Top Dive Spots in Belize

Belize is known by airline employees who dive as a diver’s paradise. The cayes (pronounced keys), the offshore atolls, and the barrier reef are the main attractions in Belize. The barrier reef, which is 185 miles long, is the longest in the Western Hemisphere. The cayes are coral sand and/or mangroves islands, that are located between the mainland and the barrier reef, on the barrier reef, and on or within the reef perimeters of the offshore atolls.

The diving in Belize is breath taking with numerous and varied dive sites to explore. Even though Belize is ranked as one of the top three dive destinations in the Caribbean it has been slower to deveope giving you the luxury of diving uncrowded sites. The majority of dive sites need to be accessed by boat with a few exceptions if you are staying on one of the outer atolls, Tobacco Caye or Southwater Caye. As a diver in Belize you will encounter marine life in all sizes and shapes including 70 types of hard corals and nearly 500 species of fish.

Here are a few tips for planning your dive trip to Belize:

Pack conservatively. Many small aircraft have weight limits.

Pack a carry-on. Include a swimsuit, one change of clothes, basic toiletries and essential dive gear such as your mask, computer and regulator. This way, if your luggage does get lost, you””re still ready to dive.

Carry all your important documentation and valuables in your carry-on luggage or on your person.

Carry a list of emergency phone numbers and addresses.

This is a no-brainer – DO NOT MESS with any drugs.

Make as comprehensive a check list as possible ahead of time, then consult it during the week before leaving on your trip (see below).

Be sure you have all your dive gear and that it is in good condition.

Diving is a strenuous sport. Be sure you are in good cardiovascular condition. Start conditioning months before your trip, not days.

Here is an overview of what we consider to be the top dive spots in Belize….

1) Ambergris Caye – Along the entire length of Ambergris Caye the reef is comprised of spectacular three dimensional coral formations which include canyons, grottoes and tunnels. Curiously, the more common reef fishes do not appear here in great numbers compared to elsewhere. However, there are a greater number of pelagic fish such as sharks and rays. There are also a considerable number of porpoise and turtle to be seen.

2) Lighthouse Reef – Of the three atoll reefs off the coast of Belize, Lighthouse Reef is the farthest offshore. It is far from neglected, however, since dive boats from San Pedro visit the atoll regularly and the larger live-aboard vessels are always found in the vicinity. Within the confines of the reef, the depth is generally about 9 feet (2.7 m) with sufficient room between the numerous patch reefs to maneuver any craft with shallow enough draft. The seabed is sandy and this, at least, allows the skipper to see the darker-colored patches of coral. As long as the sun is over the shoulder, the patch reefs are clearly seen. However, as soon as you turn and face the sun, the glare from the surface obscures the coral and extreme caution is advised.

3) Glover’s Reef – If you are serious about scuba diving, you must dive Glover’s Reef. There are 56 linear miles of wall diving at this remote atoll. The wall drops from 35 feet to 3000 feet in less than a mile, and visibility is regularly 100 feet or more. Long Caye Dive Center offers a variety of Belize dive packages. Many divers, who dive world-wide, have commented that this is some of the best diving they have experienced.

4) Long Caye Wall – This dive was rated by Skin Diver magazine as one of the top ten dive sites in the world! Mooring on a buoy,you descend to a pristine white sand floor. This isthe orientation dive for all divers, including first-timers. Passing over colonies of garden eels,you leave the white sands behind to hover over towering coral formations along the edge of the 2600 vertical wall. Schools of brilliantly colored fish drift amongst the coral formations;you willoften see batfish and giant lobster on this dive.

5) Bev’s Garden – This site features Lettuce Leaf and Staghorn corals as far as the eye can see. Asyou descend past the top of the wall at thirty-five feet,you drift over numerous canyons of coral, which provides hideouts for schoolmaster snappers and hawksbill turtles. It is common to see graceful spotted eagle rays soaring along the gentle currents.

