Blue Hole Dive & Lighthouse Reef
- Minimum Guests Required: 12 Divers
- Experience level: Advanced Open Water Certified
An international icon and Belizes most famous dive site, the Blue Hole is undisputedly a must-see for divers planning a trip to Belize. The giant marine sinkhole lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef and is the worlds largest natural formation of its kind. Forming part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, it is a composite World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization . Its a must do for dive enthusiasts. The day tour begins at sunrise from the SunBreeze Hotel dock and includes a full day of seeing some of the best Belize dive sites. These include The Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye and Long Caye.
Rates above include 12.5% Sales Tax. Dives include tanks and weights.
About Amigos Del Mar Dive Shop
A family-owned business established in 1984 on the island of Ambergris Caye, Amigos Del Mar, started off as a tiny dock on the beach with nothing but a thatched roof and a group of brothers along with a few of their close friends and an aspiration to share the best of their home with the world. Amigos Del Mar is now an SSI Diamond Dive Center and SDI resort facility which specializes in full-service diving, instruction, snorkeling, boat charters and is ideally situated in the heart of San Pedro Town.
Night Barrier Reef Dives
- 1 Tank Cost: US $67.50
Night Dive presents an opportunity to go underwater when lights other than natural sunlight is required to see. In the daylight, vibrant tropical fish and an array of other sea life paint a vivid underwater scene. As the sunsets, a very different view of the coral reef is revealed as half of the oceans marine life emerge from the depths to feed or partake in mating rituals. The ever-present flecks of the ocean become iridescent against deep cobalt blues as bioluminescence take center stage to illuminate. As you surface and witness the stars above, fascination lingers with what lies beneath.
Rates above include 12.5% Sales Tax. Dives include tanks and weights.
Read Also: Perception Rambler 13.5 Tandem Kayak Review
How To Get There
Getting to Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker couldnt be easier. International flights land at the Philip S. W. Goldson Airport in Belize City, from where you can take a taxi to the ferry station. From Belize City, the ferry takes 45-minutes to Caye Caulker, and a further 45-minutes to reach Ambergris Caye. Flights also leave regularly from both the international and domestic airports, taking just 15-minutes or so to reach either island.
There are few cars on Ambergris Caye, and none on Caye Caulker, but getting around is simple. On the larger of the two islands, Ambergris Caye, youll find plenty of scooters for hire as well as golf carts to taxi you from place to place. On Caye Caulker, motorised transport is reduced to golf carts, but with an island this small, you can easily get by with a pedal bike or on foot.
Barrier Reef Local Boat Dives
- Minimum Guests Required: 2 Divers
- Experience level: Intermediate
- Time: 8:00 AM or 2:00 PM
The brilliant underwater beauty of the Caribbean is just a stones throw from shore, only a short 5-10 minute cruise from the SunBreeze pier takes you to multiple dive sites just beyond the reef crest. Spend the day exploring the reef by tank. Choose from 1 to 3 tank dives experiencing depths of 60-80 feet.
2 Tank Dive: US$90.003 Tank Dive: US $123.751 Tank Combo Dive and Snorkel: US$ 67.50
Rates above include 12.5% Sales Tax. Dives include tanks and weights.
Don’t Miss: Best Kayak For Fishing Rivers
Ambergris Caye Belize Scuba Diving Tours
Local Diving The spectacular Belize Barrier Reef offers scuba diving unrivaled anywhere else in the world. It runs for 185 miles parallel to the coastline, making it the largest reef in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. The reef is located less than a mile from the Ambergris Caye coastline. Water temperatures are fairly constant all year, staying between the high 70s and low 80s.
A lightweight dive skin or a 1/16-inch shorty wetsuit should be perfect for multiple dive days. The underwater visibility in Belize is up to 165 feet, allowing the diver to see all of the amazing marine life. Some of the picturesque creatures youll see include the large, friendly moray eels that are willing to be photographed. You will pass by many schools of blue tang, blue striped grunts, and silk snappers. Rays and nurse sharks are also a common sight while diving in Belize.
