Experience offshore atoll living with diving at your doorstep Where in the Caribbean, for that matter in the world, can you enjoy a private 12-acre dive resort on an island surrounded by some of the most pristine coral reefs in the western hemisphere? We are talking about Belize, of course. And more particularly, Turneffe Island Lodge, where you can spend your days snorkeling among peacock flounder or plummetting down the wall of an incredible subsea abyss. Dine on gourmet cuisine and then bunk down in a nest open to breezes and bird songs - just about the ultimate in seclusion and tranquillity. Besides the great diving at Turneffe Island Lodge, the most requested item by all guests is the gourmet recipes. Menus are tailored to guests' needs, so if you require special meals, just let the staff know. You'll start your diving day with a huge breakfast, break with a family-style lunch and top it off with a four-course dinner - arguably the best-kept secret in Belize. If you are wondering just how requested the recipes are, a gourmet-style cookbook based on the resort's menu is due out shortly. And don't worry about those calories - Turneffe Island Lodge offers year-round diving to keep that waistline trim. There are 70 sites dived regularly from a fleet of top-notch dive boats that include two 25-foot Privateers and a new 36-foot Bradley dive boat used for extended trips to the famous Blue Hole.All dive sites are just 10 minutes from the lodge; each trip is a single dive with three dives per day and two dives on your last diving day. One of the spectacular sites is the Elbow, a stunning drop-off famous for its constant parade of marine life. I have seen dozens of eagle rays swimming in formation here, watched as huge schools of horse-eyed jack surround me as dog snapper and permit swirled in the midwater range. And it is also an area where I have tried to photograph the gray reef sharks that constantly cruise the midreef depths. Other favorite dive sites include areas of deepwater gorgonians, steep drop-offs, dozens of colorful corals and multicolored sponges, as well as acres of shallow coral gardens and huge stands of elkhorn coral. Turneffe Island Lodge is located on Caye Bokel in the Turneffe Islands' ring-like coral atoll. Caye Bokel is the southernmost island of the Turneffe chain and the most protected; it's about an hour's water-taxi ride from Belize City. Turneffe Island Lodge continues to be one of the most consistently dependable resorts in Belize, thanks largely to the personality of its excellent staff. Resort accommodations don't come much more South-Seas-romantic than this; guest cottages built on the beach facing the sea are so artfully tucked away into the surrounding gardens that at first you think you have stumbled onto someone's private estate. Each of the 12 double rooms has a screened porch, private bathroom and shower, and large ceiling fan. Six rooms have air conditioning.Turneffe Island Lodge has always been a world-class fishing destination with miles of crystalline flats alive with bonefish, tarpon and permit. It has been a diver's resort for the past 20 years and has maintained that ageless, settled look of belonging to its surroundings as rightfully as any gnarled mangrove tree. Waking each morning at Turneffe Island Lodge is much like opening your eyes to the world's ultimate relaxation retreat. For more information about traveling to Belize, click on the Tourism Board home below.