Belize Liveaboard Diving

Explore the Iconic Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef

This small Central American country, boasting the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world and 3 of the 4 true atolls in the western hemisphere, has to be the jewel in the Caribbean diving crown.

Picture-postcard tropical islands, wildlife-rich mangrove forests, stunning palm-fringed beaches and a plethora of ancient Mayan ruins for you to explore, all to make Belize a wonderful diving and holiday destination.

Pristine reefs with visibility up to 50 metres, spectacular sponge formations and waters teeming with large and small fish, are what make Belize a premier liveaboard diving destination. Safari cruises here concentrate their regular itineraries around the magnificent atolls of Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe.

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• Belize

Lighthouse Reef Atoll

The world renowned Lighthouse Reef is the furthest atoll from mainland Belize. Great visibility all year round, fantastic wall diving, and of course the "bucket list" Blue Hole - being greeted by reef and occasionally bull sharks add an extra dimension to this already spectacular dive site.

Steep drop-offs and walls plastered with huge gorgonian sea fans can be found all along the eastern side of the atoll. Spotted eagle rays, mantas and hawksbill turtles are frequently sighted at Half Moon Caye Wall and Que Brada.

For more detailed information, visit our Lighthouse Reef website section.

Visit our dive safaris section to explore your options for Belize liveaboards.

Turneffe Reef Atoll

Turneffe Atoll is the closest and largest of the 3 atolls located of Belize. Often ignored by the daytrip boats, the waters are fed by nutrients from the 200+ mangrove covered islands that make up the atoll resulting in gigantic shoals of cubera snapper and horse eye jacks among others, which in turn attract lemon, Caribbean reef, blacktip sharks and the occasional solitary hammerhead shark.

The Elbow is the most popular dive site here with groups of up to 50 majestic spotted eagle rays often sighted to put a smile on the most world weary of divers faces. Other sites include the Aquarium, a great place for underwater photographers, and the wreck of the Sayonara.

For more detailed information, visit our Turneffe Reef website section.

Visit our dive cruises section to explore your options for liveaboard diving in Belize.

Diving Season

You can dive Belize all year round. April to June is the period generally regarded as the peak holiday season for divers. June to November is the rainy season but more than a couple of consecutive days of rain are rare and it doesn't normally affect the visibility at the offshore dive sites. February and March are the driest months.

Water temperature hardly ever falls below 26°C and reaches a high of 29°C from August to October.

Prime whale shark spotting season is from March to June.

Reef Summary

Great for: Visibility, large animals, beginner divers and non-diver activities
Not so great for: Wrecks
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 15 - 50m
Currents: None to moderate
Surface Conditions: Calm but can be choppy during August to December
Water temperature: 25 - 29°C
Experience level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >60
Recommended length of stay: 2 weeks

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