Snorkeling and diving in Belize is one of the best experiences in this country. Know the best sites to head to and make your Belize scuba diving vacations worth your while.
Go on a Belize scuba diving vacation now
Going on a Belize trip exposes you to lush jungles, interesting
Mayan ruins and diverse wildlife. 
Yet, this Central American gem is best known for its snorkeling and diving sites along hundreds of atolls and cayes, including a 185-mile reef, which is second in size to that of Australia’s. Abundant sea life and stunning corals fill its clear waters, and are easily accessible to snorkelers and divers of any experience level. From the busy north of Belize to the sleepy south, below are out top choices for the best snorkeling and diving in Belize sites.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley
Found north of Belize and visible from the southeastern shore of Ambergris, Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley might be the most popular dive and snorkel spots in Belize. Although crowds can be a problem, but its 30-meter deep waters and stunning views outweigh all the negatives, especially or diving newbies and snorkelers. Beyond the reef, Hol Chan opens to deeper waters where snorkelers and divers are greeted with an eruption of nurse sharks, colorful fishes, turtles, rays and even dolphins. Night dives offer a very different world of bio luminescence, where you can see glowing green moray eels and parrot fishes wrapped in mucus cocoons.
Caye Caulker
Also located in the northern waters of the country, Caye Caulker is the more relaxed cousin of the tourist-filled Ambergris. Solid dive and snorkel dives like the manatee habitat of Coral Gardens are just short boat rides away. You cannot swim with these gentle animals, but this famous day trip mostly includes snorkeling stops like Goff’s Caye and a visit to the rich wildlife and deep waters of Shark Ray Village. Your guide might even point out precious seahorses entwined in the mangroves.
Turneffe Islands
This is the biggest of the 3 major offshore atoll reefs of Belize and is recognized for its varied features, offering the most diverse marine life in the country. Over 200 nearby mangrove islands are home to numerous species like the jewfish, reef sharks, morays, turtles, rays, dolphins and the endemic white-spotted toadfish. Even mantas and pelagic fishes visit occasionally. Fishing is limited here, so lobsters flourish. Visibility in the area ranges from 100 to 150 feet, although many divers love intimate macro-photography opportunities. Many Turneffe dive sites are at the southern end. Elbow is a famous stop for big fish. A 1985 passenger boat wreck is now adorned with mackerels, sharks, barracuda and groupers, and should be an easy dive for beginners.
Lighthouse Reef Atoll
If you want to see wildlife, corals, tunnels, walls or the popular Great Blue Hole, you can find so many great dive sites at Lighthouse Reef. The farthest offshore atoll, it offers one-day dive trips to hot spots like Silver Caves, Aquarium and Tres Cocos. Eagle Ray Wall is another site htat offers a shallow and colorful reef perfect for snorkelers. Divers can descent along the wall and take stunning photos of eagle rays as they glide up. Right in the center of the Lighthouse Reef is diving Belize Blue Hole, which is a feather in the cap for any diving enthusiast. This circular limestone sinkhole measures 400 feet, and is filled with stalactites, ledges and caves. The Blue Hole isn’t for beginner divers. Veterans can go as deep as 135 feet, with some outfitters offering shallower dives.
Glover’s Reef Atoll
The southern reefs of Belize are less frequented by the many northern dive operators, so it has fewer crowds and more diverse biology, particularly coral growths. Long Caye Wall was reputed to be the favorite Belize dive site of Cousteau and is considered world-class snorkeling. The invertebrates and crustaceans of Octopus Alley make for lovely night dives. Truelove also reveals a secret, located east of Glover’s; the crevasses of its double walls shelter groupers, horse-eyed jacks and spade fishes.
Gladden Spit
If you’re looking for a rare and unforgettable experience, head on to Gladden Spit between the months of March and June and dive with the whale sharks. These gentle and harmless creatures are the biggest species of fish. They love to feed in the waters of Southern Belize, just east of Placencia. It’s not exactly guaranteed, but a shark sighting is probable for divers. And since whale sharks feed near the surface, even snorkelers can get a sight of them.
To make your best diving Belize easier and more convenient, you can get dive tours scheduled for you. Dive tours can go from half a day to a full one with calm boat rides that mostly last for less than 2 hours. You can also go aboard boats that offer week-long trips of 2 to 3 dives, including nighttime. Contact reputable dive operators near your place for their packages and rates. You can also ask your hotel concierge during your Belize scuba diving vacations; they might offer similar services to their guests.