Page 286 - Central America
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Depths range from 75 to 100 feet. Lunch reef is home to cool macro life such as small many species of sharks and maybe even a
can be taken on Laughing Bird Caye in the shrimps, crabs and juvenile fish like the spot- pod of dolphins or whales!
form of a picnic basket from one of the lo- ted drum. The outer reef is great for big pe-
cal resorts, or a beach barbeque. During an lagic fish, rays, turtles, eels, sharks and huge
after lunch snorkel, you can explore the rich coral formations.
waters around the island, including the spec- Inner reef diving is usually around the small
tacular Elkhorn forest on the west side of the cayes such as Robert’s Caye with lots of tropi-
island. An afternoon dive can include dives cal fish and colourful corals or Laughing
on any number of patch reefs inside the la- Bird Caye National Park with many different
goon such as Lobster Garden, or explore the species of rays, maybe even a manta ray! The
spur and groove in front of the island. Even macro life here will excite the photography
if you can’t dive, snorkeling can offer you enthusiasts. Maximum depth is only around
more than a glimpse of the wonders of Be- 25 metres, but visibility is great, usually be-
lize marine waters. Coral gardens abound in tween 20 and 30 metres. The outer reef is
10 to 15 feet of water around Laughing Bird vertical walls, great for deep diving. Search
Caye, as well as many other Cayes in the area. for sharks along the sandy canyons, look into
The Silk Cayes, Scipio and Colson Cayes of- the blue for passing rays or for the eels and
fer clear shallow snorkeling. Half way be- lobsters hiding in the wall’s nooks and cran-
tween Placencia and Laughing Bird Caye, lay nies. Visibility stays between 25-40 metres
a small trio of cayes known as Bird Cayes. almost all year round.
Here Frigate Birds, Pelicans and Brown Boo- One of the most exciting dives from Placen-
bies nest, and fuel an explosion of marine life cia is the whale shark dive at Gladden Split.
among the mangrove roots, seagrass beds It’s not often you get to dive with these mag-
and dropoffs accessible even to a beginning nificent creatures, most places only allow for
snorkeler. snorkelling, but from March to June, from 2
You’ll find a great selection of dive centres to days before the full moon until 10 days af-
choose from in the town, with trips out to ter it, you can get up close and personal with
the Southern Barrier Reef ’s inner reef which the gentle giants on your dive. Even if you
is great for beginners due to the calm and don’t get to see whale sharks, the Gladden
protected waters, or the outer reef for some Split area is full of sea life, big schools of fish,
amazing wall and canyon diving. The inner
