Laughing Bird Caye
Laughing Bird Caye Diving — National Park Inner Reef
Laughing Bird Caye diving offers some of the best inner reef experiences in Belize. In fact, most of our inner reef dive sites sit at or around Laughing Bird Caye, a National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Moreover, this unique caye lies 11 nautical miles east of Placencia, with a short 30-minute boat ride to some of Southern Belize’s most stunning dive sites.
The area features fringing reef systems with spur-and-groove formations, occasional drop-offs, and patches of healthy reef. As a result, these sites work beautifully for entry-level and novice divers. In addition, weak currents and natural protection make the area safe and enjoyable. Experienced divers also love it here, because the reef hides countless critters that reward a sharp eye and good buoyancy.
For example, you’ll spot spotted drums, huge lobsters, cleaner shrimp, arrow crabs, groupers, snapper, barracuda, and occasional southern rays. Furthermore, the variety of reef fish is almost impossible to count.
Trip Plan
Laughing Bird Caye Diving Sites
Coral Garden
Coral Garden is ½ mile southeast of Laughing and is known for its abundance and variety of coral. Critters include spotted drums, huge lobsters, cleaner shrimp, arrow crabs, and lots of varieties of reef fish. Coral mounds separated by sandy patches rise from 100 feet/30 meters to 30 to 40 feet / 10 to 12 meters from the surface. This dive can be done at either the 70-foot/ 21-meter or the 40-foot/12-meter range.
Laughing Bird Drop Off At the 15 to 25 feet/5-8meters, sandy patches make this site a perfect location for open water training and checkout dives. The dive can be done from shore or from a boat. A coral wall slopes gradually from about 25 to 80 feet/8-24meters. Sightings here could include lobsters, barracudas, lizardfish, Nassau grouper, angel fish, furry sea cucumber, and lots of other juvenile reef fish.
Laughing Bird North
One mile north of Laughing Bird Caye, on top of the slope, there are scattered coral patches on the seafloor which makes it a perfect habitat for the protected queen conch. The dive itself is along a slope running from north to south at around 25 to 80 feet/8-24meters. Impressive wire coral and lettuce leaf corals lines the side of this wall and forms a perfect habitat for spotted moray eels, lobsters, and trumpet fish. Spotted eagle rays may also be seen gliding along this wall.
Laughing Bird South
One and a half miles south of Laughing Bird Caye, there is a huge canyon running north/south at 50 feet/15 meters. This dive can be done either in between or on the east side of the canyon. Lobsters can be found in groups of 4 or 5 hiding out in the crevices of the canyon. On the sandy bottom in between the canyons wall is a usual hiding spot for southern stingrays and nurse sharks. The southern part of the canyon catches a bit of current and is an excellent habitat for healthy coral growth.
The Wreck
At 90 feet/27 meters just off Laughing Bird Caye lies the ‘Miss Pamela’, a small tugboat, sunk in 2002 to create an artificial reef and an additional dive site in the inner reef. The wreck has created a micro reef with good fish life, including one or two goliath grouper and a huge barracuda preying on schools of silversides sheltering around the wreck. The visibility and diveability of the wreck are generally wind-dependent as bottom sediments are easily stirred up. A dive light is a good accessory to have on this dive.
Long Coco Split
Long Coco Split is one mile east of Mosquito Caye, about 3 miles from Laughing Bird Caye. This area has basically the same marine life as dive sites around Laughing Bird Caye. The formation here is a bit different from most sites in Southern Belize and it is also possible to dive a bit deeper here. Most of the activity at this site is at the tip of the split where large schools of silversides can be found here along with bigger predator fish. Black corals and gorgonians give this site a unique appearance as it is inner reef. Depth is 25-90 feet / 8-27 meters.
