| Belize have the longest barrier reef in | | | | parallel ridges unlike the atolls of the |
| the Northern Hemisphere and offers a | | | | Pacific, which grew out of volcanoes. |
| combination of gentle inshore scuba | | | | These atolls rise close enough to the |
| diving and some more adventurous oceanic | | | | surface to allow sunlight penetration |
| dive sites for the experienced divers. | | | | causing massive coral and sponge |
| Belize offers scuba divers with a heady | | | | growths. It is therefore not surprising |
| concoction of reef, wall, cavern and cay | | | | the Belize barrier reef is declared as a |
| diving experiences. | | | | world heritage and is the subject of |
| Belize had a history of swashbuckling | | | | intense conservation and protection. |
| buccaneering in days gone by. Back then, | | | | Coral reefs in the Caribbean seas have a |
| there were regular pirate attacks on | | | | character of their own in that they do |
| Spanish treasure ships. Now, it is a | | | | not have the very diverse system of the |
| peaceful little city on the Caribbean | | | | Indo Pacific reefs. However, they lay |
| coast of Central America. | | | | claim to beautiful individual corals and |
| Belize is a popular diving destination | | | | sponges. The sponges are some of the |
| because of its long barrier reef which | | | | most colorful to be found anywhere in |
| offers an array of diving experiences | | | | the world. Some of the sponges are more |
| for all levels of scuba diving | | | | than a century old and can measure up to |
| proficiency, from the novice beginners | | | | an awesome 6 ft or 2 m across. |
| to the experienced veteran divers. | | | | Perhaps, the main attraction for scuba |
| The barrier reef is about 174 miles or | | | | diving in Belize is the contrast of its |
| 280 km long extending all the way along | | | | marine habitats ranging from bustling |
| the coast of the Yucatan Peninsular in | | | | coral communities on gentle sandy slopes |
| the north to Honduras in the south. In | | | | to steep drop offs with huge pelagic |
| this way, the reef actually creates a | | | | fishes and sharks. |
| true barrier between the ocean and the | | | | Scuba divers will find smaller coral |
| coast thus providing calm waters to | | | | communities in inshore reefs. These |
| scuba dive in. | | | | inshore reefs are home to about 500 |
| There are also numerous islands dotting | | | | species of fish including the 5 separate |
| the reef which are called cays or cayes | | | | species of butterfly fish. It is here |
| in this part of the world. In the south | | | | that encounters with larger marine |
| eastern part of the reef, there is a | | | | animals such as the manatees, whale |
| large depression in the ocean floor of | | | | shark, jewfish, manta rays are common |
| the Caribbean Sea and this created 3 | | | | occurrences. |
| atolls called Glovers, Turneffe and | | | | Do include Belize in your scuba diving |
| Lighthouse. The atolls sit on two | | | | itinerary. |