Glover's Reef Atoll
Scuba Diving Glovers Reef Atoll with Isla Marisol PADI dive resort is no ordinary experience!
Beneath the turquoise waters of Belize is an underwater world that exceeds every other Caribbean dive destination in diversity, size and scope. Extending over 185 miles north to south, the Belize Barrier Reef system is the greatest stretch of coral in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest barrier reef in the world. The reef system encompasses wall drop-offs, pinnacles, spur and groove formations, swim-throughs and more.
Beyond the barrier reef lie three enormous rings of coral, known as atolls. These formations provide divers and snorkelers with hundreds of miles of additional reef. Lighthouse Reef, the Turneffe Island Atoll and Glover's Reef Atoll together cover more than 400 square miles with a total of 140 miles of drop-off walls. Incredibly, these atolls comprise as much reef surface as the Belize barrier reef itself! These Belizean atolls, unlike Pacific atolls built on volcanoes, sit atop two parallel submarine ridges close enough to the surface to allow the formation of massive coral and sponge growths.
The reef that surrounds the five islands (called "cayes," pronounced "keys") that comprise Glovers Reef Atoll is a Marine Nature Reserve. The clarity of the water that surrounds Glovers and the abundance and diversity of fish species found here makes it the premier diving base in the country. Divers at Glovers regularly spot eagle rays, turtles, moray eels, southern stingrays, large grouper, barracuda, king mackerel, dolphins and several shark species, as well as almost every kind of smaller tropical reef fish. Our dives are typically wall drift dives interspersed with sand channels adorned with hard and soft coral and massive multi-colored sponges. The largest fish in the sea, the whale shark, also visits our area during the months from April to June.
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We are a PADI dive resort, so if you are not a certified
diver, you will still be able to enjoy the aquatic wonderland. We
have an instructor available who can certify non-divers upon request.
Certification of non-divers is at an additional cost.
The cost of these certifications will be added to the basic package arranged at your time of booking. We think you'll soon agree that Belize is one of the world's top dive destinations!
Our Favorite Dives
If visibility is good we like to dive a site called "The Pinnacles"
which has big coral heads rising up 40 feet or more from the bottom.
Our second and third dives are on the east side of the atoll where
the water depth quickly drops off to more than 2000 feet and visibility
is usually over 100 feet. We dive several sites on this side of the
atoll and always dive he famous Long Caye Wall. Here, divers drop
onto a big field of white sand at 40 feet, home to southern stingrays
and dozens of garden eels. At the wall's crest, the sand runs like
small rivers down through the coral into mini canyons. With the usual
100+ feet visibility the view over the wall gives the impression of
limitless space. The wall is actually a 2000+ foot drop-off into the
deep blue.
Please Note
Trip minimums apply! If we do not have
enough divers for our trips, especially atoll trips, we will stick
to local diving sites at Glovers Reef Atoll. In that unlikely event
you will still be able to enjoy excellent diving on a great number
of different sites. We try to dive all 3 atolls every week but are
not always successful.
- The water can get choppy, especially outside the Atoll. If the water is too rough we will not take out divers, snorkelers or anglers. Safety first!
- Keep your hands off! No divers or snorkelers are permitted to touch or take anything from the sea. No exceptions! Respect our Belizean Reef and her inhabitants. Touch only water! Take only pictures! Leave only your wake!
- There is an incredible diversity of marine life in Belize. We hope guests will be able to see much of it. However, we can't promise a dolphin, shark, turtle, moray eel will swim in front of your eyes on every dive! Rest assured, they often do!
- We cannot control the weather! Rough water may make a trip take longer than planned. It could be unusually cold. Be prepared! Normally, the water temperature is 78-85 degrees.
- All rates, policies and dive and snorkel excursions are subject to change. Check the website or contact us to see if there are any changes.
Let us know! If you have any problems or suggestions simply tell us. We welcome your feedback and want you to have a great trip!
Safety First
At Isla Marisol our number one priority is your
safety. Our equipment is properly maintained and our staff is PADI
certified. We change our air filters on time and check our compressor
regularly to make sure they are in top working condition. Each of
our boats is equipped with a radio, life jackets, life buoy, oxygen
and first aid supplies. All staff members are trained in first aid
and CPR. We strictly abide by safe diving standards to insure that
your dive experience is fun and safe, from start to finish.
