DIVE SITES (in
alphabetical order)
Al's Hideout Deep Dive (60-120 ft.) Not
only is Blackbirds principal owner called Al, but its also the name of a
jew fish who lives on this steep wall with crags and overhangs. Expect big
barracuda.
Ambergris Caye (Northern Main Reef) 25 miles of solid
barrier reef, one-third mile from shore with several channels passing
through. Mostly deep diving outside the reef in spur-and-groove coral
formations.
Blackbirds Cut Medium dive (20-70 ft.) Cutting across the
reef zonations, from the lagoon to the drop off, seeing the changes in
habitat and inhabitants.
Blue Hole A collapsed cave roof from the risen oceans
following the ice age has left geological mysteries and a hole 408 ft deep
in which we go 130 ft to observe sunken stalactites.
Cababash Cut Medium(40-80 ft) dive. Spectacular sponges-
tubes and barrels, and brightly colored ropes and encrusting
sponges.
Central Main Reef Protected by Turneffe Atoll. Some spur
and groove with several good, deep walls.
Chinamans Wall Medium dive (30-100 ft.) The rim along the
wall is packed with hard and soft corals. A good dive to watch cleaning
stations.
CoCo Point Drift dive along impressive coral heads at
60-80 ft. Great steep drop with an abundance of garden eels on sand
patches at 30-50 ft.
Coliseum Not the theater you find in Rome or L. A., but a
shallow 20-60 ft dive. Tall towers of boulder corals form guarded pathways
down to the wall. Lots of hamlets.
Coral Canyon Shallow 35 ft dive, which explores the
buttresses of the fore-reef possible in very calm conditions. Huge coral
formations inhabited by fishes, crabs, lobster, and the occasional school
of Tarpon.
Coral Gardens Easy Shallow Dive (maximum 30 ft.) along
sandy coral ridge. On a good day this is one of the most beautiful shallow
reef dives with perfect coral formations in good health.
Glover's Reef Beautiful walls n southeast face. West wall
loaded with fish. Generally the diving is outstanding and there are four
pretty islands with good anchorages.
Grouper City Drift Dive along a 50-70 ft wall with plenty
of Grouper.
Lighthouse Reef Most varied and best diving in Belize
with many sheer drop-offs starting at 30 ft. No matter where the wind
blows from, there is safe, calm harbor and good diving.
Northern Turneffe Short walls 40 to 100 ft. Slopes on
West. Some sheer drop-offs on east to 70 ft.
Little Cababash Spectacular wall drop at 60 ft. Overhang
with Black Corals, abundant reef with lots of Tube and Barrel Sponges.
Large loggerhead turtle are frequently seen.
Long Caye Wall Medium dive (20-80 ft.) The wall starts at
25 ft and all the colors of sponges and soft corals are there. Lots of
small Tunicates and Seaslugs and large Grouper and Jacks.
Majestic Alley Shallow Dive (30-50 ft.) with Staghorn and
Elkhorn corals and lots of tropical reef fish.
Oasis Deep Dive (60-120 ft.) Large black corals and
sponges growing from a vertical cliff, up to sandy stretch with coral
patch communities.
Runway Drift Dive along 40-50 ft wall off resort with
many spectacular combinations.
Silver Caves Medium dive (20-80 ft.) Along the shallow
wall are caves where schools of silversides are usually
experienced.
Soldiers Caye Shallow dive (30 ft.) Good first dive.
Large variety of corals and fishes, especially pillar corals and moray
eels.
South Turneffe Deep walls and lots of fish on the east
side with short wall and slopes on the more protected west.
Southern Main Reef Numerous, pretty, small cayes on the
reed plateau with good shallow diving inside. The wall outside starts at
70 ft. and goes vertically out of sight. Plentiful fish.
Stingray Motel Shallow (35-60 ft) dive. Large patch of
sand frequented by resting Southern Stingrays, Eagle Rays and Hawksbill
turtles.
The Crabwalk Deep Dive (maximum 130 ft) Channel clinging
crabs inhabit the many holes in this wall, while schools of Horse eyed
Jack, frequent the area.
The Elbow A deep or medium dive and the time to see the
pelagics. Divers go to Belize just for this one. The live aboards cannot
do it. The Blue Planet Divers, dive shop for Blackbird Caye, can operate
drift diving.
Turtle Ridge Medium dive (maximum 70 ft.) Easily
navigated along coral ridges running from 30 ft to sheer drop at 65 ft.
Excellent night, day, and twilight dives.
West Side Story Medium dive (30-80 ft.) No wall- gently
sloping reef. Enriched by mangroves, everything here is
different.
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