Advanced Open Water Diving Certification
Provides a certified open water diver with a structured, well-supervised means to gain additional dive experience. An essential prerequisite to many specialty courses consists of five open water dives done over two days. Your course includes an underwater navigation dive and a night dive.
US$ 421.80 per person
Recommended Reading: Scuba Diving Jamaica Montego Bay
Lighthouse Reef And Great Blue Hole Dive
- Experience level: Advanced Open Water Certified or Higher
An international icon and Belizes most famous dive site, the Blue Hole is undisputedly a must-see for divers planning a trip to Belize. The giant marine sinkhole lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef and is the worlds largest natural formation of its kind. Forming part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, it is a composite World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization . Its a must do for dive enthusiasts. The day tour begins at sunrise from the SunBreeze Hotel dock and includes a full day of seeing some of the best Belize dive sites. These include The Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye and Long Caye.
Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley Dive + Snorkel Combo Trip
- 1 tank to 1 snorkel
- Experience level: Intermediate
Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley are approximately 4 miles southeast of SunBreeze Hotel. It is the single most popular day trip from San Pedro, perfect for snorkeling and diving. Hol Chan is Mayan for little channel. The entire reserve focuses on a cut through the reef which is little more than 25 yards wide and 30 feet deep. Over 160 species of fish have been identified in the reserve, along with nearly 40 species of corals, 5 sponges, 8 algaes, 2 seagrasses, 3 marine mammals, and 3 species of sea turtle. You will do one tank dive here before morning over to Shark Ray Alley. Annexed to Hol Chan is Shark Ray Alley for a snorkel. Nurse Sharks and Rays have a great tolerance for snorkelers and seem to enjoy the human interaction.
Also Check: Best Snorkeling In Kauai For Beginners
Bacalar Chico Marine National Park & Reserve
Established in 1996, the Bacalar Chico Marine National Park & Reserve is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Home to at least 187 species of fish, plus a few loggerhead, green, and hawksbill sea turtles, this site is an extremely important spawning aggregation site. Located at the very northern tip of Ambergris Caye, the reserve includes 41 square miles of land, reef, and sea, making it easily accessible by boat or sometimes even directly from the shore.
I hope you enjoyed Top Five Scuba Spots in San Pedro, Belize. Here are a few articles about Belize that you may also be interested in:
Tour Operator Of The Year 2019scuba School And Family Dive Center Belizeis Humbled And Honored To Be Chosen As One Of The Finalists Fortour Operator Of The Year 2019by The Belize Tourism Board
We are a PADI 5 Star Resort Facility and were rated PADIs #1 training center in our entire region for 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and soon to be 2022. For the past 7 years running, we received Trip Advisors Certificate of Excellence, the highest honour for establishments who have consistently received 5-star reviews over a years time frame and are now PROUD members of the TripAdvisor 7 STAR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE HALL OF FAME where we have earned the certificate of excellence award for the past 7 years in a row.
As a locally-operated, professional dive training facility, we offer all our divers an ongoing educational experience, even on recreational dives. We are all about quality instruction and the safety of our guests.
At our dive center, we limit our course sizes to 4 students per instructor in order to provide personalized attention to our guests. We take pride that we are not a cattle boat company we prefer to work with smaller groups of 6 to 8 total.
Scuba School & Family Dive Center Belize is proud to be one of the finest PADI 5-star training facilities, with all of our instructors educated with the newest teaching methods. Whether taking your first step with Discover Scuba Diving or enhancing skills with the Divemaster Course, Scuba School is the right choice.
Find yourself exploring the undersea world with our PADI-certified dive masters and elite instructors. The best place to dive in Belize.
Read Also: Boat Rentals In Newport Beach
Amigos Del Mar Features
- Offering the most experienced and best-equipped scuba diving in San Pedro Town and the country of Belize Amigos del Mar is your best choice for diving, snorkeling, and day trip experiences!
- From private SCUBA instruction to a fun-filled day on the water with 20 of your friends, Amigos del Mar will deliver the white glove service you deserve on a hard-earned vacation. The professional team showcases a variety of experiences.
