The Barrier Reef – A Natural Wonder

Belize’s Barrier Reef is made up of a number of coral reefs across the country’s coast. At 186 miles long off the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, this reef is ranked as the second largest coral reef system in the world. The biggest reef record goes to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

The Barrier Reef is a very popular tourist spot in the whole of Belize and as per records an estimated 130,000 visitors are found at this place annually. The reef is also amongst the most diverse ecosystems, the entire world has seen. The reef is native to some hundreds of invertebrate species along with 500 different fish species and 36 soft and 70 hard coral species. The best part here and an important aspect which makes this place even more interesting is as per experts, the above figures are only 10% of the species that actually reside there. Around 90% of the reef area is yet to be researched and this only signifies one aspect, the number of actual resident species will only swell over the next few years.

The Reef is rich in natural beauty and a significant portion is protected and the areas include 450 cays, 7 marine reserves and 3 atolls amounting to a huge 960 sq km in area.  Some of the prominent protected areas are Great Blue Hole, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve, Three Coner Caye, St. George’s Caye, Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye.

Since the year 1996, the reserve system has been classified as a World Heritage Site. Yet, despite all these protective measures by the authorities, the reef is still under threat and the main areas of concern are due to uncontrolled tourism, oceanic pollution, fishing and shipping. Besides, there are ever larger threats like hurricanes, which are very common in this part of the world and the phenomenon of global warming. As per scientists, more than 40% of the creek has been damaged since 1998 alone despite all the measures. Hence, there is need to do much more by the Belizean authorities.

Nevertheless, the Barrier Reef is all about underwater pleasures for the many travelers to this natural beauty. The place is all about scuba diving and spending some quality time with the kings and queens of the underwater world. Over the entire area there are several diving sites, which allow one to experience the diverse corals and fish.

A major point of interest here is the Great Blue Hole which is a huge underwater sinkhole. Spread over an area of 300 m and going up to 125 m in depth, as per experts, this hole used to be a limestone cave during the previous glacial period. However, when sea levels rose, the caves got flooded and as a result the roof collapsed resulting in the hole.

Today, this wonder hole is ‘The Ultimate Dive Location’ for scuba divers offering ideal conditions and a chance to get up close and personal with the guys of the underwater. The waters house various species of fish along with Nurse Sharks, Giant groupers and Blacktip shark.

Another talking point of the reserve is the Ambergris Cave, which offers various unique options to the diver.  For instance, if you wish to shoot underwater caverns and canyons, then Tackle Box Canyons is the place to be in. On the other hand, underwater wedding are also possible, you must be of the opinion that I’m joking. But that is true; you need to visit the Love Tunnels, besides there is even more, a coral simply named The Chapel.

Let’s go through some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I get to the Barrier Reef?

You can reach the reef via air or by boat. A water taxi from either the capital or San Pedro will take you there. Besides, a 10 minute flight from the capital Belize City is the other option available.

Overseas nationals can enter the country via the 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 Barrier Reef holiday?

Some of the good places to stay are Journey’s End Resort, Coningsby Inn, Belizean Shores Resort and Maruba Resort Jungle Spa.

When is the best time to visit the Barrier Reef?

The best times to go on a Barrier Reef holiday are during the dry months of December through May. The temperatures during these months are adequate for a holiday. The water temperatures range in the mid-70 to mid-80 degrees Fahrenheit zone. Usually, these months don’t see any rainfall, even though rains cannot be completely ruled out. On the other hand, you need to keep one thing in mind, this entire region is very hurricane prone and one needs to avoid this place at any cost during the August to October period.

In conclusion, the Barrier Reef is the place to be for any scuba diver and this is aptly proved by the fact that more than half of the total Belizean tourists actually come from the reef visitors itself. The place is full of abundant marine life and a diver can expect some quality time with the creatures of the underwater. There are concerns about the damages to reef, however, the good thing is that it has been protected by the authorities and we can hope for a secure future of the reef. So, what are you waiting for, go ahead and plan a trip to this natural beauty.