Belize Recommendations

[Melissa]

Planning a dive for March somewhere warmer than here.
Does anyone have experience with Hamanasi, Manta, Turneffe Island, or Cottage Colony in Belize?
Happy new year and thanks.
Melissa

[Alison Boler]

Hi Melissa
Can't help you personally but I'm sure you will find people here at the forum who have been to Belize.
Have you looked at our Belize information page?
http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/where/belize.htm

We have some trip reports there but also there is an article called Central America's Rising Eco Star. If you click on that link it will take you to the Belize section within an American diving site called www.scubadiving.com. In their Belize Tripfinder section they have lots of forum posts and trip reports on Belize that will be of interest. I find it a great site for areas of the world popular with American divers and clearly they go to the Caribbean the way we go to the Med or the Red Sea. Obviously, you have to read what is said and then decide whether you share the views/tastes/requirements of the writer, but that's true of any forum. I have largely found the community within their forums to be very good. They have certainly steered me to some excellent operators in the past.

All the best

Allie

[Edward]

Planning a dive for March somewhere warmer than here.
Does anyone have experience with Hamanasi, Manta, Turneffe Island, or Cottage Colony in Belize?
Happy new year and thanks.
Melissa

Hi Melissa

I've been to Belize 5 times over the years (and going next May).

Hamanasi, being on the mainland you will have a 10 mile trip (each way) to dive the outer reef.

Manta, being on an atoll there are major drop-offs all round so there should always be a lee. The east side of the atolls are better than the West, but both will drop to over 2000 ft.

I've not heard of Turneffe Island or Cottage Colony. Turneffe Atoll has a number of resorts on it, it is also the nearest to the Blue-hole.

Weather-wise March is in the dry season (it only rains once a day). Water temp about 27'C, but cooler on deeper dives, most dives last about an hour.

Dive Operators, all use ft and PSI, buddy pairing is generally a strange concept as diving is lead by a guide in the follow my leader role.

PM me if you have any other questions.

Edward

[Melissa]

Hi Edward,
Thank you for the insights. May I ask you where you have enjoyed diving during your trips to Belize? I have never been, what might you recommend for a first-timer?
Thanks again,
Melissa

[Melissa]

Hi Allie,
Many thanks, I'd been to the first site, but not the second.
Much appreciated,
Melissa

[john Scullion]

Hi Melissa
I have dived Belize a few times during tours out there with the forces. The diving is fantastic especialy around Half Moon kay. The drop offs are spectacular and the sharks are well fed so don't bother the diver. i was just a little disapointed with the Blue hole but enjoyed seeing the Hammerheads swimming at depth in it.
But please choose your dive operator with care there are one or two of them who operate outside the safety zone.
I am sure there are people within BSAC who can point you towards a good operator.
Enjoy the trip and take loads of photo's. On your day off visit the Mayan temples.