Turneffe Atoll - Belize

Turneffe Atoll, about 30 km off Belize City, is the largest atoll in Belize: some 400 mangrove islets around a shallow lagoon, declared a marine reserve in 2012 and co-managed by the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA). Over 70 dive sites are named, from sheltered shallow reefs on the west to current-swept walls on the east and south; the Elbow at the southern tip is the classic advanced dive, and The Wit, a 114 m concrete ship sunk as an artificial reef in December 2021 off Blackbird Caye, is the newest wreck. Reserve entry tickets are required (see the fee notes); resort guests and day-trip clients pay through their resort or operator.

Facts

• Best season: Dry season roughly February-May; hurricane season about August-October
• Water temperature: High 20s C all year; visibility up to 40 m, rarely under 15 m, currents mostly mild
• Reserve fees: TASA entry tickets: Standard Environmental Fee US$10/day or US$25/week; Conservation Contribution US$50/day or US$100/week; The Wit needs the separate statutory fee US$10; Belizeans pay 50%
• Getting there: Day boats from Ambergris Caye (about 1.5-2 h) or Belize City, or stay at a Turneffe resort with diving on the doorstep
• Marine life: Eagle rays, nurse and Caribbean reef sharks, turtles, groupers, dolphins, saltwater crocodiles; the endemic whitespotted toadfish

Season

• Best months: Feb, Mar, Apr, May
• Acceptable: Nov, Dec, Jan, Jun, Jul
• Poor: Aug, Sep, Oct
• Water temperature: 27–29 °C

The drier season (roughly late November to May, best February-May) gives the best visibility and calmest seas; the hurricane season runs about August to October (poorer visibility, choppier water). Water stays warm all year (about 27-29 C).

Dive sites (4)

Blackbird Caye coast & The Wit

• Chinaman's Wall – 15–25 m, intermediate
• Sting Ray Motel – 12–25 m, beginner
• The Wit (Witconcrete wreck) – 5–25 m, intermediate

Southern tip (The Elbow)

• The Elbow – 18–40 m, advanced

Operators (2)

• Belize Dive Haven Resort – resort, Ropewalk Caye, Turneffe Atoll
• Ambergris Divers – dive centre, Over the water off Black Coral Street / Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye

Routes (1)

• Turneffe Atoll full-day 3-tank (Ambergris Divers)

Site positions come from official mooring lists, atlas data and operator descriptions and are for orientation only - never for navigation; where a position is estimated this is marked. Belize's protected areas charge fees and have rules (no touching, no taking, licensed guides/boats); dive with a licensed operator and within your training.