Page 258 - Central America
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Bat Brook Shallows - Inside the reef on this Blue Creek (Franko Maps South) - Blue who aggregate by the thousands on summer
southwest corner of the atoll is a wide area Creek reef is named after the tidal pass that full moon nights to spawn.
between the cayes and the reef. This entire divides a tangle of mangroves a distance be- Front Porch (Franko Maps North) – Located
corner, with its shallow diving conditions of hind the western reef line. The reefs at Blue directly east off the front porch of Turneffe
only 15 feet (5 meters), is ideal for repetitive Creek are shallow, broken and have abun- Island Lodge. This is a deep dive that be-
dives. dant and varied marine life. You will also gins at 15m (50’) and goes over the wall to
Billy Bob’s Shallows (Franko Maps South) find an abundance of reef and long-spined unlimited depth. Just like this whole reef
- Along the southeast corner of Big Caye black urchins, both of which sun light and area. There are many protective recesses for
Bokel in shallow water averaging 25 feet do not wander far from shelter even at night. proliferations of fish and invertebrates. An
(8 meters), are scattered coral heads with Cabbage Patch - Between the lighthouse and observant diver might find a rare blue toad-
structures of elkhorn and staghorn, as well the reef is a pristine area of staghorn, elk- fish. He has white or very pale blue spots all
as other types of coral. The reef top consists horn, brain and lettuce leaf corals. These va- over except around the eyes. His eyes have
of a series of triangular slivers of living coral rieties are found all around the southern end a star pattern of short lines. Coral growth is
and deep sand-floored ravines, culminating of the atoll, but the beauty of this particular vigorous and fresh here and, as everywhere
in a straight line near the wall at about 60 ft. spot is quite unbelievable. It is an excellent else along this part of the reef. One resident
From there they dip steeply toward the wall spot for divers who wish to photograph spe- found here, which is not particularly com-
and deep water. Large pelagics frequent the cies of coral. Here, like elsewhere in the shal- mon elsewhere in the Caribbean, is the dark
wall and more than 40 kinds of other fish live lower waters, are all the common reef fishes. blue toadfish. Its body is completely covered
among the rugged coral terrain. The ridges Angelfishes, butterflyfishes, squirrelfishes, with white or light blue spots except around
consist of beautiful coral growth and shelter parrotfishes, grunts and even queen trigger- the eyes where a series of short lines high-
many species of marine life. fish are all present in good numbers along light a star pattern.
Birthday Reef – Known for its vertical reef with several species of moray eel. Large tar-
wall at a depth of 60 feet (18 m) and drop- pon are often seen between here and HMS
off and is an example of Belizean underwater Advice (wreck described below) .
beauty at its best. Even the novice diver can Crlckozeen Cut (Franko Maps South) - This
enjoy this wall as it begins in relatively shal- is a shallow dive where you will see trumpet-
low water. To the east is the open water of the fish color themselves to match the sea fans
Caribbean so pelagics are often seen, includ- and a myriad of damselfish and grazing par-
ing the rare oceanic whitetip shark. rotfish. Ledges make refuge for spiny lob-
sters, This is a fish nursery for Creole wrasse
