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Palmeros - This site features diving through ing 25m tunnel. If you’re lucky you may find spurs. Recently, Large schools of yellow
arches carved out of the lime stone struc- turtles, nurse sharks and jawfish resting in chub, bar jacks and yellowtail snapper pa-
tures by the steady current, which comes the dark recesses of the tunnel, but always trol the water above the reef. On some days,
from the north and catches here in a point- you will find a school of curious looking schools of more than a dozen spotted eagle
like reef formation. Because of this current, glassy sweepers. Schools of horse eye jacks rays pass through.A dozen or so large black
the chances to see larger fish like barracuda frequent this area of Ambergris Caye along and Nassau grouper call the Pillars dive site
and cobia are high at this site. Known for ea- with Nassau groupers, lobsters and some home. You can expect to see grouper, snap-
gle rays. very large great barracuda. Getting to Punta per and jacks swim up to you because they’ve
Paradise Canyons - Finger canyons extend Arenas involves navigating a narrow passage learned to identify all divers as a source of
seaward at 50 feet to 65 feet. The formations through the barrier reef. If it’s windy the sea food. Many colorful species of reef fish hide
are gorgeous, and this site boasts amazing can be rough. in them from the barracudas that roam this
concentrations of tropical marine life. The Pescador Tunnels - In most dives you hang area, including barracuda. A dive at Pillar
site is known for it beautiful staghorn and out and hover over the reef, but in this one Corals usually lasts about 50 minutes, and
plate corals, as well as colorful tube sponges you hang out under the reef. At 27-30 meters maximum depth is 60 feet although most of
and huge barrel sponges. Spur and groove (90’-100’) you’ll find fido-size spiny lobsters, the best features are at about 30 feet.
reef formations, separated by sandy bot- spider crabs, and unusual cubero snappers Punta Azul Canyons - This site is 20 minutes
tomed canyons, shelter nurse sharks and who come up from the deep to hunt. from the dock and is located directly offshore
lobsters, green and spotted moray eels, and Pescador Cavern - Cavern 90’-`100’. Instead from the Belizean Hotel. It has dramatic reef
roughtail stingrays. While maximum depth of hovering over the reef, you will explore canyons where you will dive through arches
here is 130 feet, the statue of Christ, which under the reef at this site, swimming through and the site offers dramatic canyon forma-
is generally the last stop before your safety a long tunnel. Big spiny lobsters and spider tions on the reef and excellent visibility. Ma-
stop, stands with arms outspread in 60 feet of crabs like to hide in here. At the end of the rine life Includes Nassau groupers, horse-eye
water, and is usually surrounded by school- tunnel, there is a steep drop off to a couple of jacks, barracuda, and snappers. You will be
ing yellowtail snappers. hundred feet. diving through arches carved by a slight cur-
Punta Arena Canyons (aka Small Cut) - Ad- Pillar Coral - Pillar Coral is a spur-and- rent that comes down from Mexico catching
vanced deep dive where you will find caverns groove reef similar to Sandbar. About 700 there in the pointed reef formation. Because
and vertical walls. A narrow tunnel through feet southeast of the mooring line in 55 feet of this current, bigger fish such as Barracuda,
a huge triangular opening at the base of the of water, there is a cluster of the namesake stick around to hunt. Good visibility with
coral ridge leads to two canyons. The main pillar coral, which spikes upward above the plenty of marine life; including horse-eye
attraction of this dive site is a narrow, snak- jacks, Nassau groupers, lobster, barracuda,
spider crab and sand sharks.
