Belize Liveaboard Diving: Great Blue Hole, Turneffe and Lighthouse Reef

You’ve probably seen the drone shot of Belize’s iconic Great Blue Hole, located in the heart of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Mainland Belize dive operators make the five-hour round trip excursion so their guests can dive the Great Blue Hole, but a liveaboard is the best way to experience all the captivating beauty of the country’s coral reef atolls.

Dive Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Atoll

Imagine waking every morning on a Belize Aggressor liveaboard where your dive site is just a giant stride away. On the itinerary: A tantalizing array of sites on Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Atoll, ring-shaped islands that rise from the depths of the Caribbean Sea and are some of the most unique dive destinations in the Western Hemisphere. For Belize Aggressor III and Belize Aggressor IV guests, the itinerary unlocks access to these remote coral kingdoms—sites that are effortless to dive from the yachts. Protected from coastal development, this thriving marine ecosystem brims with biodiversity. On every dive, you’ll find sprawling coral gardens, towering sponges and crystal-clear visibility.

Diving the Great Blue Hole

The Great Blue Hole is a cavernous, otherworldly marine sinkhole that features stalactites and sheer limestone walls and is often patrolled by reef sharks. But Lighthouse Reef is so much more than its famous blue hole.

Half Moon Caye Wall and Lighthouse Reef Highlights

Half Moon Caye Wall is considered to be one of the most vibrant dive sites in the Caribbean, where spotted eagle rays glide by, big schools of jacks shimmy past you, and spiny lobsters, arrow crabs and other critters survey the scene from their hiding spots. Small tropicals mob the reeftop at Angel Fish Wall, while eagle rays cruise the drop-off. The fishy shallows at Painted Wall give way to drop-offs dotted with painted tunicates, black corals and rope sponges.

Turneffe Atoll Diving

Turneffe is the largest of Belize’s atolls and is a favorite among divers who love variety. Its sites range from drifts over shallow patch reefs to plunges on sheer walls. You can even explore mangrove-lined channels. At sites like Grand Bogue, Black Beauty and Elbow, you might encounter turtles, napping nurse sharks and schools of snapper. Hard and soft corals form healthy thickets where you’ll spot macro creatures like seahorses, nudibranchs and camouflaged frogfish.

Glover’s Reef Expeditions

For a handful of weeks, Belize Aggressor yachts also offer trips to the third Belize atoll, Glover’s Reef. This charter features diving on shallow walls, healthy reefs, and the chance to see abundant pelagic animals, including sharks at Shark Point. For coral lovers, the highlights at Long Caye Wall include the thickets of endangered elkhorn corals. The overhangs on the wall are adorned with giant sponges and wire corals. Turtles, eagle rays and barracudas are frequently encountered.

The sense of get-away-from- it-all immersion is total—amid all the stunning corals, see-forever visibility, dramatic drop-offs and amazing fish life, you will feel small, but in the best possible way. These western Caribbean gems offer a once-in-a-lifetime liveaboard adventure.

Belize Aggressor III and IV Yacht Specs:

Length/Beam: BAIII: 110 feet/22 feet; BAIV: 138 feet/24 feet

Passenger-to-Staff Ratio: BAIII: 18-6; BAIV: 20-7

Staterooms/Beds: BAIII: 9/18; BAIV: 10/20

Bathrooms: Staterooms have private head and shower and individual climate control.

Sun Deck: BAIII’s top sun deck has chaise lounges; the upper deck has a shaded cocktail area, chaise lounges and hot tub. BAIV’s top sun deck has a shaded cocktail lounge.

Food/Beverages: All meals, snacks and beverages are provided, including a limited selection of local beer and wine.

Wi-Fi: Limited access is available for purchase.

Plan Your Belize Liveaboard Trip:

Phone: +1 706-993-2531

Toll Free: 800-348-2628 (USA/CAN)

Fax: +1 706-737-7690

Email: [email protected]

Web: aggressor.com