Belize Barrier Reef

About the Reef

Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, it stretches nearly 185 miles along the entire Belize coastline. As well as the barrier reef the coastline is dotted with hundreds of picturesque, and mostly uninhabited, small islands called cayes (pronounced keys) and three atolls (rings of coral reef surrounding a sheltered lagoon).

The reef and atolls are home to an array of beautifully coloured tropical fish and many varieties of hard and soft coral. Fish such as angel and parrotfish are plentiful, along with stingrays, nurse sharks, turtles and grouper.

The waters within the reef are clear, warm and protected from the ocean swell. Visibility can be up to 130ft and the temperature averages 27°C making it ideal for snorkelers and novice divers.

There are endless amazing sites to snorkel or dive off the coast of Belize.
Click to view some Highlights of the Reef

Getting to the Reef

Staying at any villages or resorts along the coastline or on the islands will give you access to an array of different dive or snorkel sites.

Ambergris Caye (Island North of Belize)

Ambergris Caye is highly developed for tourism, particularly for snorkelling and diving as the barrier reef is only 10 minutes by boat and there are a large number of dive sites accessible from here. Well known sites include Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley where nurse sharks and rays have become semi tame. If you want to dive the Blue Hole then Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker tend to have enough demand to send trips there daily.

Caye Caulker (Island)

Caye Caulker makes an ideal base if you are visiting Belize primarily to dive the reef as it provides access to sites at Ambergris Caye and is nearer the famous Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye Natural Monument on Lighthouse Reef and also to the Turneffe Islands.

Dangriga and Hopkins (Middle Coast)

Dangriga and Hopkins village provide access to a large number of dive or snorkel sites. The beautiful South Water Caye Marine Reserve is only 30 minutes by boat. All three Atolls are accessible on a day trip with a fast boat, and from March to June Gladden Spit can be reached to snorkel or dive with the Whale Sharks.

Placencia (South Coast)

The reef is 40km from the shore at Placencia but fast boats make it accessible in 45 minutes. There are numerous cayes to explore from the Placencia coast. Diving and snorkelling trips can be taken to the beautiful Silk Cayes or Ranguana Caye. Half day snorkel trips are also available to the nearer inner cayes. Glover's Reef Atoll is possible as a daytrip from here in a larger boat. During the months of April to June Placencia is the most popular spot for daily daytrips out to Gladden Spit to try and see the whale sharks.

Further diving opportunities can also be found on live-aboards or by staying at a specialist dive resort on one of the smaller cayes or Turneffe Islands (atoll).