Where can you find Belize? You along with most people may think that it is located somewhere in Africa. However it is located in Central America. This Caribbean wonder is just a stone's throw away from the United States of America. It sits next to Guatemala, just below Mexico and welcomes the waves of the Caribbean Sea.
Belize has always been there but nobody has really noticed it and it is probably this mysterious aspect that draws people to visit this scuba diving paradise. Only a small portion of the world's tourist population has been to Belize. This has been the main reason why most of Belize's feature attractions like the Mayan ruins, pristine rainforest and the Belize barrier reef have remained 'unspoiled'.
The main attractions in Belize for scuba divers are the barrier reef, the offshore atolls and the Cayes (pronounced keys). The barrier reef is 185 miles long and is second only to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The cayes are located between the mainland and the barrier reef. These sand and mangrove islands can also be found on or within the perimeters of the offshore atolls.
The mangroves provide a superior habitat for birds and marine life even though they are normally uninhabitable by humans. The protection of the mangrove allows for the perfect environment for birds, fish, shellfish and marine organisms to thrive in.
The foundation for the development of many fine resorts has been provided by the coral cayes, which are distinguishable by their palm trees. These resorts serve the appetite of water sports enthusiasts and the marine naturalists. In addition to this, it has given a superior opportunity for scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, boating, sailing, sail boarding, and sea kayaking, as well as habitat for both nesting birds and turtles.
There are numerous and varied dive sites to explore in Belize and diving in this Caribbean wonder is truly breath taking. Some of these sites include the barrier reef along with Belize's three major atolls one of which is the Lighthouse reef atoll famous for its Blue Hole dive site.
Scuba diving Belize is ranked as one of the top three dive sites in the Caribbean but this doesn't mean that you will not have the luxury of diving in sites that are not too crowded. This is due to the fact that Belize has been slower to develop. You need to access most of the dive sites by boat with a few exceptions if you are staying on one of the outer atolls such as Southwater Caye or Tobacco Caye. When scuba diving Belize you will encounter marine life of all shapes and sizes including 70 types of hard corals and nearly 500 species of fish.
Scuba diving Belize is sure to provide all the thrill and adventure that you are looking for on a scuba diving trip.
By: Ed J Price
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Ed J. Price has had a keen interest in scuba diving for many years. For more information on scuba diving Belize and practical dive site tips visit his scuba diving resource site now.
