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#217
Any tips for Belize?
DiveGirl - 4/26/2009 9:38 PM
Category: Travel
Replies: 4

Looking to go to Belize in late May - early June. Anybody have any tips on where to stay in Belize and the best Dive operators? I am sooooooo excited on the possibility of seeing a whale shark! The largest thing I have ever seen diving is a huge Grouper that was playing peek-a-boo with me in an old wreck in Florida.
#15
Courtney - 4/27/2009 6:59 AM
I stayed at Ramon’s on San Pedro about 3 years ago, around the same time mid-May. (http://ramons.com/) And I would highly recommend it. Our experience was that the dive boats were small, so we never had more than four divers on a boat which I loved! We usually don’t go with a guide, but because there were only a few of us we followed him and he took us through some great caves and to some good spots. So overall great experience with the dive team there. The hotel is pretty nice, the showers are small and there is no tv if you stay in a standard room. But overall the atmosphere is really cool with small thatch roof cottages for rooms. Location is good for walking into town to restaurants and such. Good luck, let me know if you have any more questions.
#685
squirt - 4/27/2009 11:07 AM
I stayed at the Sunbreeze hotel and dove with Aqua Dives, which is right on the property. I really liked Aqua Dives. You get to know your dive master right off the bat and they are all really nice, personable people. The diving right off of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye is great. You can dive 4 times per day if you want. They take you out, you dive, and since you are so close, your surface interval is back on shore to relax by the pool, grab something to eat, go to your room and use the bathroom or whatever you need to do. very convenient. As far as the Sunbreeze hotel, it was fine. I dont really mind where i stay, as long as the diving is good and there is plenty of it. The food was fine also, but I have to be honest with you, i spent most of my time eating at Ramons. They just have a better atmosphere and it is beautiful there (they actually have a beach of some sort to hang out on, no one else does). The town is gorgeous also. Lots of nice locals! I was looking a street sign that had a map on it of all the restaurants, and two local guys came up and asked if i needed any help finding a spot to eat. they gave me some local tips on where the good food is and went on their way. I also liked the day trip to the blue hole. I did it twice. The diving there is exceptional. Not just to experience the blue hole, but the lighthouse reef atoll and the "aquarium" dive site is just so untouched and beautiful. A very diferent experience. There are no whale sharks in that area though. If you want the whale shark experience, you will have to look at Glovers Reef or Placencia during certain months only. Look into it a little more.

I would love to get back there this year.

Best of luck, Squirt
#1252
diverchet - 4/27/2009 11:17 AM
We stayed at Tradewinds Paradise Villas in San Pedro. It’s not as nice as Ramons but we had a kitchen and tv and was a bit cheaper. I dove most days with ecolgic divers including a night dive which I would recomend. I also went to the Blue Hole with Amigos del Mar, this trip included lunch at Half Moon Caye. Half Moon Caye was the highlight of the entire trip for me a must see. I think the best diving is in the Southern Cayes but the better resurants motels and bars are on Ambergris. We took a shttle flight from Belize out to San Pedro kinda confusing at the gate be calm somehow everyone and there luggage got there. Some days the flights get weathered in. We loved San Pedro but next time I want to stay much farther South.
#1030
gepdiv - 4/27/2009 7:01 PM
I think to see whale sharks in belize you have to stay around Placentia, it is in the southern part. I stayed in Ambergis cay it was great.