Liveaboard Diving in Blue Hole
What to expect on a Great Blue Hole Liveaboard
Liveaboard diving to The Great Blue Hole, Belize's signature dive site, should be on every divers bucket list. Approximately 60 miles off the mainland out of Belize City, right in the center of Lighthouse Reef is a large, almost perfectly circular limestone sinkhole more than 300 meters across and 135 meters deep, made famous by Jacques Cousteau. Scuba divers worldwide come to Belize for this main attraction and the opportunity to dive in crystal-clear waters. A Great Blue Hole liveboard offers divers unique underwater topography and encounters with several species of fish, including Midnight Parrotfish, Caribbean reef shark, and other juvenile fish species.
What You Can See
Liveaboards to the Great Blue Hole cater for all levels of certified diver, but the deeper dives are reserved for the more experienced diver. At approximately 30 meters/100 feet below the surface, you will begin to see the array of bizarre stalactites and limestone formations under the overhangs. Weaving your way between them you will notice the diversity of the marine life ranges from the small to the large.
Cleaning shrimps inhabit the many anemones, gobies, blennies pop out of their hiding places from the various coral heads. Angelfish and butterflyfish dance around you and the giant groupers watch them motionlessly. As you ascend and look up purple seafans sweep above you while you keep an eye out for nurse sharks, Caribbean reef sharks and blacktip sharks. Bull sharks and hammerheads have been seen there but are a rare sight.
A Great Blue Hole liveaboard is not only for the recreational diver but also for the avid snorkeller. A spectacular site to see from the surface, it boasts a healthy reef around the outer rim of the hole and is home to an abundance of sea life providing an ideal habitat for corals to attach and flourish. The coral actually breaks the surface in many sections at low tide. Except for two narrow channels, the reef surrounds the hole. The dark blue water is motionless, and the visibility often approaches 200 feet as you break a noticeable thermocline.
Getting To The Great Blue Hole
To get to the Blue Hole, Belize liveaboards depart from the Radisson Ft. George dock, located in the heart of downtown Belize City. International flights to Belize depart regularly from around the world, often with a transfer in Miami, Florida. If you are landing at Belize City International Airport (BZE), transfer is provided to and from the yachts. Dependent on the Liveaboard itinerary and sea conditions, the first part of your journey may start at Lighthouse Reef or Turneffe Atoll Reef.
