Axeman, it sounds like you have dived around AC quite alot. What are your favorite AC dive spots?

Sorry for stepping in, but I couldn't resist. My favorite local dive site is Cypress. But I also like Boca Ciega and Victoria Tunnels. On the other hand, I saw a humungous barrel sponge and a nest of 8-10 Pederson Cleaning Shrimp out at San Pedro Cut the other day.

thanks SS. The title should have been "FAVORITE DIVE SITES", because I realize that those of you who are there, and others who have dived there could all give me a few great spots. I have noted those you provided!

there, fixed that!

There are many who have been to more spots than me, with that said my favorites are:
1. Turneffe Atoll area, by far the best walls for the area.
2. The cut by Hol Chan, many many fish, but be warned...heavy current...you'll need to be rested and alert, boats transit so surfaceing might be risky.
3. Tres Coco's
4. Dos Coco's
5.//ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/article9.html
read this for my entire trip report...hope you enjoy it.

My favorite local dive was Tres Cocos. There's a lot of healthy brain corals there. Also big barrel sponges.

I'd also recommend the Amigos Wreck.

But if you can, take a trip out to the atolls. It is worth it!

With respect to the atolls--I think the wall diving is best at Lighthouse--particularly Cathedral Wall. Just got back several weeks ago and the Blue Hole was fabulous with Amigos del Mar. Great stalactites and sharks. I had done the dive years ago but enjoyed this one more--probably because I have more experience now and was much more relaxed than the first time I did it.

Are there any local sites without going 2-3 hours offshore that would be a good bet for sharks? Sounds like shark/ray alley is a bust these days. I would love to encounter a few sharks, but I'm not too thrilled about the 2-3 hour long boat trips. Help!!

we see nurse sharks when diving pretty much all of the time

As far as diving out at the Atolls goes, my favs are Halfmoon Caye Wall and the Aquarium. These dives were a bit murky a week or so ago but all the other times that I have dived them, they were fabulous.

For the Halfmoon dive, I love how you drop above the white sand and as you descend you can often see the tracks made by the conch across the sand. I love how you swim through a space between two coral heads and come out soaring over the lip of the wall. Recently, I loved how an eagle ray came along and soared with me after he was done flashing the others. We spent some quality time together.

I still really enjoy the Blue Hole too but I've done it enough times now, that what I'd really like is a day trip that could combine Halfmoon Caye Wall and Aquarium with another dive from the Turneffe Elbow day trip.

I guess what I really need to do is a liveaboard trip or spend some time out at Turneffe Resort.

Halfmoon Caye is best...and surrounding reefs and atolls.