Diving Adventures
Turneffe Atoll Wall Diving - 3 Tank
Turneffe is famous for some of its amazing wall dives. The atoll is thought to have been a favorite hideout for pirates who specialized in ambushing Spanish ships filled with gold and other valuables. Some sources indicate that the infamous pirate, Blackbeard, frequented Turneffe on many occasions. Duration: Full Day
Departure Time: Return Time: 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. Boat to Turneffe Atoll (2) Hours One Way Diving Gear: BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel (not included). Included: Continental Breakfast (coffee, fresh fruit, banana bread) before leaving on boat. Cold bottled water, fresh fruit, lunch, transportation to & from site, licensed guide. What to Bring: Camera, cell phone, personal medications (for the day), light jacket or windbreaker, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, beach towel, swimsuit, cash for paying park fees (if applicable), and tipping your guide. Divers Notation: Be sure to have your PADI card with you. If you plan on diving the blue hole, you will need to provide proof that you have dived in that last six months. If not, then you will need to take a refresher dive (the day before) diving the Blue Hole. Diving computers can be rented, if you do not have yours with you. Note: The tour & gear rental can be put on a credit card, park fees need to be paid in cash. Turneffe Atoll Wall Diving
Description: Turneffe Atoll is one of three coral atolls located off the coast of Belize. The Turneffe Atoll is the name for an area measuring more than 300 square miles, encompassing dozens of tiny islands known as the Turneffe islands. The main coral island stretches 30 miles long and 10 miles wide. Because of this, the area is well known for dozens of amazing wall dive sites.
Wall dives take you off the edge of the shelf, and onto the slope of the wall, where the deep blue sea meets the reef. Wall dives provide an impressive slope for viewing coral formations, and is a natural nursery (or habitat) for a wide variety of exotic fish, including the rare Whitespotted Toadfish. Other common inhabitants are giant jewfish, nurse sharks, reef sharks, trunkfish, and horse-eye jacks. Dolphins tend to play in these parts as well, and the mere sight of these adorable creatures is bound to be the highlight of your trip. The boat leaves the dock, early in the morning. Your boat ride will take you about (1-1/2 hours) to reach the Turneffe Islands, from San Pedro. Throughout the day you will explore the reefs of Turneffe and go on (3) incredible wall dives. Each of the (3) dives, will take you to a different location within the Turneffe Atoll. It is common to see eels, turtles, rays, big barrel sponges and large coral formation, while drifting along over the edge of the abyss. This Atoll is well-known for its impressive wall dives, with each wall dive offering a unique experience. Depending on weather conditions, this will dictate which wall your guide will choose for the day. The “Turneffe Elbow” dive, has been commonly described as a myriad of different dive destinations, all bundled into one. This dive is for advanced-experience divers, due to its environmental conditions. The outstanding marine life and variety of colors found here, will impress even the most experienced divers. |
Turneffe Elbow Belize is the largest of the three atolls and the only one with an extensive cover of mangroves, featuring spectacular wall diving suitable for every level of diver. Because of its undeveloped, the atoll has an untouched marine life. Visibility is excellent, making it easy to enjoy the large school of horse-eye jacks, snapper, and permits. Turneffe Elbow Belize makes the scuba diving an adventure like no other dive destination in the Caribbean. The vastness and variety of marine life and coral formations are truly unmatched.
The isolation, lack of any large-scale development and the natural attributes of the atoll makes Turneffe Elbow Belize the most biologically diverse coral atoll in the Caribbean. Sixty species of birds live or migrate through here. The water teams with dolphins and sharks. With visibility, up to 100 feet and such a rich marine environment we were able to see spotted eagle rays slowly flapping by like birds underwater, loggerhead turtles, colorful and diverse coral formations (soft and hard), big schools of creole wrasse which flash by in a blur of black and blue, tiny snapping shrimp (which really do snap), spotted toadfish, peppermint shrimp, dancing crabs and a remora (aka suckerfish) so big it had a smaller remora attached to it and lots more. Your Turneffe Elbow Belize package includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, soda’s, and water. We prefer small groups (between 4-6) people. Our diving is done on the largest barrier reef in the western hemisphere, the beauty of our reef is unrivaled. |