With over 400 islands, the outer cayes and atolls of Belize are known around the world for their biodiverse coral reef and the Blue Hole.
Big sea animals are the show stoppers in this part of Belize. Divers regularly spot whale sharks, nurse sharks, eagle rays, stingrays and even manatees. Schooling (and occasionally breeding) grouper, snapper, barracuda, Atlantic spadefish and horse-eyed jacks surround the walls of the atolls. Sea turtles use the area’s sandy beaches to nest during summer months.
Naturally, there is a wide variety of smaller critters as well. Everything from tiny shrimps to the endemic toadfish lives among the reefs. We are sure your logs will reflect the strange and wonderful creatures found in the outer cayes and atolls of Belize.
October and November is grouper mating season. Thousands of these fish descend on the cayes to mate and give birth to their young.
The drier of the two seasons is from November to July. These months bring slightly cooler temperatures above and below the water. However, temperatures will only drop by a couple of degrees and most divers are still comfortable in a shorty.
April to June is considered the best time to dive in Belize. Although rare, these months offer the best chance at whale shark interaction in the outer cayes and atolls.
Most international travelers arrive at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport located in the northwest of Belize City. All of the outer islands are accessible by boat, but there are a handful of airstrips too.
As moving between atolls can be time consuming, consider a liveaboard if you wish to dive in multiple locations.
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