water. Around the full moons of spring, huge cubera and dog snapper aggregate to spawn, drawing whale sharks that rise to feed on the egg clouds - the reason for the site's world fame. Dives are conducted in mid-water no deeper than about 18-30m in regulated groups; sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed.

Great Blue Hole

Lighthouse Reef · 12–40 m

The Great Blue Hole is a near-perfectly circular marine sinkhole 318m across and 124m deep at the centre of Lighthouse Reef, famed worldwide since Jacques Cousteau surveyed it in 1971. Divers descend a sheer wall to a ledge at around 40m where huge ancient stalactites hang from an undercut overhang. It is a short, deep, atmospheric bounce dive rather than a marine-life dive, requiring conservative deep-diving discipline; most operators dive it first then visit shallower wall sites afterward.

Half Moon Caye Wall

Lighthouse Reef · 6–42 m

On the south side of Half Moon Caye, the reef crest sits in about 6m of sandy garden before plunging as a sheer wall draped in sponges, gorgonians and black coral into the deep blue. Sand chutes and coral spurs funnel divers over the lip, where eagle rays, turtles and reef sharks cruise the drop-off. Many divers rate it the single best wall dive in Belize for its consistent visibility and abundant life.

Half Moon Wall

Lighthouse Reef · 12–30 m

Half Moon Wall is the wall-dive area associated with Half Moon Caye on Lighthouse Reef, Belize. It is commonly researched with Great Blue Hole trips because Lighthouse Reef combines a shallow lagoon, coral shelf edge, vertical walls, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, and nearby famous reef sites. Plan it as a guided boat wall dive where route and maximum depth are set by the operator.

Hol Chan Cut

Hol Chan Cut is a dive site located in Belize.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve (The Cut)

Ambergris Caye · 6–12 m

Hol Chan ('little channel' in Maya) is a natural cut through the barrier reef and Belize's first marine reserve, just south of Ambergris Caye. The shallow channel and surrounding reef teem with habituated fish, green morays, big snapper and grouper, nurse sharks and turtles in only 6-12m of water. It is one of the country's most popular and accessible dives, usually combined with neighbouring Shark Ray Alley.

Long Caye Aquarium

Lighthouse Reef · 6–30 m

Just off Long Caye on the west side of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, this shallow coral garden tumbles over a vibrant wall in clear water. Big schools of reef fish, healthy hard and soft corals and frequent turtle and ray sightings make it one of the atoll's most rewarding easy dives. It is often paired with The Aquarium and Half Moon Caye Wall on multi-day Lighthouse Reef trips.

Long Caye Aquarium

A dive site in Belize.

Long Caye Wall (Glover's Reef)

Stann Creek · 8–40 m

Long Caye Wall is Glover's Reef Atoll's showpiece drop-off, starting in about 8m of clear water before plunging into an abyss over 900m deep. The vertical face is rich in sponges, sea fans and black coral, with turtles, rays and barracuda patrolling the edge. Belize's most remote atoll means uncrowded diving and frequently exceptional visibility.

Mexico Rocks

Ambergris Caye · 2–8 m

Mexico Rocks is a shallow patch-reef complex of coral heads in 2-8m of clear, calm water off the northern tip of Ambergris Caye. Its protected, shallow setting and abundance of small reef life make it a favourite for beginners, refresher dives, macro photography and snorkelling. Eagle rays are sometimes seen feeding in the current at the reef edge.

Painted Wall

Lighthouse Reef · 8–35 m

Painted Wall on the western flank of Lighthouse Reef Atoll takes its name from the dense, multicoloured carpet of sponges, tube sponges and gorgonians that coat the vertical drop-off. Crevices and overhangs shelter lobsters and moray eels while the open water off the wall hosts cruising rays and the occasional reef shark. It is a classic Lighthouse Reef wall dive with excellent photographic colour.

Shark Ray Alley

Ambergris Caye · 2–8 m

Part of Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley is a shallow sandy area where decades of fish-cleaning by fishermen trained dozens of nurse sharks and southern stingrays to gather around boats. In just 2-8m, divers and snorkellers are surrounded by docile nurse sharks and rays, making it one of Belize's most famous wildlife encounters. It is most often experienced as a snorkel after the Hol Chan dive.

South Water Caye

Stann Creek · 5–30 m

South Water Caye sits on the barrier reef off Dangriga in the heart of Belize's second-largest marine reserve, with the reef crest right off the island and a wall dropping from about 12m on the seaward side. Reef profiles range from shallow coral gardens to steep walls hosting moray eels, barracuda, eagle rays, groupers and the occasional larger pelagic. Its mix of easy shallow reef and deeper wall makes it a versatile southern-Belize base.

Tackle Box Canyons

Ambergris Caye · 20–30 m

Tackle Box Canyons, off San Pedro, is a maze of coral canyons and tunnels running between about 20 and 30m. Divers swim tunnel to tunnel through spur-and-groove formations rich in sponges and reef life, with nurse sharks, turtles and big groupers frequently seen. The swim-throughs and moderate depth give it an adventurous, intermediate feel.

The Aquarium

Lighthouse Reef · 9–30 m

Named for its dense, colourful concentration of fish, The Aquarium on the western side of Lighthouse Reef Atoll has a shallow coral garden that rolls over a 15-18m wall draped in sponges and sea fans. Current is usually present over the reef top but eases along the wall, making it an easy, photogenic dive. It is a popular second or third dive on Blue Hole day trips.

The Elbow

Turneffe Atoll · 18–42 m

At the exposed southern tip of Turneffe Atoll, The Elbow is Belize's premier drift wall dive, where currents sweep around the point and concentrate big schools of fish and pelagics. Divers ride the current along spur-and-groove formations from about 27m as eagle rays, snapper aggregations and reef sharks patrol the edge. Strong, sometimes unpredictable currents make it strictly an advanced site dived only in the right conditions.

Tres Cocos

Ambergris Caye · 15–30 m

Tres Cocos (Spanish for 'three coconuts') is a classic Ambergris Caye spur-and-groove site where coral canyons begin around 15m and drop toward 30m. It is a noted spot for turtles, especially during the summer mating season, alongside nurse sharks, rays and big snapper. Healthy coral and good visibility make it a favourite San Pedro boat dive.