DIVING
Featuring the world's second-largest barrier reef (the largest in the Western Hemisphere), divers and snorkelers can explore 185 miles of underwater life in these warm waters. Mainland tours can be arranged from resorts and hotels based in the Cayes.
SOUTHERN BELIZE
Pristine diving and snorkeling conditions - some of them unexplored - in less-crowded waters can be found here. Experience a variety of dives, including reef, gutters, walls and cayes. See large barrel and colorful tube sponges, eagle rays, brilliantly-colored fish and more. The best opportunity for whale shark sightings is in April, May and June.
LAUGHING BIRD CAYE
An atoll inside the reef 13 miles southeast of Placencia, Laughing Bird Caye is one of Belize's newest national parks. It was originally named after a large population of laughing gulls that returned each year to breed. This three-mile protected area yields excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities. There's elkhorn coral mixed with staghorn and brain coral and beautiful fish.
SOUTH WATER CAYE MARINE PRESERVE 
This is one of Belize's newest and largest marine preserves stretching from north of Tobacco Caye to Carrie Bow Caye. There are abundant schools of fish, as fishing is banned. The pristine southern section of the barrier reef sees few divers and is typically a wall dive that is interspersed with sand channels and spur and groove sections. Often seen are turtles, moray eels, barracuda, large mackerel, eagle rays, southern stingrays, as well as several shark species. Typical dive sites include the Cathedral, South Cut, Carrie Bow Ridges, South Water Wall and the Abyss.
AMBERGRIS CAYE
Some of the best diving in the world is found along the coral reef that lies just a few hundred yards off Ambergris Caye. The coral reef is home to more than 430 species of fish and 70 species of hard coral.
HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE
A national park four miles southeast of San Pedro, Hol Chan features a natural break that gives rise to striking coral formations, fish and other marine life. Established in 1987, it's the first reserve of its kind in Central America.
SHARK-RAY ALLEY
To swim with nurse sharks and southern stingrays visit, Shark-Ray Alley, a shallow cut in the reef located to the south and to the inside of Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
THE FAMOUS BLUE HOLE
The Blue Hole, the country's most famous dive destination, is located in the center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Originally a cave, the roof fell in 10,000 years ago as the land receded into the sea. Almost circular, it measures 1,000 feet in diameter and plunges 410 feet. The former cave's stalagmites and stalactites rate as some of the Blue Hole's trademarks.
MEXICO ROCKS
A dive and snorkel site seven miles north of Ambergris Caye, rich with many varieties of patch head coral and numerous juvenile fish, making it a colorful aquarium.
BACALAR CHICO NATIONAL PARK
Located on the northern tip of Ambergris Caye, overlooking the Bay of Chetumal and Mexico, the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Preserve provides amazing dive opportunities.
ATOLLS
Three offshore atolls - Turneffe, Lighthouse and Glover's Reef - contain some of Belize's top dives. An atoll is a ringlike, coral island/reef that nearly or entirely encloses a lagoon.
- Turneffe, located 25 miles east of Belize City, is the largest of Belize's three atolls. It offers divers a variety of experiences - from drift dives to wall dives and creek dives. One of the favorite sites here is the "Elbow," which includes a steep sloping drop-off as well as shallow reef and a wrecked ship.
- Glover's Reef, named for pirate John Glover, lies northeast of Placencia. It's a circular necklace of coral reef surrounding an 80-square-mile lagoon. It is the least dived and one of the most pristine sites in Belize.
- Lighthouse Reef, home to the Blue Hole, is about 50 miles east of Belize City. At the southeast corner is the 45-acre Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, the first reserve to be established by the National Park Systems Act of 1981
