AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye snorkeling from the shore

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer, but as chief planner of this trip, I've been asked to verify and double check.

Members of my party want to snorkel from the beach in front of our hotel. I've advised them that everything I've read says it's not doable from swimming to the reef, due to boat traffic, to conditions just off the beach not being condusive to snorkeling.

Anyone care to dispel my understanding of conditions? If so, where would you recommend?

Gidget:

I guess it all depends on where your going from, but from my experience the snorkeling is NOT good from the beach. The reef is 1/2 mile to 3/4 mile out depending on where your staying. Sometimes you can Kayak out and snorkel... we did that. But mostly, I would reccommend using one of the local tour places to take you out and then you can really appreciate the beauty underwater.

A quick snorkel trip by boat out to the reef is only $20. For two hours of bliss, I thought it was worth it. I have heard from a number of people that you can snorkel from the dock at Ramon's. All are welcome, and it's good. They have sunk some artificial reefs and they are quite popular with the fishies. You could try there....
Debbie

There are some safe areas to snorkle, such as Ramons pier, but generally it is discouaraged because of boat traffic, it is very difficult to spot a person swimming from a fast moving boat, and there have been a couple of accidents over the years. I would reccomend snorkling with the professionals.

There isn't any incredible snorkeling, but there are a few places where we jump in for 15 - 20 minutes to swim, snorkel and cool off. What you see depends on the day. Amigos del Mar, Ramon's and Victoria House are three of the docks we snorkel around. We have seen many fish (snapper, baracuda, angelfish, needlefish, etc.), and urchins, starfish, eels, rays, anemones and even a baby squid or octopus.
No great adventure but beautiful, interesting and refreshing!
Boat traffic is outside of the designated swim areas.
Belize it!

[This message has been edited by margarita (edited 07-25-2001).]

When we were there last Feb, my bro and I tried a snorkle from the beach at night looking for sea horses (have heard since to go around Ramon's for that sight). We started 2-3 piers left of Lily's and snorkeled to Amigos del Mar pier. Saw 2 green morays-way cool!-but I was ready to get out after that. Different fish at night tho not lots. Creepy but fun. Don't know if I'd chance it during the day because of the boats.

there are some good docks to go snorkeling by, allready mentioned but I would like to give a warning: do NOT attempt swim or snorkel your way out to the reef!!! First of all it is very dangerous due to the boat traffic and seccondly it is also illeagal to swim out to the reef without a very clearly marked buoy to follow you, this is also due to the boat traffic that is kind of heavy at surtain times of the day and also very fast...take a snorkel trip to Hol Chan, shark ray alley, Mexico Rocks.. and you'll get your moneys worth...trust me on that one..

Why not give Ched Cabral an e-mail???

[email protected] He'll take you anywhere you want to and make sure you are safe and will most likely give you some education about the reef and it's habitants as well...

Tinka

we just returned last week and I wouldn't even go in the water. I tried 3 times, but the water is so cloudy and grassy I just got tired of trying and walked back and forth to the pool to cool off. The beaches are not the greatest. We walked all over and all the water areas were pretty much the same. You see very few people in the water. All lay by the pool. Good Luck.