| 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 growths.
|
| Belize offers scuba divers with a heady
| |
| | It is therefore not surprising the Belize
|
| concoction of reef, wall, cavern and cay
| |
| | barrier reef is declared as a world
|
| diving experiences.
| |
| | heritage and is the subject of intense
|
| Belize had a history of swashbuckling
| |
| | 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 most
|
| because of its long barrier reef which
| |
| | colorful to be found anywhere in the
|
| offers an array of diving experiences for
| |
| | world. Some of the sponges are more than
|
| all levels of scuba diving proficiency,
| |
| | a century old and can measure up to an
|
| from the novice beginners to the
| |
| | awesome 6 ft or 2 m across.
|
| 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 scuba
| |
| | communities in inshore reefs. These
|
| 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.
|
