Caribbean · Belize
Belize
The Blue Hole and the world's second-largest barrier reef.
Destination snapshot
Best time
April–June, November
Water temp
78–84°F
Visibility
60–100 ft
Skill level
Intermediate
Flight time (US)
~2.5 hrs (Miami)
Currency
Belize Dollar
Great for
Liveaboards · Wall diving
Avg cost
$$$
Why visit
Bucket-list geology, jungle-and-reef combos, and remote atolls only reachable by liveaboard.
The mainland puts you next to Mayan ruins and jungle rivers. The atolls — Lighthouse, Turneffe, Glover's — are where the wall diving and Blue Hole live. Best done as a liveaboard week.
Best dive sites
- The Great Blue Hole
- Half Moon Caye Wall
- The Elbow
- Long Caye Aquarium
Best snorkeling spots
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve
- Shark Ray Alley
- Mexico Rocks
What you may see underwater
Best time to visit
April–June for the calmest atoll crossings
Interesting fact
The Great Blue Hole is a 407-foot-deep sinkhole that formed as a dry cave during the last Ice Age — Jacques Cousteau put it on the map in 1971.
Who this destination is best for
- Bucket-list divers
- Intermediate + advanced divers
- Liveaboard first-timers
Recommended resort
Turneffe Island Resort
Turneffe Atoll, Belize
Turneffe Island Resort occupies its own 14-acre cay two hours offshore. All-inclusive packages combine flats fishing, atoll diving, and access to the Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef.
Why Salty Reef recommends it
Private-island lodge on Belize's outer atoll.
Recommended dive operator
Belize Aggressor IV
Belize City, Belize
The Aggressor Fleet's Belize itinerary is the classic outer-atoll trip — up to 27 dives a week across Turneffe, Lighthouse, and the Great Blue Hole on a 138-foot liveaboard with private staterooms.
Why Salty Reef recommends it
7-night charters to the Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye, and Lighthouse Reef.
Disclosure: Salty Reef may earn a referral commission when you book with some of the resorts, operators, and liveaboards we recommend. It never costs you more, and we only recommend places we would send our own family.
Travel planning
Average budget
$2,800–$5,500 / week
Suggested length
7 nights
Where to stay
Ambergris Caye or a liveaboard
When to go
April–June for the calmest atoll crossings
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Great Blue Hole worth it?
- Geologically stunning but a deep, dark technical-feeling dive. Most divers love it once; the surrounding reefs at Lighthouse and Turneffe are the real prize.
- Should I stay on the mainland or an atoll?
- For serious diving, base at an atoll resort (Turneffe, Half Moon Caye) or a liveaboard. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are best for a mixed dive/travel trip.
- When is the best time to go?
- April–June — flat seas, warm water, and whale sharks aggregate near Gladden Spit in April/May full moons.
Ready to dive Belize?
Tell us your dates and experience level — a Salty Reef Travel Concierge will match you with the right resort, operator, or liveaboard in Belize and handle the details. Always free to you.
Available 24/7 · 727-240-2242 · Our travel concierge service is always free to you.
At a glance
- Region
- Caribbean
- Country
- Belize
- Best season
- April–June, November
- Water temp
- 78–84°F
- Visibility
- 60–100 ft
- Skill level
- Intermediate
- Currency
- Belize Dollar
- Flight from US
- ~2.5 hrs (Miami)
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