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Diving

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Turneffe Flats offers true world-class diving. Turneffe Atoll rises more than 1000 feet from the ocean floor to create a magnificent coral system sheltering a vast, unspoiled ecosystem with incredibly abundant and diverse marine life. The diving sites off Turneffe Atoll are considered some of the best in the Western Caribbean.

Turneffe Flats is located in the heart of Belize's best diving, and we limit dive group size to ensure quality, personalized diving. Typically, you will share your diving with four to six companions, doing three planned dives a day. A Blue Hole dive, as well as at least one night dive, are standard (weather permitting). The first dive day at Turneffe you do two dives to allow you to acclimatize and for the dive staff to assess all divers. For the rest of your stay 3 dives a day will be offered.

One divemaster and two instructors (all PADI certified) comprise our dive staff. Our experience dive staff believe in ensuring you are getting the dive trip you have dreamed of. Inexperienced divers will receive the individualized attention they may require, and more experienced divers are offered the flexibility they desire. Our dive staff will give a briefing prior to each dive and guide each dive in a flexible but safe manner. You can also receive a variety of diving instruction during your week at Turneffe Flats, including specialty and advanced courses.

You'll dive from one of our comfortable dive boats. Most diving is done from our new Pro 48 offering fast, comfortable access to the entire Turneffe Atoll as well as Lighthouse Reef. This is a large, comfortable, shaded boat allowing us easy access to the entire Turneffe Atoll as well as the Lighthouse Reef. For very small dive groups we utilize our small, but very comfortable boats.

Tanks, weights and weight belts are provided as part of your dive package. While we have BC's, regulators and dive computers available for rent, we recommend that you bring your own personal dive gear if possible. Plan on utilizing a dive computer so that you can maximize bottom time. We recommend a 3mm wetsuit or at least a dive skin (neither are available for rent). Cylumes are provided for your tanks during the night dive, but you do need to bring a dive light.

Once you've set up your gear for your first dive, out divemasters will take care of it for the rest of your trip. Every evening they will rinse your gear, and between dives change the tanks.

After an early breakfast we head out for our two morning single tank dives. During the afternoon we do one single tank dive. One night dive is included during your stay. Most days we return to shore between the morning dives and afternoon dive, however logistically with some dive sites we eat lunch out on the reef. Most of your dives will be from 40-80 feet and done from a moored boat with a few drift dives as well.

There is a diversity of diving available on the Turneffe Atoll. On the west side of the Atoll, popular dives include The Terrace, which begins in 35-40 feet of water and has a sheer drop off decorated with Elephant Ear Sponges and bushes of black coral. Rendezvous Cut features huge deep-water gorgonians that mark the entrance to a wide sandy chute and sloping wall decorated with enormous barrel sponges. Eel Gardens is named for the thousands of Garden Eels that inhabit the area along with razorfish, moray eels and stingrays. A sample of popular dives on the eastern side of the Atoll include JoJo's Splits with huge coral formations, lots of reef fish and pelagics in the deeper water, and The Chutes featuring a spur and grove system alive with marine life, yellow tube sponges and huge barrel sponges. Just minutes north of Turneffe Flats, you'll dive a spot called Wonder World, which features a meandering trail of huge coral formations and a dramatic drop off starting at 65 feet. On the southern end of the Atoll, the Elbow is a favorite dive for many guests. The Elbow is a drift dive at 60-80 feet. During your dive at the Elbow you will see huge schools of permit, horse-eye jack and dog snapper. In addition, you are likely to see eagle rays, sharks, turtles and some pelagics.

The primary reason you want to dive at Turneffe is the abundance and variety of marine life. From the very small to the very large, there is plenty to look at. You will see all of the Caribbean reef tropicals as well as a wide variety of larger marine life. You are almost certain to see stingrays, eagle rays, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, moray eels, dolphins, several species of sharks, and large schools of permit, snapper, and jacks. If you are lucky, you may also have the opportunity to dive with whale sharks. The abundance of marine life at Turneffe amazes even the most experience divers.

Other Activities

Superb snorkeling and fly fishing are other reasons people visit Turneffe Flats. Fishing (all catch and release) is mostly done on the Flats, and anglers are rarely seen by divers. Options are available for non-diving companions including an Atoll Adventure a guided snorkeling trip and other activities which can be tailored to guest's interests.