Located on the eastern coast of Central America, Belize is second to none when it comes to dive destinations. Off the coast lies the second-largest barrier reef in the world, called the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Stretching for 625 miles (1,000 km)—190 miles (300 km) just within Belize—the reef offers spectacular diving for all levels of diver.
Scattered along the reef it you’ll find lots of tiny islands, or cayes, each surrounded by colorful marine life and interesting underwater topography. Although you can dive sections of the reef from land, the best dive sites are most easily accessible via one of the two liveaboards in Belize.
It can be difficult to choose a liveaboard that suits your needs and fits your budget. So, we’ve gathered the best boats and made it possible to compare prices across different booking platforms.
You can sort the boats by length of trip, price range, or facilities, making it easy to find the best liveaboard in Belize for you.
Diving in Belize is possible all year round. The best months are from March to June. The water is warmest during the wet season from August to October, with temperatures of 28/29°C
Belize Aggressor III
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The Belize Aggressor III offers week-long trips in the divers’ paradise of Belize, leaving every Saturday throughout the year. Guests can dive up to five times daily, and expect to encounter dolphins, eagle rays, tarpon, and various shark species. With visibility often exceeding 100 feet (30 meters), divers will enjoy crystal-clear views of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the world’s second-longest.…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Well-equipped photo center
- Hot tub and wet bar
- Warm and consistent water conditions year-round
- Varied menu to suit all preferences
Things we don’t like:
- Limited space in staterooms
- Ship is in need of maintenance
- Faint odor coming from bathrooms on some cruises
Where to book Belize Aggressor III:
Belize Aggressor IV
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From playful dolphins to eagle rays, turtles, and several shark species, divers in Belize will have abundant opportunities to see exciting marine life. And, with consistently beautiful conditions and the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, there are seemingly endless dive sites to explore—making Belize a world-class scuba diving destination and a perfect option for your next liveaboard…
Key facts
Things we like:
- Unlimited diving
- Welcoming and friendly crew
- Complete photo editing center
- Convenience of diving entry from yacht
- Plentiful menu throughout trip
Things we don’t like:
- Limited amount of land excursions available
- Occasional issues with air conditioning in staterooms
- Nitrox costs extra
Where to book Belize Aggressor IV:
Best Dive Sites in Belize
Whether you’re a novice diver or one with hundreds of dives under your (weight) belt, diving in Belize has something to offer everyone. Most diving is done from boats that leave Caye Caulker, Ambergris Caye, or Placencia, heading for the local barrier reef.
Those who want to eat, sleep, and dive should check out one of Belize’s liveaboards, which offer unparalleled access to the underwater world.
Ambergris Caye is one of the most popular destinations among divers. It is the perfect place for divers to enter some of Belize’s best diving hot spots; this includes Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Lighthouse Reef, and the world-famous Great Blue Hole. If you’re traveling to Belize, do not miss out on this amazing location.
If you would like to dive with whale sharks, then Placencia is the place to do it. You can also enjoy the southern part of the Barrier Reef. This location is not as well known as the others, however, it is becoming more and more popular among divers.
This world-renowned dive site stretches for 1000 feet (300 m) across and 407 feet (124 m) deep. It is literally a hole in the reef, known for its deep blue color. Home to reef sharks, occasional bull sharks, and ethereal stalactite and stalagmite formations, this is another one you don’t want to miss.
This area is where the barrier reef starts to move away from the coastline. Divers know this location for whale shark encounters around Gladden Spit. There are also a number of reef, wall, and drop-off dives to experience nearby.
Information to know about liveaboard diving in Belize
- Belize can be dived throughout the year.
- Due to its fantastic tropical climate, Belize is warm all year round.
- The wet season is between the months of August to October.
- The wet season is usually the warmest months of the year, where air temperature ranges from 28C/82F-29C/84F.
- The wet season also provides divers with the best surface conditions, meaning that all dive sites become accessible at this time.
- Rainy season just means that it rains for a couple of hours every day, it shouldn’t affect your trip that much.
- Visibility can be affected by the rain, however, due to the fact it is low season and also grouper mating season, some divers believe this is the best time to dive Belize.
- The dry season is between November through to July and is the slightly cooler time of year.
- Air temperature during dry season ranges from 24C/75F-29C/85F.
- Surface conditions can be quite hairy at this time of year, meaning that some dive sites become inaccessible. The plus side of diving at this time of year is that visibility is excellent.
- High season for diving in Belize is from April to June, however, if you’re hoping to visit the Blue Hole, then prepare to be dazzled by how many tourists and divers you’ll find there at this time of year. It is also the most expensive time of year to dive.
- If you’re planning a trip to Placencia, then from April to June is whale shark season.
- Getting to Belize is not such a hard feat. The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is the main airport of Belize. Flights arrive here from all over the world, whether you are traveling from South America or even Europe.
- If you are planning on traveling around the country including the islands, then Belize City Municipal Airport is where you will most likely travel from.
- The currency used in Belize is the Belize Dollar. There is roughly 2BZD to 1USD.
- The local language spoken in Belize is English, however, Spanish is also spoken.
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