- The professional staff is dedicated to creating Customer Satisfaction, not just service. The team utilizes the latest tools and technologies to help you in your dive, training activities and safety aspects of diving.
- They conduct numerous training sessions during the season to ensure that their professional staff are up to date in regards to: First Aid, Equipment Maintenance, Boat Safety Training, Dive Education Training, and Retail Knowledge Sessions.
- Amigos del Mar is an Authorized SSI and SDI dive center. All the instructors are certified by SSI and SDI to teach strict safety standards and procedures. Going on Discover Scuba ‘Resort Course’ dive is a great way to find out if you like Scuba Diving and for most people, it opens their eyes to an amazing underwater world!
Diving Snorkeling Fishing & More
- Morning & afternoon local reef dives
- Night dives & night snorkel tours
- PADI Open Water training & certifications
- Snorkeling tours to Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley, Mexico Rocks, Tuffy Canyon, Caye Caulker
- Discover Scuba–safe introductory dive with no experience needed!
- Reef fishing & flats fishing
- Secret Beach Sunday Snorkel
More Adventures:
- Dive or snorkel the Great Blue Hole & Turneffe Atoll
- Day trips to Maya Ruins, Belize Zoo, and more
Read Also: Nsp Stand Up Paddle Board
Ambergris Caye Scuba Diving
Ambergris Caye is located just minutes away from the Belize Barrier Reef the second largest barrier reef in the world and boasts a variety of dive sites within a 20 minute boat ride from the pier at Victoria House. Atolls also offer an amazing, colorful and diverse full day of diving.
Most of the dive sites are a two to three tank multilevel dives. Weather conditions are taken under consideration for each of the dive sites listed. The Turneffe area is filled with a vast array of fish that gather between deep canyons and groove reef formations.
If it isnt already, scuba diving in Belize should certainly be on your bucket-list of adventures.
Scuba Diving Off The Coast Of Ambergris Caye
The Blue Tang has partnered with local dive shops and will help you arrange your San Pedro Belize scuba diving. Visit our hotel front desk once you arrive and they will be happy to assist you. Join us for a 1, 2 or 3-tank dive and explore the Barrier Reef just off of Ambergris Caye.
1 Tank Diving $65 USD Book Now
2 Tank Diving $100 USD Book Now
3 Tank Diving $150 USD Book Now
Night Diving $70 USD
The spectacular Belize Barrier Reef offers scuba diving unrivaled anywhere else in the world. It runs for 185 miles parallel to the coastline, making it the largest reef in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. We also highly recommend a night dive, where you will enjoy the nocturnal marine life.
Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef $320 USD Let us introduce you to some of the most spectacular diving in the world! Welcome to the famous Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef.
Turneffe Atoll Dive $265 USD
The Turneffe Atolls vastness and variety of marine life and coral formations are truly unmatched, according to Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue. This one-of-kind day trip requires a minimum of 10 divers to confirm.
This is 3-tank offshore dive full day trip which consists of 3 sites which are chosen by the Captain and the divemasters based on the following factors:
- Weather Conditions
All dives are done at an approximate depth between 50-80ft.
Food: We include continental breakfast, lunch, fruits throughout the day, refreshments and drinks on the way back.
Don’t Miss: Which Gopro For Scuba Diving
Welcome To Ecologic Divers
Your Valet Diving Specialist on Ambergris Caye!
Ecologic Divers is a premier PADI Five Star Dive Center located in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. Our PADI Divemasters and DiveInstructors are helpful, courteous, professional and also a lot of fun.
Our Valet Diving Experience allows you and your group to be free of the worry and hassle of dealing with your gear during your vacation. Bring your gear to us, show us you know how to set it up, and then not have to deal with it again for the remainder of your visit. We will change your tanks, make any needed weights adjustments, and have your gear on the boat ready for your next dive. At the end of your day’s diving we will rinse and store your gear. The next day your gear will be set up and loaded on the boat ready to go.
