This national park is located on the inner southern barrier reef, making it great for beginners and even better for spotting a variety of rays.
New dive areas are being discovered every year, and many are found on the southern coast. These hold as much promise as the north but half the divers.
In Gladden Spit near Placencia, encounters with these graceful creatures while snorkeling or diving are all but guaranteed from April to June.
The wet season falls from August to October. These months tend to be the warmest with average temperatures around 82 or 84°F (28 or 29°C). The wet season also offers the best surface conditions, ensuring that all sites are accessible. Rainfall, while prevalent during these months, will only impact a few hours of the day. This means that most of the day will be sunny rather than rainy. More importantly, visibility may decrease due to runoff from nearby rivers.
October and November is grouper mating season. Thousands of these fish descend on the cayes to mate and give birth to their young.
August to October is considered low season for tourism and diving in Belize. However, the diving is only slightly impacted by the rain and many would argue that this is the best time to dive in Belize. You’ll find fewer crowds and the best deals during these months.
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. Surface conditions can become choppy at this time, creating limited access to the more exposed sites. With that said, from November to July, you can expect little to no rain and excellent visibility.
April to June is considered the best time to dive in Belize and is peak whale shark season in Placencia.
These months also coincide with peak season, so you can expect more fellow visitors than during wet season.
The main attraction in Placencia are the whale sharks. This happens to be one of the best places in the world for a wild encounter with these gentle giants. But even if you visit outside of whale shark season, there will be plenty to keep your eyes busy.
On the outer reef, you’ll easily spot turtles, rays, pelagic fish, eels and reef sharks among the huge soft and hard corals. On the boat ride out, you might encounter a pod of dolphins or even whales!
The inner reef is also visited by plenty of rays, including the majestic manta ray. This section of the reef is also a photographer’s paradise. The macro in the area ranges from nudibranchs to mantis shrimp and colorful crabs.
For better readability of the table, pass into the landscape mode.
