Belize Barrier Reef

Caribbean tips you can trust

Why the
Belize Barrier Reef
and atolls are special

They are fabulous underwater paradise for divers. They offer a rich diversity of tropical fish and coral formations set in warm, remarkably clear waters.

Tips & insights on
the Belize Barrier
Reef and atolls

Blue Hole

This sinkhole on Lighthouse Reef is the most famous dive spot. It's 120 meters (400 feet) deep and has luxuriantly blue water with wonderful clarity and striking limestone formations. Jacques Cousteau put the Blue Hole on the world-diving map.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

This is Belize's most acclaimed diving area. Hol Chan is on the tip of the Ambergris, a northern cay where many divers stay.

Other major diving destinations

They include:

Elbow (on Turneffe Reef)

Glover's Reef (atoll)

Halfmoon Caye (on Lighthouse Reef )

North vs south

The north has the better diving infrastructure, including resorts and dive shops.

Snorkeling

The Belize Barrier Reef and the atolls also offer snorkelers memorable experiences.

Fishing

There is terrific fishing among the reefs and atolls, and beyond.

Underwater photography

The excellent water visibility coupled with vividly hued fish and coral gardens assures great photos.

Size

The reef is about 300 kilometers (180 miles) in length. It is the middle part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which is the world's second largest. Only the one in Australia is bigger.

Pre- and post excursions

You're in a good location to take inland excursions to the spectacular Mayan ruins of Xunantunich (Belize) and Tikal (Guatemala).

Location map