Ambergris Cayes TOP 5 Dive Sites
Ambergris Caye located in Belize offers some amazing diving and has more than 40 dive sites for you to dive when you visit Belize.
I recently held a poll for divers to vote which of the dive sites off Ambergris Caye were the most enjoyable for the majority of divers and the following are the results of this poll.
Coming in at Number 5 is:
Pillar Corals Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Pillar Corals is located in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve which is a 7.5 square mile reserve located on the southern
tip of Ambergris Caye. Average depth of this dive is 50-75ft and you are going down to see the cool Pillar Corals some standing 10ft tall. The site has a healthy array of marine life and lots of healthy Coral and is suitable for all divers.
Experience required: novice
Depth: 60-70ft
Location: South Ambergris Caye
Type of Dive: Boat
In at number 4 is :
Esmeralda Canyons
Located just a few minutes from San Pedro Ambergris Caye, is Esmeralda Canyons. This dive site offers a large abundance of fish life including a resident Moray and lots of tropical fish. The corals are abundant and generally the visibility is very good. Average depth of this site is 50-75ft and suitable for all levels of diver.
Experience required: novice
Depth: 60-80ft
Location: South Ambergris Caye
Type of Dive: Boat
Number 3:
Tackle Box
Tackle Box is located just 5 minutes from shore and is located directly in front of the Tackle box bar. This site is
an excellent marine life dive with lots of Groupers, Nurse Sharks and lots of fish. Corals are healthy and this site also offers nice canyons and tunnels. Tackle Box is considered one of the best of Ambergris Caye. Average depth is 60-80ft.
Experience required: novice
Depth: 60-70ft
Location: In front San Pedro Ambergris Caye
Type of Dive: Boat
Number 2:
Cyprus Gardens
One of my favorite dives on the island, Cyprus Gardens is located in the Marine reserve and starts off in just 40ft of water averaging out to 60ft more if you head into the canyons.
The site is full of life such as big Groupers lots of shoals of fish, Nurse Sharks and the odd pelagic that swim by. This dive site was voted the 2nd best dive on Ambergris Caye and can be combined with the #1 top dive site on a day’s diving since both are located in the Marine Reserve.
Experience required: novice
Depth: 40-70ft
Location: South Ambergris Caye
Type of Dive: Boat
And in at #1 Voted the Very Best Dive on Ambergris Caye Belize
Eagle Ray Canyons VOTED the #1 Best Dive on Ambergris Caye
This site is known for regular sightings of spotted Eagle Rays. I dove this spot with some friends from Rodale’s
Magazine. Steve, one of the dive masters, was guiding the dive and during his briefing guaranteed that we were going to see Eagle Rays, and was quite adamant about it. I asked him if he was sure because we now had some excited divers aboard who were expecting to see Eagle Rays and they would be disappointed if they didn’t. Steve assured me and down we went, sure enough after 15 minutes we saw our first 3 Eagle Rays, 5 minutes later we saw an additional 5 a lot closer this time. In addition to the Eagle Rays, lots of coral formations, spur and groove formation and the usual congregation of juveniles.
This is a Marine Reserve so nothing may be touched or taken, we ask that you are careful with your fins and avoid accidentally touching the reef.
Experience required: Novice/Intermediate
Depth: 60-80ft
Location: South Ambergris Caye
Type of Dive: Boat
So there you have the Ambergris Caye’s TOP 5 Dive sites and now you can request these dive sites when you visit the island.
There are so many other excellent sites in addition to these 5, and I was quite surprised that more northern sites were not picked such as M&M Caverns or Happy Hours Reef or Palmero canyons etc. I determined that the reason was that not as many divers get the opportunity to dive North Ambergris because it’s further away from town and they are suggested less because of the fuel cost to get there. Let’s face it if I can keep you happy with the closest dive sites why suggest sites further afield.
Be sure to add at least a day’s diving north of town to get a complete feel of the diving off Ambergris Caye Belize.
If you would like to visit Ambergris Caye please take a look at the Ambergris Caye Dive Packages which you can see on the right hand side of this page under Ambergris Caye Dive Packages.
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If you have any questions about diving Ambergris Caye, please feel free to contact me direct using the contact form below I look forward to hearing from you.
Comments or questions are welcome.
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