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Gladden Spit

Stann Creek, Belize
AOW suggested12–30 m (39–98 ft) depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Gladden Spit at a glance

Gladden Spit is an 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 Caribbean reef shark, Cubera snapper, and Great barracuda. Recent reports put the water around 29°C (84°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Next window today· 6:00–18:00 · favorable · sunset 17:24

Forecast for this hour · 2:00 · run 15 h ago
0.4 m (1.3 ft)waves — under half a meter expected (waves — about a foot expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 29°C · seasonal avg 30°C ( · Forecast 84°F · seasonal avg 86°F)

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

All 4 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon6:00–18:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 5 kn wind (1.2 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Tue6:00–18:00 favorable

0.3 m waves · 6 kn wind (1.0 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Wed6:00–18:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 6 kn wind (1.1 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Thu6:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 4 kn wind (0.8 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Fri6:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 3 kn wind (0.5 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Sat6:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 5 kn wind (0.6 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

SunNot in the forecast yet

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 5:25 · Sunrise 5:47 · Sunset 17:24 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.2 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 11:22 GMT-6

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Gladden Spit

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.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Great barracuda, Horse-eye jack
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. January, 86% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  2. February, 80% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  3. March, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  4. April, 77% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  5. May, 86% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  6. June, 72% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  7. July, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  8. August, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (87°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.3 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots, historically most favorable
  9. September, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 31°C (87°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (2.1 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  10. October, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (2.0 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  11. November, 87% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.7 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  12. December, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots

August has typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

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

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