Mangrove Area- Zone C
The mangrove area
is comprised of seven
mangrove cayes Iying
just off the Southern tip
of Ambergris caye. They
are separated from the
caye by the Boca Chica
Cut.
The most common
plants that you'll find in
this area are the red,
white and black
mangrove. The roots
of the red mangrove
support a wide variety
of fishes. These
mangroves are
nurseries for juveniles
of many reef fishes;
they also provide
feeding grounds and
introduce fixed nitrogen
and organic detritus
into the reef system.
The bottoms of the mangrove channels are composed of fine
silt and sand, and are often heavily covered with seagrasses.
Divers should be careful not to stir up this sediment just a few
kicks of your fins can reduce visibility to almost zero. As always,
do't dive alone.
Fishes found in this area include: blue striped grunts, French
grunts, white grunts, grey snappers, French angelfish. grey
angelfish, four-eye butterflyfish, banded butterflyfish and
schoolmasters. Many varieties of crabs and crustaceans can also
be found among the mangroves.
Within the seagrass zone lies the Boca Ciega ("Blind Mouth") cave. This "blue hole" is a miniature version of the famed Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef. You must be a cave-certified SCUBA diver to enter Boca Ciega, and only attemp to explore it after contacting the Reserve Manager at the office in San Pedro and securing an experienced cave-certified guide. The cave is considered dangerous,even by some experienced cave divers, and visibility in the area is generally poor.
Finally, while in the seagrass and mangrove zones, keep a keen eye and ear out for passing boats. Since most snorkeling and diving activity take place at the Hol Chan Channel, many boats speed through the other parts of the park. You can hear the wine of an outboard motor from a long ways away.
The mangrove habitat, especially the mangrove root systems that extend into the tidal range of the area, are one of the most colorful and biologically diverse habitats for marine invertebrates. Becareful while swimming among the mangroves. Stay well back from the silt laden roots, or you will stir up debris clouding the water. Gently float in toward a colorful root and be amazed at the layer upon layer of life struggling for space on the roots.
Not far from the mangroves are the Marco Gonzalez Ruins, a Mayan archeological site. This area is a bit hard to get to; you need a guide, but the trip is well worth the effort. |