6) The Crack – One ofthe more advanced dives, this vertical cave is entered at forty-five feet and exited between seventy and ninety feet. Sea life abounds in this dark crevice. Frequent sightings have been made of loggerhead turtles, bull sharks, and some of the largest Nassau groupers in the atoll. This is the perfect site for underwater photographers.

7) Middle Caye Wall – A ten-minute boat ride takesyou to the shadow of neighboring Middle Caye.You descend to the top of the wall, drifting through schools of bluehead wrasse and horse-eyed jacks. Before ascending, a visit with Mordecai, a five-foot long green moray eel who shares his home with nurse sharks and loggerhead turtles.

Top Scuba Diving Destinations in Mexico

One of the most popular activities for any interliner heading for a beach vacation in Mexico is scuba diving. Scuba diving facilities are abundantly available all along both Mexican coasts with many of the popular resort towns and resorts offering great deals that combine scuba diving Mexico with accommodation and other travel plans. If you want to include scuba diving Mexico in your Mexico beach vacation, keep reading for information on some of the more popular locations you will want to visit.

The top destination in Mexico to experience scuba diving, either as a novice or experienced diver, is Cozumel. Located just 12 miles from the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, scuba diving Cozumel is known for the fantastic reefs that stretch along its coast. Apart from great shopping and exciting nightlife, Cozumel has an intricate underwater landscape that is one of the most beautiful in the world. Scuba diving Cozumel reveals a dazzling underwater world with cliffs, canyons and underwater vegetation. Friendly fish flock to these underwater paradises for food and travelers scuba diving Cozumel will have the chance to swim along side schools of angelfish and other sea life. There are numerous spots to dive. Interliners find the Allegro Cozumel very convenient as it is just a 5 minute boat ride from the Palancar Reef, which is one of the major dive destinations in and around Cozumel.

Another thriving diving hotspot on the Yucatan is Cancun and the Mayan Riviera. Scuba diving Cancun or the Mayan Riviera is also one of the most popular activities in the area. Nearly every hotel in Cancun and the Mayan Riviera will offer packages for scuba diving and for good reason. Divers may choose from one of two popular locations. The shallow and colorful reefs off Playa Del Carman is widely frequented, as is Chinchorro Banks, which offers access to the second largest barrier reef in the world (after Australia’’s Great Barrier Reef). Scuba diving Cancun and the Mayan Riviera is a great choice for divers of every level. Cancun also offers plenty of other entertainment, such as visiting nearby Mayan ruins or just hanging out on the beach. If Cancun is too big for you then head down to Playa del Carmen to find a charming city with just enough night life and dining options to keep just about anyone happy.

Another of the more popular scuba destinations for divers around the world is Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta scuba diving offers special treats to divers such as the many of the nearby islands and bays, such as Los Arcos, Majahuitas. The Marietas islands have been designated as protected underwater national parks. Between December and April, Puerto Vallarta scuba diving will also offer views of humpback whales, as these mammals migrate to the warms seas off the coast each winter. Whale sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and a variety of tropical fish also make this safe haven their home. Puerto Vallarta scuba diving is a great adventure for anyone taking a Mexico beach vacation in the area.

Although Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Cozumel are the three most popular and famous spots for scuba diving, there are also some great spots off the coast of Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. Depending on the length of your Mexico beach vacation, you may want to take a day or two to explore all that diving has to offer. Day trips, as well as longer boating excursions, are widely available. Winter is by far the best season for scuba diving, as the highest number of sea creatures will migrate to the warm waters of Mexico. If you plan to dive during this time, be sure to book ahead, as tours do fill up. Whether you”ll be taking your first dive or your hundredth dive, the scuba diving Mexico offers is truly world-class.

If you need to find a room in any of these resort destinations contact InterlineTravel.com at 800 766-2911 or in the DFW Area at 817 481-8631 or online at www.interlinetravel.com.