Belize is fast becoming one of the hottest celeb spotting destinations with the likes of Tiger Woods, Charlize Theron, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford and Francis Ford Coppola visiting or purchasing property there to hang out with their friends.
Taking a yacht charter around the islands is the most idyllic way to discover this picture postcard destination.
Belize has so much to offer from fly fishing, snorkelling, sailing (of course) and diving.
Here are our pick of the country’s dive spots:
1.The Blue Hole
Image Source: The Moorings
The Great Blue Hole is often voted the world’s best dive site because of the crystal-clear waters, myriad species of marine life including tropical fish and spectacular coral formations.
The marine life in this area include nurse sharks, giant groupers, and several reef shark species like the Caribbean reef shark and the Black tip shark.
2. Long Caye Aquarium
Image Source: belizeadventure.ca
Long Caye Aquarium is one of the best preserved dive spots in Belize’s Barrier Reef. It offers one of the largest varieties of marine life including the Spotted Eagle Ray, Nurse Sharks, Sea Turtles, Barracudas, and more.
The corals here are so colourful with many invertebrates still flowing with the sea current.
3. Christ of the Abyss
Christ of the Abyss is located in the reef only five minutes northeast of San Pedro. Christ of the Abyss is a dive site that has a sunken statue resembling Christ with outstretched arms as one of its main attractions submerged at approximately 18 m. (60 ft.).
Graced with a variety of colourful corals the sea floor is virtually and underwater garden.
San Pedro, is situated on the southern end of the Ambergris Caye coast. Some of the highlights of the dive are the fine specimens of staghorn coral, tube sponges and the nurse sharks and rays which frequent the area.
4. The Silk Cayes Wall
Image Source: Touropia
The Silk Cayes, also known as the Queen Cayes, are 2 deserted islands located right along the Barrier Reef. Fringed by white sand beaches and dotted with dozens of coconut trees, a trip to these islands are 45 minutes from Placencia.
Here you will spot a huge variety of marine life including the Spotted Frog Fish which are endemic to the area. Loggerhead turtles are an almost guaranteed sighting on wall dives in this area.
5. Glover’s Reef
Image Source: belizescuba.com
There’s often a dolphin escort to Glover’s Reef which is an hour and a half from Placencia. Here you will see colourful coral gardens, sponges and marine life.
6. The Elbow
Image Source: yorkhabelizeresort.com
Thousands of fish gather in the deep canyons and spur and groove formations when currents converge with changing tides at the southern tip of the Turneffe Atoll. Especially around the full moon, this site is an underwater show-stopper.
7. The Chimney
Image Source: ambergriscaye.com
This site is for the adventurous, experienced diver to descend deep canyons and tunnels filled with groupers, tarpon, moray eels, octopus, corals and sponges. It is found on the Halfmoon Caye wall at Lighthouse Reef.
A Belize sailing holiday offers balmy easterly trade winds year round averaging between 15 and 22 knots that virtually guarantee a wonderful sail every day in calm waters tucked behind cays and reefs. Passages are short and the navigation is mostly line-of-sight.
Plotting courses and heeding the chart is advised due to the many reefs.
Keeping a good bow watch and reading depths based on colour changes is also important due to seasonal changes in sand bars. A Belize yacht charter is well within the reach of sailors who have basic skills in coastal navigation.
The beauty and unique character of these waters lures less experienced and veteran sailors alike to return time after time for more adventures in one of the best snorkelling and diving locations in the Western Caribbean. Year-round temperatures range from 23°C to 29°C.
Prices for a seven day Moorings yacht charter in Belize start from $4,223 for up to 8 people on a 39ft Catamaran and include Belize Certificate of Competency Fee, fuel costs, and a yacht damage waiver. The Belize & the Seychelles Dreaming discount is valid until 14th March 2016 and applies to charters departing until 17th December 2016.
For more information visit www.moorings.com.au or call a holiday planner on 1800 553 720.