On the boat before each dive, you will be given a thorough dive site briefing. For your safety, our dive groups are small, a maximum of six divers per divemaster. After the dive, you will be given a hot eucalyptus scented hand towel to wash off the salt water. Upon returning to our dock between dives, you will be treated to fresh fruit, snacks, and beverages.
We are committed to making your diving entertaining, exciting,and mostimportantly, a memorable and safe experience. Check us out onTrip Advisor and see what our guests are saying about us. You will see that we have happy, satisfied divers and guests!
Ambergris Caye Belize Diving Tours
Whether youve got hundreds of dives under your belt or youre a beginner looking to be certified, Ambergris Caye is an exceptional destination for all your underwater adventures.
With 39 named dive sites along the 25 miles of Belizes remarkable barrier reef that runs less than a mile offshore, you will be sure to get your fill of marine life. Divers will see amazing coral formations, including canyons, grottos, and tunnels. The calm waters offer visibility up to 150 ft., several canyons, swim-throughs, and the reef cuts are teeming with abundant colorful sea life. Underwater photographers looking for that National Geographic shot are sure to be satisfied.
The following Belize scuba diving tours can be booked with our on-site tour desk when you arrive or booked when you make your reservation. If you want a full diving experience, visit our Belize Diving Packages page.
Also Check: Best Place To Kayak In Kentucky
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Just off the coast of Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Hol Chan is Mayan for little channel and is the passage to the outer edge of the Belize Barrier Reef. Its where all boats need to pass to avoid hitting coral. Since its designation in 1987, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve fisheries department enforces strict guidelines and rules for boaters to ensure the protection of this beautiful area. Boats are not allowed to anchor, visitors must not touch coral, and no fishing is permitted in this area. The protected area encompasses almost 5 square miles and is home to a thriving marine ecosystem.
- Strong currents are prevalent
- Relatively shallow dives, that are snorkel friendly
- Protected Marine Reserve with spectacular marine life
What you will see:
The consistent protection of this area means divers can expect to see long branches of thriving elkhorn coral as well as intricate brain coral. Among the colorful coral reefs, you will see hundreds of bar jacks schooling, reef fish hiding in the coral, massive grouper swimming around, snapper, as well as barracuda. Legend has it that there are even a few Nassau groupers swimming around. During the wet season, manatees are commonly sighted swimming in the shallow waters around the reserve.
Scuba Diving In Belize
Scuba diving in Belize is spectacular! Ambergris Caye is located just minutes away from the Belize Barrier Reef the worlds second largest barrier reef and boasts a variety of dive sites within a 20-minute boat ride from the pier at Victoria House. Atolls also offer a unique, colorful, and diverse full day of the best diving in Belize.
Most of the dive sites are two-to-three tank multilevel dives. We take weather conditions under consideration for each of the Belize dive sites listed. The Turneffe Atoll area is rich with a vast array of fish that gather between deep canyons and groove reef formations.
If it isnt already, scuba diving in Belize should undoubtedly be on your bucket list of adventures.
Don’t Miss: Best Scuba Diving In Key West
South Water Caye Marine Reserve
One of the largest marine reserves in Belize is located near the southern border with Guatemala. The South Water Caye Marine Reserve is just 10 miles / 16km off the coast of Belize and covers 7 miles / 12km of barrier reef. There are plenty of spectacular wall dives boasting incredible marine biodiversity. It gained protected status in 1996, covering 47,700 hectares of coastal and mangrove ecosystems. This entire area now has thousands of species, some of which are endemic to this part of the world.
- 7 mile stretch of marine reserve with beautiful reefs and marine animals
- Pelagic fish are found in great numbers on the outer walls
- Swimming with Whale Sharks during the right time of year
What you will see:
Keep a lookout for nudibranchs! These psychedelic gastropods are among the unique fauna here. The range of spectacular wall dives will provide divers with the opportunity to test their photography skills on the many macro creatures hiding in the colorful coral. Divers will also spot reef and silky sharks, schools of tuna, barracuda, and stingrays. The deeper areas attract different fish allowing advanced divers the chance to witness the full range of life this spot offers.