An Underwater Holiday at the Turneffe Islands Belize

The Turneffe Islands are unique amongst the 3 offshore atoll reefs in the wonderful nation of Belize. The best feature of the islands, in addition to being easily accessible from the mainland country and spread over 30 miles in length and 10 miles in width.

Normally reefs are not that easily accessible from the mainland in Belize, however, that’s not the case with the Turneffe Islands. The islands can be easily reached from the capital Belize City and another important aspect of the island is its breathtaking diving opportunities for every level of diver, be it an expert or a novice.

The islands are a favorite amongst divers in general and the novice divers are seen in large numbers along the western reef line of the islands, which is known for its shallow reefs. On the other hand the expert divers or call them seasoned divers find the eastern reefs to their liking, which are full of wrecks, varied terrains and most important of them all, there is an abundant marine life to explore. Besides, the walls and currents only add to the excitement of these divers.

Of the 3 atolls, Turneffe is not only the largest of the lot, but also possesses an extensive mangrove cover unlike the other two corals. Even though the dive sites are pre-dominantly restricted towards the south of the island, divers end up spending weeks and weeks on the island and this is a very common feature about Turneffe.

The popularity of the Turneffe Islands is on the rise due to various reasons and one of the major reasons can be easily attributed to the abundant marine life in the crystal clear waters. Besides, there are wonderful coral formations, which many divers have termed as unbelievable and unmatched with any other place. The atoll houses over 200 mangrove islands and many have termed it a ‘Natural Nursery’ for the rich mangrove cover in addition to the exotic fish species, with the highlight being the rare Toadfish, which is found in very limited areas. It is also a common site to view the turtles, rays, eels and the large pelagics.

The marine life doesn’t end here; there are huge green morays, reef sharks, permit, grouper, horse-eye jacks, friendly dolphins, and eagle rays.

The depth of the waters in addition to the crystal clear clarity makes scuba diving a wonderful experience and the general feedback amongst divers is the underwater visibility is awesome. The waters normally average around 100 feet in dept with the steepest areas being 150 feet deep.

Till now you must be of the impression that the Turneffe Islands are all about diving and spending some quality time underwater. In reality that’s not the only thing about Turneffe as it has much more to offer, for instance there are marvelous snorkeling opportunities for everyone and you can either be a beginner or an expert in this art.

An important feature of diving may be the chance to get one-on-one with the marine life world. At Turneffe, you need not spent time under the water to do all this stuff as the snorkeling trips allows one to pet a nurse shark or to play with dolphins. In fact you can expect something new with every snorkeling trip.

some of the popular Turneffe dive sites

The Aquarium:
This is a very shallow site and resembles you household aquarium in many ways and is suitable for beginners. Nevertheless, the waters are crystal clear and various small corals and fishes are found here. The maximum depth of the waters is 3.6 meters.

Triple Anchor:
The water depth varies from 12 to 18 meters and suitable for novices. The site is located south just along the western reef.

Hollywood:
This site is suitable for the less experienced or novice divers and is located on the islands’ Leeward side.

Susie’s Shallows:
Popularly known as Susie’s, the place is ideal for photography, besides the all important adventure of diving. The maximum depth here is only 5 meters.

Permit Paradise:
The depths range from 35-60 feet along with minimal current conditions. This site is again suitable for novices.

Wreck of Sayanora:
This site is ideal for the inexperienced wreck divers. The Sayanora is a cargo boat that sunk in1985.

Bat Brook Shallows:
This site resembles the Susie’s in many ways. The only major difference is the fish life of the waters. The French and gray angelfish are found here large numbers and particularly in the young adult stage.

The other popular sites, which need to be visited, are Jill’s Thrills, Randolph’s Rocks, HMS Advice, West Point Wall, Cabbage Patch, The Elbow, The Zoo, The Corral, Three Amigos, Myrtle’s Turtles and Lefty’s Ledge.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach the Turneffe Islands?

The Turneffe Islands are located 15 miles east of the capital of Belize City. From the capital, you can reach the islands via helicopter in a matter of a few minutes. Besides, you may also get there via water taxi.

The process of entering Belize begins via entering the capital’s Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport. Residents of the US and Canada can enter the country without a visa. However, visitors belonging to other countries have to compulsorily carry a visa.

Where do I stay during my Turneffe Islands resorts holiday?

The Turneffe Island Resort is an ideal place to stay during your holiday.

When is the best time to visit the islands?

It is recommended that you visit the place during the months of January through May when the weather is dry and you will get that extra push to venture into the waters.

In conclusion, the Turneffe Islands resorts is more than just pure diving. It is the ultimate holiday destination to relax and enjoy. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and book your tickets to the Turneffe Islands resorts.