When you’re not marveling at the plunging walls and vibrant marine life around Belize’s atolls, there are jaguars to spot and Maya ruins to explore on land

Jaguar preserve Belize is home to the world’s first jaguar preserve — the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary — where 128,000 acres of pristine jungle are prowled by some 80 resident cats. barefootservicesbelize.com

Long Caye Wall This sheer drop-off dive gives you the sensation of falling into the abyss as you leave a whitesand area dotted with garden eels and dive over the reef downward. Elephant ear sponges, and healthy elkhorn and fire corals are among the interesting soft corals and sponges to be seen. And manta rays, barracuda, schooling bar jacks and turtles are frequent arrivals. splashbelize.com

Half Moon Caye Wall Before a dive here, most operators stop on the spectacular island of Half Moon Caye, where you can view a red-footed booby colony from an observation deck. After, gear up to dive a plunging wall waving with sea fans and covered with giant barrel sponges. seasportsbelize.com

Fine Cheesemaking A Caribbean country might be the last one you’d associate with cheesemaking. But Ian Anderson, owner of Cave’s Branch Jungle Lodge, went to Vermont to study the art form and brought it back to Belize. cavesbranch.com

The Elbow Turneffe Atoll’s signature dive is an advanced thrill. Converging currents bring plankton flowing in fast — and with that nutrient soup, fish galore. Look for huge coral mounds cut through with gullies that drop to 100 feet on the vertical wall. Fin through black-coral forests, and spot schools of huge black grouper and culebra snapper. turnefferesort.com

Sayonara A wooden passenger boat for Turneffe Island Resort, the fittingly named Sayonara sank in 1985 in just 40 to 45 feet of water. Its location atop brightwhite sand makes for great photo ops. Look for charismatic yellow-head jawfish popping up everywhere. aggressor.com

Great Blue Hole Belize’s most famous dive is this 400-foot-deep sapphire-hued sinkhole that stretches a quarter-mile wide. Advanced divers drop to 130 feet in crystal- clear water to ogle one of the Caribbean’s most unusual underwater formations: eerie giant stalactites explored by none other than Jacques Cousteau and his crew in the 1970s. belizedivingservices.com

St. Herman’s Cave Less touristy than western Belize’s famous ATM Cave, this wonder in St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park was used during the golden age of the Maya, as far back as A.D. 250. Tours take you along a concrete path nearly a mile into the cave. cayoadventure.com

Ancient Maya ruins Belize is home to some of the Maya world’s most impressive ruins. Take a boat tour 26 miles up the New River from Orange Walk Town to reach more than 700 ruins dating back to 700 B.C. at the majestic Lamanai Archaeological Reserve. lamanaitour.com

Colorful Belize City You’re likely to get waylaid in Belize’s main town for at least a day. Make the most of it with a stroll around the city’s historical center. The colorful colonial-era buildings are the most atmospheric in the areas of Fort George and Southern Foreshore. travelbelize.org

SCUBA DIVERS GUIDE

Average water temp: High 70s to low 80s

What to wear: Skin or shorty

Average viz: 70 feet

When to go: Year-round

More info: sportdiver.com/belize

Want more Caribbean diving? Check out our feature on Cozumel.