Snorkeling in Belize

[BahamaMama1214]

We want to go snorkeling at the Barrier Reef in Belize, but should we go with the tour that Carnival provides? (The only snorkeling tour they have there) We were thinking about just doing this tour because of convenience. Or should we look into going with a different group? Is there a good spot to snorkel that we should check out? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!:D

[crewsweeper]

We've found that cruise ship sponsored snorkeling excursions are typically over crowded, lots of beginners and the "guides" herd you in a group so that no one goes off on their own or slow swimmers don't get left behind. But in Belize, they are convenient in that you get picked up and dropped off at the ship without having to go into and come back from the tender pier.

 

There are private vendors offering snorkeling excursions, most tend to go to "Shark Ray Alley" which is between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, with lunch stops in Caye Caulker. Good snorkeling, lots of sea life. Cheaper than cruise ship but you have to go to the tender pier and may have to wait for others from other ships to show up before you leave the dock.

[CozGurl]

We are going to do a private cave tubing tour but it makes me sad that I might not get to snorkel in Belize. When we are dropped back at the terminal area will there be a beach area to snorkel right there? I feel like I remember someone saying there was a lot to do right at the terminal (zip line? Maybe that was in Roatan?).

 

Is it unrealistic to try to do both?

[OCruisers]

There's no place to snorkel without taking a "boat ride" to do so.

[QuattroRomeo]

We recently snorkelled on our Dec.2016 cruise, with a private company. We met them outside of the terminal shopping area- go all of the way out of the terminal where the taxis and public buses are. Once we found them, they walked us around a corner to a meeting point where a van drove us to the boat launch area. Only a 5 minute ride.

 

Apparently the launch area had been closer, but it was wiped out by a hurricane in October.

There were 14 of us in an outboard motor boat. The boat trip takes 45 minutes and there is no shade, so apply your sunscreen! It was fairly rough that day too from a storm the day before, so the ride was very bumpy and there were no seat cushions. Protect yourself from "numb bum" with a folded towel or use the life jackets before you get going, as the driver goes fast and it will be too windy to rearrange things!

 

We first stopped at Caye Caulker and walked to a restaurant, placing our orders for later. Then we headed out a short distance in the water to snorkel.

 

There were 2 guides swimming with us and they were good at pointing out things underwater, and steering us away from the coral banks. The sharks and rays swim was good fun- even though you are way out there, it isn't very deep and you can see lots of rays and sharks right beneath you; even spotted a barracuda. After the snorkel, we went for lunch on Caye Caulker, then another 45 minute boat ride and short van ride back to the terminal area.

 

This tour was $70. US pp, plus lunch.

[prekcruiser]

I am arriving in Belize on the Norwegian Breakaway and docking at Harvest Caye? Does anyone know of any tour company that can do a snorkeling tour from Placencia that includes swimming with nurse sharks? We cannot do Shark Ray Alley as it is too far away. We are experienced snorkelers but we prefer shallow (under 15 ft.) water. We are at Harvest Caye from 8-5. Also, does anyone know how warm the water is in March?

[geeko1]

there's no place to snorkel without taking a "boat ride" to do so.

 

 

Incorrect. The San Pedro Lions club provides tie offs for kayaks at the reef.

[geeko1]

We've found that cruise ship sponsored snorkeling excursions are typically over crowded, lots of beginners and the "guides" herd you in a group so that no one goes off on their own or slow swimmers don't get left behind. But in Belize, they are convenient in that you get picked up and dropped off at the ship without having to go into and come back from the tender pier.

 

There are private vendors offering snorkeling excursions, most tend to go to "Shark Ray Alley" which is between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, with lunch stops in Caye Caulker. Good snorkeling, lots of sea life. Cheaper than cruise ship but you have to go to the tender pier and may have to wait for others from other ships to show up before you leave the dock.

 

you are sort of correct but not really. https://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/divesitesBIG.html