Belize is often referred to as one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World. The world's second largest barrier reef runs parallel to its coast, at distances ranging from a few hundred feet at the northern tip of Ambergris Caye, to nearly forty miles at the southern-most tip of the country.

However, the barrier reef is not the only factor that makes Belize one of the world's most popular destinations for scuba divers and snorkelers. Many of the small islands, known as "cayes," that lie off the coast of the Belizean mainland have their own coral reefs, with spectacular underwater gardens teeming with sea life of all types. The links below describe only a small fraction of what Belize has to offer scuba divers and snorkelers, and lovers of all water-oriented sports activities.

• Belize Directory of Dive, Snorkel, Fishing and Cruise Boat Operators
• Scuba diving off Ambergris Caye
• Hol Chan Underwater Park and Marine Reserve (near Ambergris Caye)
• The Famous Blue Hole, at Lighthouse Reef Atoll
• Half Moon Caye
• Diving and Snorkeling from Caye Caulker
• Placencia Peninsula
• Glover's Reef Atoll
• Belize's Southern Cayes
• Sapodilla Caye and the Southern-most Cayes
• An encounter with a whale shark off the Sapodilla Cayes

Here's some pictures of what you can expect to find when you dive Belize:

• Scuba diver with sea turtle at Turneffe
• Moray eel at Hol Chan near Ambergris Caye
• Sting ray at Sting Ray City near Ambergris Caye
• Nurse shark at Sting Ray City near Ambergris Caye
• Another sting ray at Sing Ray City near Ambergris Caye
• Booby bird at Half Moon Caye National Monument

Also check out these Belize reef and ocean ecology web sites:

• Smithsonian Underwater Photography Portfolio (Belize)
• Sea Frontiers/International Oceanographic Foundation
• EarthWatch Magazine
• Planetary Coral Reef Foundation

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