A UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important Belize Marine Reserve, Glover’s Atoll was named after a pair of swashbuckling pirates; brothers named Rodger and John Glover. Before them came the Mayans, who left pieces of pottery behind, and today, the little atoll has received recognition as one of the best Caribbean travel destinations available. You can step right off the beach and enjoy some spectacular snorkeling or diving anywhere around the island, but some sites really are just a little more fantastic than the rest. Let’s take a look at five amazing dives around Glover’s Reef Atoll.
The Aquarium
At its best early in the morning and late in the afternoon, The Aquarium is well-known for its huge schools of creole wrasse and yellowtail snappers. Smaller schools of horse-eye jacks and black durgon hug the walls, and it is not uncommon to encounter turtles and dolphins. With crystal-clear water and an abundance of smaller reef fish, including a few different varieties of angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, and others, it is suitable for intermediate divers and up. Maximum depth is 100 feet, and you should keep an eye out for the small reef sharks and nurse sharks which can be seen here on occasion.
The Crack
Suitable for experienced divers only, the crack is a vertical cave with its entrance at 45 feet, and its exit at about 90 feet. A whole host of amazing marine life can be found here. Bull sharks and big loggerhead turtles, along with some of the biggest Nassau groupers seen around Glover’s Atoll have been seen here, and there are moray eels, glassy sweepers, and tarpon in attendance, as well. Beautiful gorgonians and magnificent coral heads can be found nearby, creating the perfect backdrop for all the photographs you’ll surely want to take.
Bev’s Garden
Like a salad garden onshore, Bev’s Garden features spiraling heads of Lettuce Leaf coral, some of which are quite large. Look inside, and you might see shrimp, gobies, or other little creatures peering up at you. Among stands of staghorn coral down in canyons lined with star and train coral, you’ll find schoolmaster snappers and Moorish idols, blue tangs and spotted drum. Look for hawksbill turtles and spotted eagle rays, as well! There is a light current most of the time, and depths are between 30 and 100 feet. The site is suitable for intermediate divers and up. Be sure to visit the cleaning station to see the juvenile Spanish hogfish and other cleaners in action!
The Abyss
Situated halfway between Long Caye and Middle Caye, The Abyss features ancient coral heads covered in brilliantly colored gorgonians and hollow tube sponges where tiny creatures hide. Along the wall, these coral heads come together to form a steep, beautifully textured wall that leads toward the drop off more than two thousand feet below. With brilliant white sand on the bottom, and lots of hiding places among the rocks and coral, the site is teeming with fish of every size, shape and color. In particular, watch for barracuda and groupers, and look for lobsters, too. There are barrel sponges that are larger than the average person, along with sea fans and rope sponges, and as you ascend from your dive, be sure to spend some time looking for the many juvenile pelagics and tiny reef dwellers that make their homes here. While maximum depth is 120 feet, this site begins in just 40 feet of water. Suitable for intermediate divers and up, it is enormous and well worth more than one dive.
Pinnacles
Rising up from the sandy seabed 100 feet deep, this set of pinnacles is truly majestic. Soaring toward the surface and missing by a mere 25 feet or so, they are surrounded by deep channels and the occasional series of boulders where you can find reef sharks and tarpon hunting for shimmering baitfish, and sleek, grinning barracudas patrolling in small groups. There are a few swimthroughs, and as you make your way up from the bottom of the pinnacles toward their tops, you’ll find huge gorgonians, colorful clusters of sponge, and beautiful plate corals, soft corals, and sea fans. Look for pompano and hog snapper, yellow snapper and schoolmasters. If you are very lucky, you’ll encounter green sea turtles or loggerheads, and you may see spotted eagle rays as well. There is a light current, and the site is best for intermediate divers and up.
All told, this remote atoll covers 90 square miles and boasts 700 patch reefs. The sheer walls surrounding the atoll drop away to the abyss 2,700 feet below, creating the perfect environment for healthy marine life in abundance. There are excellent accommodations available, and prices are competitive. Be sure to plan in advance, as this incredible piece of paradise offers limited space.