Where the Belize Barrier Reef begins to part ways with the mainland, steep walled-channels separate extensive patches of reef from one another. Walls and cayes beckon divers and snorkelers alike, and the marine life is splendid. Placencia’s Inner Reef offers several dive sites, many of them which are nurseries for juvenile aquatic creatures of all kinds. Here are five of the best to get you started.
Laughing Bird North
The reef at the north side of Laughing Bird Caye is covered in sponges and hard corals in a variety of shapes and colors. Look for octopus and frogfish nestled among the tunicate-covered rope sponges, and watch for seahorses, sea urchins, and batfish, along with lizardfish and yellow stingrays. During the brightest part of the day, look for jellyfish resting upside down with tentacles extended up toward the surface to feed the algae that live inside. Watch for redlip blennies and red-spotted hawkfish, triplefin and arrow crabs, as well as lots of tropical fish. Suitable for all divers, the reef features depths between 25 and 70 feet.
Laughing Bird South
Along the south side of Laughing Bird Caye, the seabed slopes gently, and barren sand predominates until you arrive at a depth of 25 feet, when the landscape changes drastically. Here, star and mushroom corals, along with big brain corals, each of which holds a bouquet of sponges and gorgonians, provide a habitat for a multitude of fish and other creatures. Look for shrimp and crabs in particular, as they love to hide among the sponges and anemones. This site is ideal for macro photography and is perfect for all divers, as maximum depth is just 65 feet .
Miss Pamela Wreck
Suitable for intermediate divers and up, the wreck of the Miss Pamela, a tugboat which was deployed as an artificial reef in 2002 lies in 90 feet of water. Already, the wreck is covered in colorful coral and sponges, in a variety of colors, and offers shelter to at least two goliath groupers, along with a multitude of smaller creatures. Pursued by toothy barracuda, swirling schools of silversides rest in the shade the old boat creates, and tropical fish are here in abundance. Be sure to bring a light, and use careful finning techniques to avoid stirring up the silt, which is heavy in the area.
Coral Garden
An amazingly beautiful site which lives up to its name, Coral Garden features meadows of mounded patches of coral growth that houses lobster and arrow crabs, tiny cleaner shrimp, and spotted drum, along with juvenile pelagics and a kaleidoscope of reef fish in every color of the rainbow. Separated by pristine white patches of sand, these coral covered hills rise up from the bottom at 100 feet to within 30 or 40 feet from the surface. A wonderful multi-level site for all divers, this site is ideal for underwater photography.
Long Coco Split
Suitable for all divers, and best known for its blennies, shrimp and other tiny inhabitants, Long Coco Split begins at about 25 feet and features maximum depth at 90 feet. At the end of the reef where the split meets the open ocean, you can find schooling silversides in shimmering abundance, being hunted by tarpon and barracuda against a backdrop of gorgonians and black coral. Watch for passing jacks and pompano, and keep an eye out for the reef sharks and dolphins which are occasionally seen here.
Quieter and more romantic than other nearby Belize destinations, the Placencia peninsula offers peace and privacy. Be sure to book your holiday well in advance in order to enjoy some of the very best diving in Belize.