Page 278 - Central America

Red-lipped batfish are routinely observed on the Dive Site Name Section Top Rated M a r k e d Pelagics
southeastern side of this atoll. Caribbean reef on Franko
shark are often seen cruising the edge of the wall Baking Swash Reef North
together with spotted eagle rays and turtles. The Bev’s Garden South Maps
western side of the atoll offers numerous large Emerald Forest North Yes
pinnacles lining the wall that loom up like an- Glover Reef South Yes
cient giants covered in coral and sponge growth. Grouper Flats North Yes
This atoll offers numerous sites that require more Long Caye Cut South Yes
than one trip to experience. Yet another snorkel- Long Caya Lagoon South Yes Yes
ers haven. Long Caye Wall South Yes
Glover’s Reef was named for English pirate John Middle Caye Wall South Yes
Glover, who was paid by the British to plunder Pinnacles South Yes Yes
the Spaniards in the 1600s. Pirate John based Shark Point South Yes
his operations here on this atoll. At 32 km long Southwest Caye Wall South Yes
by 12 km wide, Glover’s Reef is the smallest and Split Reefs South Yes
most southern of three big Belize atolls. It is also Yes
the most distant from Belize City and Amber- The Abyss South Yes Yes
gris Caye, making it the least frequently visited. The Crack South
The reef entirely surrounds the lagoon, and the Yes Yes
Glover’s Reef Lagoon itself has over 800 patch Yes
reefs within it, each with its own population of
fishes, corals, sponges, and invertebrates. Much of
the reef here inside or outside the lagoon is vir-
tually untouched, uncharted, and pristine. Dive
trips take extra planning, but it is worth it. The
reef is a well known protected spawning ground
for the Nassau grouper. It is also a unique habitat
and nursery for conchs, lobsters, and finfish.