We invite you to see the best of what Belize has to offer both above and below the water by staying in Placencia village on one of our Belize scuba diving and accommodation packages. Placencia is the real Belize, with a caring and friendly English-speaking community, beautiful beaches, affordable and authentic restaurants, and a variety of tours and services available.
Placencia, a charming village on the southern coast of Belize, is a gateway to some of the best Belize scuba diving sites. Known for its pristine waters and vibrant marine life, Placencia offers access to world-class dive spots like the Gladden Spit, where divers can swim alongside whale sharks during their seasonal migration. The Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest in the world, is just a short boat ride away, teeming with colorful coral gardens, rays, and tropical fish. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, Placencia’s clear waters and abundant marine biodiversity make it a top destination for underwater exploration.
The Belize Barrier Reef
The Belize Barrier Reef system is the second largest barrier reef system in the world, after the Australian Great Barrier Reef, and is the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. The Belize Barrier reef runs for 320 kilometers/200 miles, and it encloses 450 islets and islands, that are known locally as cayes.
Sustainability
Belize has one of the lowest population densities in Central America, and around 25% of our land is protected as national parks and reserves. The lack of development on the shoreline, and the distance of the reef from the mainland, make the corals and aquatic life some of the most diverse and abundant in the Caribbean.
Although the Northern parts of Belize such as Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, have seen commercial development and mass tourism, the Southern parts of Belize have retained their authentic charm and developed tourism infrastructure sustainably, offering services and accommodation from budget to the highest luxury standards.
Belize Scuba Diving Sites
The small peninsular village of Placencia is ideally located in the South to be closest to the healthiest and most vibrant sections of the Belize Barrier Reef. From Placencia, scuba divers and snorkelers have short boat rides to the UNESCO world heritage site of Glovers Reef, and the famous spawning ground and Whale shark feeding site of Gladden Spit.
