Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Mar–Jun · Mild current · 25.5–31.2°C (coldest Feb, warmest Oct)
- Current
- Mild
- Water temperature
- 25.5–31.2°C (coldest Feb, warmest Oct)
- Visibility
- 15–40m: Commonly 25-40m (80-130ft) on the walls, clearest in the dry season.
- Experience
- The walls (Half Moon Caye, Long Caye Aquarium) are approachable for Open Water divers who stay shallow, with mild current.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident on the atoll's reefs year-round; no seasonal peak.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Seen year-round on the reef, often on the walls picking at sponges.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident on the reef year-round.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident on the reef edges and walls year-round; commonly seen hanging along the drop-offs.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Chain Wall
A neighbouring wall a few hundred metres west of Half Moon Caye Wall, with similar terrain: a shallow reef flat breaking to a deep drop-off cut by grooves and chutes.
8–40m · Mild current
Great Blue Hole
A near-circular sinkhole 318m across and 124m deep near the centre of Lighthouse Reef.
0–40m · None current
Half Moon Caye Wall
Widely rated among the best dives in Belize.
6–40m · Mild current
See all 6 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsModerate. Fly to BZE. Typical trip $$–$$$.
Route overview
Moderate
Reachable but with some friction: a 2.5h boat crossing.
Airport options
BZE
Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (Belize City)
Main international airport; liveaboards depart Belize City, and day boats run from the coast
SPR
San Pedro Airport (Ambergris Caye)
Short domestic hop from Belize City; base for most full-day Blue Hole dive trips
Typical trip cost
$$–$$$
$2,000–4,000 to over $4,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- A full-day Blue Hole dive trip (three dives, gear, transfers, meals) from San Pedro or the coast commonly runs about $300-400 per person.
- Belize liveaboards (e.
- g.
- Belize Aggressor III/IV, formerly Sun Dancer II) run roughly $2,500-4,000 per person for a 7-night charter departing Belize City, nitrox and flights usually extra.
- Protected-area fees are additional and paid in cash, typically collected on the boat: the Belize Audubon Society lists a BZ$20 (about US$10) per-person, per-day non-national fee for both the Blue Hole Natural Monument and Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, and operators often collect around US$40 to cover the monument fees for a Lighthouse Reef day.
Permit or park fee
What you pay
Belize Audubon Society lists BZ$20 (about US$10) per person, per day for non-nationals at each of the Blue Hole Natural Monument and Half Moon Caye Natural Monument (BZ$2.50 for nationals). In practice day-boat and liveaboard operators collect a combined cash fee, often around US$40, covering the Lighthouse Reef monuments.
How it works
The Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye are protected natural monuments co-managed by the Belize Audubon Society; rangers check that marine-park fees have been paid. Diving is via licensed operators.