Skip to content
Map of Hol Chan Marine Reserve (The Cut)
Add the first photo
Boat entry

Hol Chan Marine Reserve (The Cut)

Ambergris Caye, Belize
Open Water suggestedTidal current through the channel cut6–12 m (20–39 ft) depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve (The Cut) at a glance

Hol Chan Marine Reserve (The Cut) is a boat dive site in Ambergris Caye, Belize with depths of 6–12 m (20–39 ft). Typically most favorable Sep · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Horse-eye jack, Nurse shark, and Cubera snapper. Recent reports put the water around 29°C (84°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:22

Forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 22 h ago
0.4 m (1.4 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: Tidal current through the channel cut · Heavy boat and snorkel traffic · Shallow coral

All 3 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Mon6:00–18:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 8 kn wind (1.3 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Tue6:00–18:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 9 kn wind (1.1 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Wed6:00–18:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 8 kn wind (1.4 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Thu6:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 8 kn wind (0.8 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Fri6:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 6 kn wind (0.6 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Sat6:00–18:00 favorable

0.2 m waves · 6 kn wind (0.7 ft waves · 6 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 5:26 · Sunrise 5:48 · Sunset 17:22 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 6.9 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 11:22 GMT-6

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Hol Chan Marine Reserve (The Cut)

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: Horse-eye jack, Nurse shark, Cubera snapper
Best time: Year-round; slack-ish tide gives the easiest conditions. Excellent for new divers.

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, 78% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.5 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  2. February, 85% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.4 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  3. March, 85% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (82°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.6 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  4. April, 79% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.6 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  5. May, 88% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.5 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  6. June, 86% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.6 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  7. July, 86% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  8. August, 98% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 31°C (87°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.6 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  9. September, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 31°C (87°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.5 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots, historically most favorable
  10. October, 95% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 0.5 m (1.7 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  11. November, 86% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 0.6 m (2.0 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  12. December, 84% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots

September 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 recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, 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.

  • Atlantic Nurse Shark recorded here Apr (1 record)

    Ginglymostoma cirratummost recent 2013

  • Green Turtle recorded here Apr (1 record)

    Chelonia mydasmost recent 2013

  • Loggerhead recorded here Apr (1 record)

    Caretta carettamost recent 2013

  • Lutjanus apodus recorded here Apr (1 record)

    most recent 2013

Newest record here: 2013. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

The underwater calendar

When these animals are most recorded around Caribbean & Bahamas — from open sighting data, not a promise.

Watch the whole year animate on the Migrations map

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

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.

boatdriftreef

Tidal current through the channel cut

Heavy boat and snorkel traffic

Shallow coral

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

Spot something off?

Help keep this listing accurate for the next diver.