South Water Caye Marine Reserve is the second largest Marine reserve in Belize, covering 117,875 acres. It was established in 1996 in recognition of the exceptional integrity of marine ecosystems. The Reserve has an abundance of aquatic life and intriguing underwater terrain. The Caye is 24 nautical miles northeast of Placencia.
Trip Plan
This can be done as either a two-tank boat or a three-tank dive trip. The boat ride takes about 1 hour and fifteen minutes.
For the two-tank trip, divers need to arrive at our dive center by 08:30 for a 09:00 am departure. An authentic Belizean-style picnic lunch is served during the surface interval. The trip gets back at around 3:30 pm.
For the three-tank trip, divers need to arrive by 06:30 for a 07:00 am departure. Due to the early start, a complimentary continental breakfast is served at our dive center. An authentic Belizean-style picnic lunch is served during the surface interval after the second dive. The trip gets back at around 3:30 pm.
Dive Sites
The Abyss
This is probably one of the most impressive walls in all of southern Belize. From about 40 feet/12mt a sheer wall drops into the blue abyss. Many overhangs can be seen with beautiful black corals and several species of gorgonians. The visibility at these reefs often exceeds 100 feet/30mt. It is important to monitor your depth gauge as the dips in some areas are deeper than they appear. Critters here can include eagle rays, turtles, lobsters, nurse sharks, and schools of blue wrasse in mid water.
Rosella’s Garden
This site got its name from a long-time resident of South Water Caye and is just a minute away from the island. It is perfect for a second dive. There is plenty to see diving between the two reef structures at depths ranging from 45-60 feet/14-18mt. Sightings here could include southern stingrays and nurse sharks in the sandy bottom, spotted eagle rays, turtles, schools of tarpons, and a wide variety of smaller tropical reef fish thriving around healthy corals.
Trick Ridge
This site has a unique formation of corals that go deep and then shallow. It is important to monitor your depth gauge and follow your dive master. The ridge here has some big barrel sponges with cleaning stations where huge barracudas and groupers visit resident cleaner shrimps. Also, to be seen here are colorful tube and vase sponges that attract many juvenile spotted drum.
Long Reef
The wall here starts at 45 feet/12mt and drops to a little over 100 feet/30mt. It then goes east a few feet before it drops into the blue. The dive is usually done in the 60-foot/18mt depth range where little crevices can be seen along the wall. This is a perfect hiding spot for spiny lobsters, huge spider crabs, and spotted eels. Eagle rays and turtles are quite common at this site and our resort divers and photographers rate this site as one of their favourites.