Snorkel Glover’s Reef

Glovers Reef is the southernmost of three atolls off Belize’s coast. The southern part of Glovers is approximately 30 nautical miles from Placencia. The journey takes a little more than an hour and a half. The ride is certainly worth every minute as some of the best snorkel sites in the Western Caribbean can be found. Glovers Atoll is an oval-shaped reef system 15 miles long by 4 miles wide. Five islands lie on the eastern side where most of the diving is done. These islands are mostly private with small diving and fishing resorts. The pristine waters with unique coral formations and tons of marine life makes Glovers reef a popular spot for snorkelers wanting to see the best Belize has to offer. Glover’s is one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites and a marine reserve with designated no take and conservation zones. 

Trip Plan 

Snorkelers need to arrive at our dive center by 05:30 for a 06:00 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 between the two snorkel excursions. The boat ride takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.  The trip gets back at around 4:00 pm.

South West Bed is known for beautiful healthy patches of corals and wildlife, which includes lobster, barracudas, lizardfish, Nassau grouper, angel fish, spotted eagle rays, tarpon, permit, Spanish rays, nurse shark, and many colorful juvenile reef fish.  Our expert guides, registered with the Belizean Tour Operators will be on hand to point out the amazing aquatic life for you.

Enjoy an authentic Belize-style picnic lunch and relax on the beach after your first exploration of this pristine site. 

At South End at Glover’s Atoll, we find a grassy patch where you may see manatees, tarpon, kingfish, parrot fish, angel fish, butterfly fish, nurse sharks, southern rays, spotted eagle rays and lots of other sea life. 

We only take snorkelers to Glover’s when the weather is such that we are certain that the dive boat will be able to comfortably make the crossing from the Belize Barrier Reef to Glover’s Atoll.  In case of questionable weather, we will target Glover’s as the destination, with the fall back of going to South Water Caye depending on the boat captain’s evaluation of the sea state when the boat arrives at the cut to cross the barrier reef near South Water Caye. 

If the boat captain concludes that the sea state is too rough to do the crossing, then the group dives at South Water Caye.  Unfortunately, there is not good snorkeling from shore at South Water Caye, so we are unwilling to take snorkelers when weather conditions are not ideal. 

We can take a tentative booking for snorkeling at Glover’s subject to confirmation that the weather is suitable.