Glover’s is often rated as one of the top 5 dive sites in the world. With an abundant wildlife that includes everything from juvenile spotted drums to manta rays. After diving Glover’s, we’re sure you will agree it is not a site to be missed.

Rising out of the blue from a depth of well over 2,000 feet this well defined oval shaped coral formation surrounds more than 700 patch reefs inside its 100 square mile crystalline lagoon. Of the three atolls Glover’s Reef sees the least amount of human contact and is largely unexplored. Come see for yourself why this atoll was recently designated a National Marine Reserve and, in 1997, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Belize posesses three of the four atolls found in the Western Hemisphere. The origin of these Atolls: Lighthouse Reef, Glover’s Reef and the glovers Islands are all distinct anomalies in the Caribbean. Nothing else in the Western Hemisphere resembles a true coral atoll. According to geologists they are even more unusual in that the origin of their formation does not seem to mirror the atolls of the Pacific Ocean, where rings of coral are better known.

The ancient processes contributing to Belize atoll development may have begun as many as 70 million years ago and the atolls did not develop around subsiding volcanoes. Instead, they originated atop giant fault blocks; limestone covered ridges that settled in steps, providing a series of offshore platforms for coral growth. After the last ice age, with the slow rise of sea level, coral growth continued upward, creating the precipitous outer walls and the shallow inside lagoon that typifies these distinct formations. Many drop-offs surrounding the Belize atolls are thousands of feet deep, while depths in the shallow lagoons average 10 to 30 feet.

For this very reason, Turneffe has some of the most pristine diving to be found, with over 70 dive sites. This means that in nearly any weather a fantastic dive site can be found. The many mangrove islands that make up the atoll are in fact a tremendous nursery that nourishes many different species of juvenile marine life until they are large enough to make it on their own. This unique biological situation causes the Turneffe Atoll to have some of the most prolific marine life in Belize.

The sites on the northwest side of the atoll average depths on the top of the wall between 30-45 feet with wide spur and groove formations and vertical wall dropping in excess of 100 feet before shelving and dropping again into the deep. An abundance of marine life including schools of Cubera Snapper and diverse population of grouper including Nassau, Tiger and Yellow fin grouper are present. Reef tropical too numerous to count and resident populations of the dainty Spotted Drum and the spectacular Splendid Toadfish are seen regularly. If you keep your eyes sweeping the deep water watch for sightings of Spotted Eagle Rays, Turtles and Sharks including the rare but exciting sightings of Manta Rays and Hammerhead Sharks. This side of the Atoll is protected from periodic bouts of strong easterly and southeasterly winds making it a well protected and ideal dive condition in most weather situations.

The versatility of diving on the Turneffe Atoll is unparalleled. The wall on the east side of the Atoll tends to start a bit deeper in the 45-50 foot range and generally has narrower spur and groove but a sheerer wall face than the west side of the atoll. Sightings of pelagics such as rays, turtles and sharks as well as reef tropical and numerous stands of Yellow Tube Sponges can be seen while diving on the east side of the atoll.

Six miles north of Halfmoon Caye, in the lagoon of Lighthouse Atoll, is the Great Blue Hole. The name alone will make it different from some of the other “blue holes” to be found in the Caribbean. This one is the largest, deepest, and most famous. Thousands of divers have made it the reason they have come to dive in Belize.

This site was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau who declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. In 1971 he brought his ship, the Calypso to the hole to chart its depths.

This trip is a full day excursion that departs at 6:00am and returns at 5:30pm. This adventure includes three spectacular dives. Your first stop is the Great Blue Hole, an incredible cavern filled with stalactites and awe – inspiring natural formations. A limited variety of fish species can be found here, Lemon and Black-tip Sharks, Horse-eye Jacks and very rarely a lone Hammerhead Shark has been sighted.

On your second dive you will go to Half Moon Caye Wall and marvel at the abundance of its marine life. Numerous varieties of sponge and sea fans compete for space, amongst a profusion of coral species that include Mountain Star, Giant Brain, Staghorn and Lettuce coral. Turtles are common here and you can expect amazing encounters with many pelagics:- Lemon, Black-Tip and Bull Sharks (with Pilot fish always in attendance), alongside the beautiful Spotted Eagle Rays.

The surface interval between your second and third dives will be spent having a  leisurely beach picnic lunch on Half Moon Caye. This Caye is a sanctuary for Red-footed Booby and Frigate birds. There is an observation tower where it is possible to see all the nesting birds and observe the behavior of some of the 98 species of birds recorded here. Half Moon Caye has to be one of the most beautiful marine and terrestrial sites you will ever experience.

After relaxing on the palm-fringed beach, you are ready for your third dive at the Aquarium so called because of the tremendous variety of fish found at this site, and their abundant numbers. You will be surrounded by various Angelfish and Butterfly fish, always found in pairs, flitting from coral head to coral head. Millions of minnows swim in dense cloud like formations, occasionally being prayed upon by hungry Jacks, and single large Barracuda hover effortlessly in this fruitful hunting ground, an underwater video delight.

The Great Blue Hole was formed sometime during one of the ice ages that covered the North American continent several millions of years ago. At this time it was dry and because of its limestone makeup, stalagmites and stalactites were created drop by drop of limestone rich water. Some of these stalactites are nearly thirty feet long and nearly eight feet in diameter.

The top edge of the Great Blue Hole is nearly 1,000 feet across and is ringed by fringing coral that makes for an excellent snorkeling adventure. The base of this fringing reef gradually slopes at about 40 degrees until at a depth of 50 feet it suddenly drops into the Great Blue Hole. A sheer, pockmarked wall, covered in some places with an algae called Halimeda, is the only reference as descent is initiated. Most of the time there will be a slight thermocline felt at around 90 feet and at this point the visibility will improve substantially. The stalactites start at a depth of 120 feet and are plainly in view at the limits of sport diving, 130 feet.

This amazing geological formation is not home to a variety of marine life, especially at depth. On occasion, you will see groupers, sharks, horse-eye jack, squirrel fish back up in a nook, and even schools of Reef Sharks. This really does make for an eerie, almost surreal setting.

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