AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Beach/Ocean bottom

when i left corozal, brought back my bottles and crate to the distributor, and they gave me cash back

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Beachlife There are maps and other great info provided by Marty on this website.

No the entire ocean floor is not coral rock on the surface of the ocean floor. In fact in San Pedro it is quite sandy in many areas. The biomes or biological areas that support different sealife are quite different. For example in the shallow water from reef to shore it is very sandy, this is where starfish and shells would be more populated. When I was shelling, we would go to different areas for different conch shells - king, queen, milk, fire maybe? it is very orange/red/pink, helmet shells, etc.
Near the reef, along it in some locations but not in the same areas we would fish for snapper, grouper, jack, etc. Also there are many varieties of coral, it isn't all the same - black, pink, fire, brain, elkhorn, etc. The Corals are living sea creatures surrounded by a hard exterior. That is one reason why they are so fragile, if the coral dies, dead coral rock is left behind. In fact old coral is called rock by many of the locals.

Hey Pedro2 - I believe the rock that makes Ambergris Caye is actually limestone which happens to be geologically old coral!
Belize it!

I just got back from the island on Saturday, I had a great time! Great snorkeling and diving. Lots of sand as well as coral formations on the bottom. I suggest driving as far north as possible and walking in to snorkel...watch for boats, the further north the better (and if you use a dock, just make sure if you ask permission!

there is a deposit on guiness and primium bottles. guiness is 10 cents not sure about primium. but anyway.... foot ware is nice. flip flops are just fine. many of the beaches have sea grass around close to shore. Ramons is nice for swimming with very little grass

Yes, VERY old coral! Plus other odds & sods. Which is what Lighthouse Atoll/Blue Hole is made from.

For the pedants amongst us, the Blue Hole is not made of limestone, but the rock surrounding it is. And some of the caves on the side are believed to be directly linked to sinkholes on the mainland.

Thanks Pedro2 - just didn't want any Northerners expecting granite & sandstone!
So the Blue hole is geologically old - any live coral still survive there?

I've never seen any coral inside the BH, all the way to the bottom. The sides are slightly undercut, so the side profile is a cone with gently converging sides - probably too steep for coral to gain a hold. Plenty around the rim of course.

The BH is geologically new - I think it only dates from the last ice age or maybe the one before.

Thanks Pedro2 -have yet to get there!