The Belize Cayes Diving Holidays: An Overview
Belize's barrier reef is made up of a series of cayes (pronounced "keys") that cover the length of the coast - nearly 200 miles of azure ocean dotted with gem-like islands sprouting from the water. Our favourite of which is Ambergris Caye, the largest in the system and home to beautiful white sand beaches and with access to some excellent diving, including the Blue Hole.
If staying on Ambergris Caye, we recommend people base themselves in San Pedro Town because it's ideally located for diving day trips, sailing trips and exploring on land.
Diving-wise, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a great place to start; it's just four miles from Ambergris Caye and is the oldest marine reserve in Belize. Divers will have the opportunity to spot nurse sharks and southern stingrays, as well as 40 species of coral and three species of sea turtle.
Then there's the Blue Hole - a sub-marine sinkhole that has adorned the pages of glossy magazines and clogged Instagram feeds for many a year. The dive itself is definitely different - a quiet, almost eery underwater atmosphere pervades as you glide past ancient stalactites and intricate limestone formations.
Above the waves, there are lots of activities to keep you busy, from birding to fishing and cave tubing.
