Caye Caulker Travel Forum

Hello,
I'll be in Belize in early March and would like to do some snorkeling. I've never snorkeled before, but I'm a decent swimmer. Are there excursions people go on or with guides or somewhere to rent equipment? Can you go straight from the beach or have to take a boat to the reef?
Thanks :)

you have several companies in caye caulker organising both snorkelling and diving there and they rent out equipment too.

I'd pass on the snorkeling anywhere around Caye Caulker frankly, it's dead, or brown as our guide had informed us "the natual colour of Belizean coral" B/S !!!

I've heard there is some much better snorkeling to be had on other Cayes with abbundent live colourful coral and heaps of marine life, not sure which ones, your best to do a little reasearch on the web.

If you do any snorkeling off Caye Caulker make sure you don't miss the two different "Shark and Stingray Alley's", very cool indeed ! You can touch/hold and even wrestle the sharks and rays if you've got the balls.

Cheers and happy snorkeling,
Carlos

Hi,
where was the coral brown? Was it at the "Coral Gardens"?? We were strongly considering the tour with Raggamuffin that goes to Hol Chan, Shark Alley, and the gardens. It seems like a decent price for all of that ($US 35)...

Belize's coral is good and bad spots and with Hurricane Mitch and the increasing temperatures of recent years, there has been in general a larger amount of "standing dead". The difference between live coral and "standing dead" is like the difference between a beauty queen and a corpse.
There are nice spots all over but in general, it seemed to me the better corals were on the reef, way off shore.

If you do go, please be careful out there. Touching corals kills them as does dropping anchors on them etc. Its getting harder and harder to be a coral these days.

Enjoy yourself. :)

Caye Caulker is a great place to base your snorkeling trips. We were just there and went on 2 all day trips. The guides all have equipment. The cost is around $45. The water is so salty you almost can't sink. Take a floatation jacket the first time to get comfortable. The snorkeling is great in my opinion. If you can, go out with Carlos Tours. He's near the Sandbox Restaurant. You'll see where that is soon after arriving on the island.

I have a different opinion of snorkeling from land. My wife went in at the Split and had fun. The water is clear and she saw several fish. You will have to fight the current some but she managed and isn't a strong swimmer. Going out to the reef is far better, though.