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Gladden Spit

Stann Creek, Belize
AOW suggested12–30 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Gladden Spit at a glance

Gladden Spit is a advanced boat dive site in Stann Creek, Belize with depths of 12–30 m (39–98 ft). Typically most favorable Aug · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Whale shark, Cubera snapper, and Dog snapper. Recent reports put the water around 29°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 5h ago
1.0 mwaves — about a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 29°C · seasonal avg 30°C

Site hazards: Long boat ride (~22 miles from Placencia) · Possible current · Crowded boats during spawning aggregations

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Tue
Sun6:00–19:00
Mon6:00–19:00
Tue6:00–19:00
Wed6:00–19:00
Thu6:00–19:00
Fri6:00–19:00
Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:07 · Sunrise 5:30 · Sunset 18:26

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.2 km from site · graded 5h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Horse-eye jack, Great barracuda
Best time: March-June, around the full moon (2 days before to ~10 days after), when snapper spawn and whale sharks gather.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan86%27°C0.9 m
  2. Feb80%27°C1.0 m
  3. Mar82%28°C1.0 m
  4. Apr77%28°C1.0 m
  5. May86%30°C0.9 m
  6. Jun72%30°C1.0 m
  7. Jul82%30°C1.0 m
  8. Aug99%30°C0.7 m
  9. Sep98%31°C0.6 m
  10. Oct98%30°C0.6 m
  11. Nov87%28°C0.8 m
  12. Dec82%27°C0.9 m

August hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Whale sharkSeasonal
  • Cubera snapperSeasonal
  • Dog snapperSeasonal
  • Spotted eagle rayOccasionally seen
  • Caribbean reef sharkOccasionally seen
  • Horse-eye jackCommonly seen
  • Great barracudaCommonly seen
  • Bottlenose dolphinOccasionally seen

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Site details

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.

boatdriftwall

Open-water blue-water diving with no bottom reference (whale shark dives are mid-water)

Long boat ride (~22 miles from Placencia)

Possible current

Crowded boats during spawning aggregations

Reviews

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