Page 271 - Central America
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Nurse Shark Lodge - From 4 feet/12 me- in such tight formations that they obscure the black hydroids, and gorgonians cover most
ter depth and beyond, this wall is known reef. Quite often the shoals will be attacked of the walls. Marine life in Blue Hole and on
for large marine life, especially sharks. The by hungry jacks. Like all shoals they move in the broad muddy sand slope that surrounds
Lodge part of its name is from the shallow perfect harmony. It is above this stretch of is sparce comparative to other sites in Be-
caves in the coral reefs where nurse sharks reef that some of the larger live-aboard dive lize. Algae and encrusting sponges mantle
sleep. The wall plunges steeply into deep wa- boats anchor. The depth here is never more the walls to depth. Scattered growths of un-
ter all along this section of northern Long than 20 to 25 feet above the ledge. healthy stony coral rim the wall. The most
Caye. It offers great diving, but the site is The Great Blue Hole - One of the greatest dive varied and lush marine life is found on the
singled out by dive charters because it con- sites in Belize was made famous by Jacques coral reefs that rim the perimeter of Blue
stantly features large marine life. Cousteau by his televised Calypso explora- Hole. The reefs occur in only a few feet of wa-
Quebrada - At this grand dive site there is tory journey in 1971. During four previous ter, making them excellent for snorkeling..
a fine ridge of coral rimming a crescent- ice ages the sea level has been as much as 360 The Aquarium - Ranging from 9m (30’) to
shaped overhanging wall. The sandy bottom feet lower, making the Lighthouse Reef Atoll 33m+ (110’+) this site is noted for varied
is dotted with coral patches right to the edge a towering limestone plateau. Subterranean invertebrate life. Coral ridges and sandy
of the wall. caverns were created when rainwater flowed canyons flow northward out to the sea. The
Southwest Cut - Being next to a wide chan- through the porous limestone. Sometime site is located off the northwestern corner of
nel on this site is open to lagoon water and during or after the ice age this huge, round Long Caye,
sometimes ocean swells that go over the la- cavern collapsed to form the sinkhole now
goon from the windward side. Dive depths known as an amazing site for advanced di-
range from 12m (40’) and often have strong vers, called the Great Blue Hole. It is almost
currents. This is a popular site for night dives perfectly round at 305m (1000’) diameter,
Silver Caves - Named for large schools of sil- with a maximum depth of 124m (407’). It is
versides that were usually found inside the rimmed by living coral, but has passages on
caves in the massive coral formations. Many the east and north. Divers enter either the
of the nocturnal or light-sensitive animals north or south side to depths of 100 to 150
can be found here during the daytime. This feet, where the closest caves may be seen.
site takes its name from a wealth of small sil- There is a south side cave with a stalactite
verside minnows. Countless numbers, per- ceiling oddly tilting 5 degrees, showing a
haps even millions, of these small fish swim ground shift. Some stalactites are one me-
ter wide by 6 meters long. The cave bottom
has detached stalactites. Red algae, stinging
