The Atolls
Turneffe Island Atoll
40 Km East of Belize City, the largest atoll of America exists. 50 km in length and 16 km wide with a depth that varies from 16 to 20 meters. It offers sites for immersion on a large scale, facilities for research and an landing strip for aeroplanes.
There are present small islets, mangrove forests, and a swallow of lagoon with a labyrinth of canals.
While it is better known for its immersion sites (about 70 sites surround the atoll), the swallow parts in the inner part are excellent for snorkelling.
Furthermore, this area has become famous because the sea bottom, rich with algae provides nutrition for the manatees (sea cows), mammals whose weighing up to seven tons and look like enormous puppies.
At the more southern point of this island, Caye Bokel presents an exciting site for immersion named the “Elbow”, where strong currents draw swarms of beautiful tropical fish. The other sites of immersion are: Hollywood, Jill’s Thrill, Cabbage Patch, The Coral, Gorgonian Bluff, the Secret Spot, Birthday Reef and Rendezvous Wall.
Lighthouse Reef Atoll
This is an atoll consisting of six islands (Northern Caye, Halfmoon Caye, Long Caye, Hat Caye, Sandbore, White Pelican) which circumvent the lagoon. Only the first two Islands are tourist sites, whereas the others may be observed from afar, as they are infested by crocodiles and mosquitos.
In 1982 Belize instituted in the atoll the first protected area in the State, “Half Moon Caye Natural Monument” near Lighthouse Reef, which extends for almost 18 hectares.
The Park is managed by the Belize Audubon Society which also support a tourist centre. Having been created in particular to protect 4000 diverse species of birds in danger of extinction, the park helps a further 98 species of birds to survive and reproduce.
The prohibition on fishing in this area permits seeing large “epinefoli” and other fish not often found in the barriers.
Near the “Aquarium”, a surprising site north west of Long Caye, caverns and grottoes give refuge to a particular marine species and at Que Brada, a site for expert in immersion situated at the more western part of the Atoll and has a refined prominence of coral and a wall in the form of a half moon.
BLUE HOLE
At a depth of 125 meters, this famous cavity of water near to Lighthouse Reef has become an icon of Belize, after the celebrated explorer Jacques Cousteau examined it in 1970 for his documentary.
At the interior of this circular barrier of 305 meters approximately, the enthusiasts of snorkelling can admire wonderful corals, rapid fish, multi-coloured sponges and sea-fans (sea ventilators).
There are enormous caverns and stalactites of 12 meters length, submerged from the Glacial Era, the largest ever found under water, with a thickness at their top of almost two meters. They seem modelled in a strange manner as they resemble gutting blue flames.
In the western side, 30 minutes walking, the corral reef and the cayes close to the coast offer an easy entry to the diving places. The idyllic South Water Caye is situated in an higher position with respect to the main reef, with a submerged cave called “Hell Hole”. It is 3-4 meters width and 45 meters depth. In the centre there is a strange cone-shaped, formed by sand fallen from a crack and deposited on top during the years.
Surfaces show stalactites and stalagmites. A few miles ahead, Tabacco Caye and Tabacco Range host unbelievable places for diving with an exotic marine life.
In these localities, Scientist studied the “squirrel-fish”: a redfish with big
When the sea is calm you can see to a depth of 60 m. Blue Hole is not very luminous and has few fish but appears on the horizon as a dark of swallow depth inhabited by prehistoric sharks which move around in its depth.
For further information:
(www.bluedive.com),
(www.ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/greatbluehole.html).
GLOVER’S REEF ATOLL
An elliptic ring of island which surround a swallow lagoon with 75o different types of coral, situated about 60 km. from the city of Dangriga. It is the smallest and most distant from Belize and has in its interno zones still unexplored. It takes its name from John Glover, a pirate who used the atoll as a base from which to attack Spanish merchant shipping.
At its internal part is Glover’s Reef, a marine reserve since 1993 considered a world patrimony by the United Nations and National Protected Area by the Government of Belize in which fishing activity is limited to 25 per cent in the interior of the area.
Sites for immersion: Octopus Alley, Manta Reef, Hole in the Wall, Parrotfish Falls, Shark Point, Gorgonia Gallery, Long Caye Cut, Turtle Tavern e Dolphin Dance.
For further information:
www.glovers.com.bz
