Turneffe Reef Liveaboard diving

Liveaboard Diving in Turneffe Reef

What to expect on a Turneffe Atoll Reef Liveaboard

Liveaboards to Turneffe Atoll Reef give divers the chance to explore this chain of small Caribbean cayes (islands), with Turneffe Atoll being the closest and the largest of these 3 atolls in Belize. It forms a series of mangroves acting as spawning sites and offering protection for juvenile fish. Manatees and American Saltwater crocodiles can sometimes be spotted whilst on your Turneffe Atoll Reef liveaboard. What's more, the atoll provides great drift dives with some of the larger pelagic such as gigantic shoals of trevallies, snappers, black-tip and hammerhead sharks and the occasional small pod of bottlenose dolphins. Declared a national marine reserve, the marine biodiversity in this area is unrivalled in the region.

What You Can see

On a Turneffe Atoll Reef liveaboard there are dive sites suitable for every level. Beginner divers may prefer the Western side offering calmer waters and shallower reefs while the more advanced seek the stronger currents and trickier terrain of the eastern and south sides. The atoll offers enough variety to satisfy every diver.

The Elbow, so called because of a dramatic twist in the reef. An advanced dive with stunning drop-offs and dramatic reef formations, it is common to see groups of eagle rays up to 50 in numbers with the occasional hammerhead shark sightings. Be aware of strong currents on this site.

The Wreck of the Sayonara is a former a 50ft passenger/cargo boat that is now adorned in impressive sponges and corals. It provides a home for schools of French grunts, parrotfish and a variety of angelfish. For the macro inclined, you can find basket stars, coral shrimp and file clams. The nearby reef is sometimes visited by schools of barracuda.

Black Beauty - This wall features coral formation with isolated patches of the rare black corals from which it gets its name. This site offers an interesting reef structure with steep wall features, covered in a vast amount of marine growth sloping down to sandy bottom channels. Turtle and Eagle Ray sightings are not uncommon here, and if luck is on your side, an encounter with the rare toadfish.

Getting To Turneffe Atoll Reef

To get to Turneffe Atoll Reef, 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.