Belize Dive Travel Guide

Getting to Belize

Most divers arrive at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), just outside Belize City. It is the country’s main international gateway, with direct flights from several cities in the United States and connections from Canada and Central America. Flight times from the southern United States are short, which makes a long weekend of diving realistic as well as a full week.

Before you book, check the entry rules that apply to your passport, make sure your passport is valid for the whole stay, and confirm what your airline includes in the fare. Requirements change, so check them with your own government and the official Belize sources shortly before you travel rather than relying on an old blog post.

Getting Around: Islands, Cayes and the Atolls

Very few divers stay in Belize City. Most head straight out to the cayes (the small islands along the reef) or down the coast. You have two main options:

• Domestic flights. Small planes connect the international airport and the municipal airstrip with Ambergris Caye (San Pedro), Caye Caulker, Placencia and other towns. Flights are short and give you a first look at the reef from the air. Luggage limits are lower than on international flights, so check your allowance if you travel with your own dive gear.
• Water taxis. Scheduled boats run from Belize City to Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye. They are cheaper than flying and a pleasant way to arrive, though they take longer and your bags travel in the open boat.

The three offshore atolls, Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef (home of the Great Blue Hole) and Glover’s Reef, are reached by boat. Day trips leave from Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker and the mainland, but they are long days on the water. To dive the atolls several days in a row, many divers stay at an island lodge on the atoll itself or join a liveaboard. Our Belize dive accommodations guide compares the options.

When to Go Scuba Diving in Belize

You can dive Belize all year, but conditions and crowds change with the seasons:

• Dry season (roughly November to May). Usually the calmest seas, the most sunshine and excellent visibility. It is also the busiest and most expensive time, so book boats and rooms early, especially around the winter holidays and Easter.
• Wet season (roughly June to November). Afternoon showers are common, prices drop and the reef is quieter. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the highest risk late in the season. If you travel then, choose flexible bookings and consider travel insurance that covers weather.

Water temperatures stay warm all year, roughly 78°F to 84°F, which is why most divers wear a 3mm suit. See our scuba diving gear guide for Belize for what to pack.

Some marine life events are seasonal. Whale sharks gather at Gladden Spit, off Placencia, to feed on snapper spawn in spring, usually around the full moons from about March to June. Trips there are controlled by the marine reserve, so book with a licensed operator well ahead.

Money, Language and Everyday Basics

• Language. English is the official language, which makes briefings, bookings and emergencies simpler for many visitors. Spanish and Kriol are widely spoken too.
• Currency. The Belize dollar is fixed at two Belize dollars to one US dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted. Ask which currency a price is in before you pay.
• Marine park fees. Many of the best sites, including Hol Chan, the Great Blue Hole and the atoll reserves, are protected areas with entry fees. Ask your dive shop whether fees are included in the price of the trip.

Dive Insurance and Medical Planning

Remote sites such as the atolls can be hours from the nearest hospital or recompression chamber. Before you go, buy dive accident insurance that covers evacuation, carry your certification card and logbook, and ask your operator about their emergency plan and the oxygen they carry on the boat. Our guide to choosing a Belize dive shop lists the questions to ask.

Flying After Diving

Plan your last dive around your flight home. Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidance recommends waiting at least 12 hours after a single no-decompression dive and at least 18 hours after multiple dives or multiple days of diving before flying. Many divers simply keep the last day dry for snorkelling, a Maya site visit or the cave tubing and jungle trips the mainland is known for. Remember that a domestic hop in a small plane counts as flying, too.

Travel in the Low Season

Thinking of a summer or autumn trip? Our post on Belize diving in hurricane season weighs the deals against the risks, and our comparison of Belize atolls diving explains how to reach Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef and Glover's Reef.

Putting Your Belize Dive Trip Together

A simple plan works best. Pick a base close to the diving you want: Ambergris Caye for Hol Chan and a wide choice of operators, Caye Caulker for a relaxed, budget-friendly trip, Placencia for the southern reef and whale sharks, or an atoll lodge or liveaboard for the walls and the Blue Hole. Then choose an operator, book your transfers and leave a dry day at the end. Between dives, our guide to restaurants in Belize for divers covers the local food worth trying, and the Belize diving blog has travel news and dive tips.