The Elbow

The classic advanced dive of Turneffe Atoll at its southern tip, where the reef turns the corner: deep V-shaped cuts and canyons with massive gorgonians, mid-water schools of snappers, permit, horse-eye jacks and spadefish, large groupers in the canyons and often eagle rays. Dolphins live nearby and a hammerhead or other shark appears occasionally. Visibility is around 30 m.

Facts

• Region: Turneffe Atoll - Belize
• Area: Southern tip (The Elbow)
• Depth: 18–40 m
• Level: advanced
• Current: moderate
• Type: wall, drift, reef
• Coordinates: 17.16, -87.885 (approximate)
• Highlights: eagle rays, dog snapper, permit, horse-eye jacks, Atlantic spadefish, goliath grouper, dolphins, hammerhead (occasional)
• Permit: Access to the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve needs an entry ticket from TASA: day or week tickets (Standard Environmental Fee or a higher Conservation Contribution; check current amounts on visitturneffe.org). The Wit also needs the separate statutory fee of US$10. Resort guests and day-trip clients pay via their resort or operator (Ambergris Divers lists a US$10 park fee on its Turneffe day trip).
• Issuer / contact: Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA)
  • Phone: +501 677 8272
  • Email: adventure@visitturneffe.org
  • Website: https://visitturneffe.org/book-entry-tickets/
  • Phone from the TASA contact page; the e-mail address is obfuscated on the page. Entry tickets can be bought online; resort guests and operator clients pay through the resort/operator.
• Unverified: Position is estimated at the atoll's southern tip (near Big Cay Bokel); no published coordinates.
• Tips: Moderate current: best on a calm day, guides brief navigation. Depth range from the Turneffe reserve's own site list (18 m to unlimited). Position estimated at the southern tip near Big Cay Bokel, for orientation only.

Sources

• https://visitturneffe.org/discover/the-best-scuba-diving-in-belize-at-turneffe-atoll/
• https://visitturneffe.org/book-entry-tickets/
• https://www.belizeadventure.ca/dive-sites-of-turneffe-atoll/
• https://dive-the-world.com/diving-sites-belize-turneffe-reef.php
• https://belizedivehaven.com/best-dive-sites-in-belize/