Page 244 - Central America
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Hol Chan Marine Reserve/Hol Chan Cut - eagle rays. ery. It is shallow enough so snorkelers can
About 15 minutes south by boat. Maximum Love Tunnels - This site is located north of see without diving and divers can maximize
30 feet deep. Excellent visibility. Here the San Pedro and the site got its name as a cou- their bottom time. Although the reef is not as
water lover can see a great number of Carib- ple got married in the mouth of this huge magnificent as the barrier, the scattered coral
bean fish like snappers and groupers, parrot- tunnel. At a depth of 60 feet you through heads and marine life make impressive wide
fish and surgeonfish. Rays are also often seen the tunnel that comes out on the edge of the angle and macro subjects.
here together with the moray eels. Translated drop off at approximately 90 feet. Along the Mahogany - This place is quite easy to find
from the Mayan - Hol Chan means - little drop off there is a variety of hard and soft due to a huge mahogany tree that once got
blue channel. Tidal currents funnel a steady corals and the usual juveniles and groupers caught on the barrier reef and marks the
supply of food to filter feeders such as gor- that are abundant in these waters. \ spot. At this site the coral formation is about
gonians, seafans, sponges, schools of grunts Mata Cut - At a pass through the barrier reef 20 feet higher than all along the rest of the
and mutton snappers. The Channel itself is lies the remnants of Changa’s Wreck, an old reef, creating a little underwater hill, that
about 30 feet (9 meters) deep, with occasion- barge in just 3 meters (10 feet) of water. Near attracts numerous reef fish, like Tiger and
ally strong tidal currents. Strong tidal cur- the barge are sand, grass and coral flats, with Nassau Groupers, different species of Trigger
rents flow in and out through the cut and are southern stingrays searching for crustaceans Fish. There is also a big school of Blue Tang
especially strong at mid-water in the center and mollusks. A variety of soft corals and en- Fish that made this spot their home.
of the channel. When peak tidal exchange crusting sponges decorate the barge’s frame M&M Caverns - Divers agree that this is one
occurs, it is impossible for most divers to and the rusted out hull is a hang-out for a of the best, must-do dive sites of Ambergris
swim against the current. If you get caught small school of snappers. It’s a great place to Caye, with mountainous star coral and many
by the current, stay relaxed. Just remember combine fish and wreck photography. Stop- tunnels and caverns. Depths range to 90
to swim toward the channel walls to get out light parrotfish, trumpetfish, blue striped feet/27 meters. Pelagic species are common-
of the current most quickly. Out in the main grunts, triggerfish, blue tang and rock beau- ly seen. As you descend down to a depth of
flow, permits and tarpon can be found in ties are an abbreviated list of what is here. 90 feet you see the entrance to the first tun-
mid-water. Schools of grunts, sailor’s choice, Occasional eagle rays and plenty of snappers, nel which has a length of 30 feet to the exit
dog snapper and cubera snapper, black groupers, jacks, and spider crabs. which comes out at a depth of 60 feet. There
groupers and large concentrations of school- Mexico Rocks - 15 minutes from San Pe- are schools of horse eye jacks and a good op-
masters aggregate along the channel walls. dro. Fish life includes angelfish, butterfly- portunity to see deep water pelagics cruising
Little Finger - An excellent dive site descend- fish, groupers, snappers, grunts, filefish, and the reef.
ing down to depths in excess of 40 meters in many more. A cave here forms a fish nurs-
places. This is a popular dive when looking
for encounters with bottlenose dolphins and
