Lighthouse Reef: A Diving Adventure
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Diving the Lighthouse Reef in the Caribbean
T he Caribbean really has THE representative avalanche of spectacular dive sites this planet has to offer to every level of diving enthusiast looking for a great adventure. For those planning to come across to this side of the world, the Lighthouse Reef is definitely the place you have to see to believe.
Situated just 50 miles off the East of Belize, this atoll is home to some of the world's best dive sites such as the Half Moon Caye and the Blue Hole, and home to the rare Red-footed Booby. For the true booby lover, this is a nec plus ultra! The Lighthouse Atoll, as others have come to know it, is a sand island that combines breathtaking lagoons and reefs with a land mass of approximately 16 sq. miles. But before indulging yourself in this diving adventure, it is best to know the different spots. Don't go to Rome and miss the Vatican because you skipped the homework!
OK, let's start with a biggie, the Great Blue Hole. It is said that this wonder was formed millions of years ago when a meteorite plunged into our planet. As a result, it formed one of the top 10 diving sites in the world with a depth of at least 400 feet. Divers who travel to the Blue Hole are set for the experience of their life. Because it is a well protected sanctuary for marine life, divers often have the chance to see seriously rare fish and super- large groupers which are rarely seen elsewhere. It is also home to squadrons of majestic eagle rays and fleets of southern stingrays.
Diving Cameras that Work
Make sure you have a good camera
Dinner to a Sea God
Explore deeper
O nce you've overcome your awe at seeing the Booby, you can pop over to the shallows and see assorted eels and stingrays. Then into the dive gear and out to the wall, where divers are able to cavort (ever see a cavorting diver or a hippo in ballet shoes?) with groups of angelfish, pairs of butterfly fish, squirrel fishes and groupers that form part of the astounding marine life in the area.
As divers explore deeper into the wall they are able to spot the encyclopedia of different kinds of sponges, sea fans, and giant brain coral of different colors and sizes. If you are a little more adventurous and ever decide to go seaward, you will spot different white tip sharks, large manta rays, and jewfishes. Offer yourself as dinner to a sea god!
Dive watches
For your Caribbean-Belize dive
Hat Caye Drop Off
Vast selections of aquatic life
A s part of your diving adventure, you will come across the western side of Lighthouse Reef where you will find the Hat Caye Drop-Off, as visitors have called it. It is known for its wide and shallow reefs that are also home to the full lexicon of marine life except the big laddies. The shallow areas are known for their vibrant life and deserve to be explored intensively. Divers who are also into wide-angle photography will learn that this is a good place to practice their craft.
When you have the chance to, explore the outer rim of the reef as it is home to basket sponges that are larger than the divers themselves. It is interesting to take note that this area is separated by two reefs that have a depth of at least 50 ft. You will be able to explore these reefs and explore different sizes of deep water lace corals and yellow tube sponges.
Diving Suits
Blue Hole Diving
The dive site to explore
The Northern Side of the Lighthouse Reef
The West Point 1 and 2
N ote that on the northern side of Lighthouse reef there is yet another diving wonder that is a must-explore. The West Point 1 to the south and 2 to the north is rich with corals and masses of reef fish. In particular, this site is known for its abundance of brightly coloured little guys in shallow water where photographers can shoot away and take excellent shots.
To begin your adventure, you will find that the surface of this spot has a rich abundance of different eels and stingrays. West Point has a wall that supports different tube sponges and sea fans that have a variety of colors. As you go down further in depth, you will be able to swim with hogfish, barracudas, angelfish, groupers, moray eels, and the rest of the usual suspects.
To bring back vivid memories of these underwater creatures
You will need a good camera
H ow terrible it is to go home and talk about your exotic dives and how fantastic the visibility was and only show them pictures that hardly show the fish vibrants colors and the corals mere shadows of what you actually saw.
The Aquatic Life in Belize
A vast underwater world
Tarpon Caves
Another diving adventure
L astly, you might want to explore the open diving waters of the Tarpon Caves. It is home to a lot of, guess what? You win-Tarpon and grouper that breed and live in this diving spot. Make sure your wet suit is snug! In general, the diving site has an 18m depth and is supported by a wall that has gigantic tube and monster sponges as well as black corals. Diving here would give you a chance to be among razor fishes, stingrays, eels, and parrot fishes.
Other things for your dives
News on Scuba Diving
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- By LISA J. LUCERO Lisa J. Lucero, a professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is studying ancient Maya underwater offerings in central Belize under the auspices of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, ...
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Have you tried diving?
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Your Top Dive Site
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Diving in the Caribbean
A peek at its majestic under water kingdom
D iving in the Caribbean is never complete until you take the plunge at Lightning Reef with its majestic underwater kingdom waiting to be explored. For the diving enthusiast this could well be a paradise worth coming back to again and again. And please, don't bring frozen peas!
Other diving needs
Make sure you are ready for your dives
You are welcome to leave some comments
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AnthonyAltorenna
May 23, 2012 @ 10:15 pm | delete
- I'm not an experienced diver, but I would really enjoy diving the Lighthouse Reef.
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mountainstevo
Aug 28, 2011 @ 4:10 pm | delete
- These are some really nice pictures!
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