Join This Unique 9 Day Photo Workshop for Snorkelers at Turneffe Island Resort
June 5-13, 2026
This exclusive Belize snorkeling photography trip will be led by an award-winning underwater photographer who will help you get better at taking pictures as a snorkeler. The reefs off the coast of Belize in the remote atolls of Turneffe and Lighthouse Reef offer wonderful subjects for your photos. You will come back with great pictures and a much better understanding of your camera, photo editing, and techniques for the unique challenges of taking pictures while snorkeling.
Turneffe Atoll has been a protected marine reserve since 2012, and is located on the second largest barrier reef in the world. Two times each day your snorkeling group will venture out by boat to explore the abundant coral reefs and sea life that surround this area, and one day you will take a trip to the famous Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Also included will be a day tour of a Mayan archeological site on the mainland.
Your group of 18 snorkelers will call the beautiful Turneffe Island Resort home for this trip. There are three luxurious beachfront accommodation options available.
Belize is an ideal destination for those wanting to improve their underwater photography skills. The outer atolls play host to an assortment of marine life of all shapes and sizes. The reefs start right at the surface and in most cases gradually slope down to an eventual wall. They are healthy with a mixture of hard corals and layer upon layer of gorgeous purple sea fans and other soft corals. Marine life is in abundance with everything from neon colored sponges, to schools of tangs and grunts, to lobster colonies, to groups of Spotted Eagle Rays and nurse sharks cruising over the reef. You won’t have to deal with much current in these gorgeous Caribbean turquoise waters.
This trip is being run by our partner and friend Ben and his team. Based in the U.K., they are experts at running amazing excursions, and have a great appreciation for the underwater world. They have now run numerous snorkeling trips to Belize with many satisfied snorkelers. Your tour guide and photo pro is a member of Ben’s team.
Belize Snorkeling Photography Trip Map and Itinerary
Belize is on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America, just south of Mexico, with Guatemala neighboring to the west.
You will book your international flight to arrive at Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. You will be met at the airport and then transferred to the Fort George Hotel & Spa for one night and a day tour of the ancient Mayan archeological site, Altun Ha, the next day.
After your tour, you will be transferred by boat to Turneffe Island Resort on Turneffe Atoll, about 20 miles (32km) east of Belize City.
You will spend seven nights at the resort, each day venturing out by boat to close-by snorkeling spots. One of those days, weather permitting, you will visit the Great Blue Hole and other snorkel spots on Lighthouse Reef Atoll.
After your stay on Turneffe Atoll, you be transferred back to Belize City. You will be taken to the airport for your trip home, or the Fort George Hotel to wait for your flight. You may also extend your stay in Belize, with the help of Ben and his team if you desire.
Who Is Your Photography Instructor?
Alex Lindbloom is an award-winning underwater photographer and videographer who has been working professionally since 2011. Alex was a Field Editor for the popular online underwater imaging site, Dive Photo Guide, where he traveled the world capturing images of some of the best dive and snorkel destinations. He has also published numerous articles in a number of magazines including EZDIVe Magazine and Scuba Diver. His photos have been on display in the United Nations building in New York as well as part of a photo exhibition in Germany’s Gasometer Oberhausen.
Being a self-taught underwater photographer, Alex perfectly understands the challenges and struggles people have with underwater photography and his approach to teaching people reflects that. While he does typically wield quite a “big camera”, one of his favorite cameras to play with is the OM System (Olympus) TG camera, and given that most of the guests on these trips love these cameras as well, a portion of the workshop will be focused on getting to know your TG.
What Will You Learn About Snorkeling Photography?
One of the main goals of this trip is helping you get better at snorkeling photography. It is for every level of photographer, from beginner, to advanced, for any type of camera, from a tiny GoPro, to an OM System (Olympus) TG series, up to an interchangeable lens camera in a massive housing if that is what you have.
Snorkeling photography offers unique challenges compared to diving photography. Snorkelers work in shallower water, with lots of available light. And if you duck dive you have to get your shot on one breath of air while controlling your depth. Your instructor and snorkel guide is very familiar with the challenges of taking pictures as a snorkeler and will help you get the best out of your camera and your snorkeling technique.
On most evenings, before dinner, Alex will host photography presentations where he’ll cover a variety of topics to help you improve your shallow photography skills.
He will also be in the water with you on every snorkel session to assist with any sort of camera queries you may have so you can get the most out of your time together with him.
He will also be available at your convenience if you would like to have a little one-on-one photo session so you can take those photos you’ve been dreaming of.
What Will the Snorkeling Be Like?
Turneffe Atoll is surrounded by deep oceanic waters. It is the largest atoll in Belize and is considered to have the most biologically diverse reef there. The land and seascape consist of a network of reef flats, creeks, and lagoons dotted by more than 150 mangrove islands and higher cayes.
Large expanses of seagrass habitat in the shallows provide important refuge for reef fish, critters, and a variety of marine life.
The reefs are adorned with hard and soft corals in abundance – huge gorgonian fans and elephant ear sponges sway in gentle currents, fish life ranges from large groupers, tarpons, jacks, and nurse sharks to schools of colorful tangs and grunts.
Twice a day you will venture out by smaller boat to visit close-by reefs. After a short 5-15 minute boat ride you will snorkel for 60 to 90 minutes. You will return for lunch between snorkeling adventures.
And for the longer day trip out to the Blue Hole on Lighthouse Reef Atoll you will be in a larger covered boat. You will snorkel the Blue Hole, stop for lunch at Half Moon Caye, have another snorkel, and then stop at Long Caye for a third snorkeling opportunity. A very full day!
Nearly all of the snorkeling is in depths of 3-10 feet, which is ideal to get up and close with reef life, and to take some pictures.
All the boats have comfortable ladders to make getting back in the boat easy.
What Is Turneffe Island Resort Like?
Turneffe Island Resort is located on the south end of Turneffe Atoll, on its own private island. It is ideally located for exploring what is arguably one of the best snorkeling areas in the Caribbean. And when you are not out on the water the resort is a wonderful place to relax, enjoy fantastic food, get a massage, and to watch sunsets from. There is a wide beach, a pool, a bar for evening cocktails, and a day spa. The resort also has a gym, paddleboards, kayaks, and Hobie Cat, all of which are available for guest use at your leisure.
The private villas and deluxe and superior rooms offer direct beach access and private screened porches. The rooms are air-conditioned and also have ceiling fans. The bathrooms have both private screened outdoor showers and normal indoor ones. They all have one or two bed options.
Tasty food is going to be part of this great experience, thanks to Turneffe Island Resort’s five-star culinary experience. Their skilled chefs can handle most all dietary requirements.
Optional Land Exploration Extensions
This trip does include a half-day adventure exploring a Mayan ruin. But Ben and his team can also help you extend your adventure by booking a land extension to see more of what Belize has to offer topside. They can arrange tours of the cities, excursions to different Mayan ruins, visits to the Actun Tunichil Muknalthe Cave, tubing rides through the jungle, or a canopy tour through the treetops. If you prefer a helicopter ride over the famous Blue Hole or wish to spend time in the Cockscomb Basin looking for jaguars and other wildlife, just let them know. The range of extension options includes accommodation and transfers.
Trip Details and How to Sign Up
This is a small group charter and we expect it to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Date and Prices:
June 5-13, 2026 – Available.
Trip Prices:
$5145 US per person (twin/double share) in a Deluxe Room
$5395 US per person (twin/double share) in a Superior Room
$5895 US per person (twin/double share) in a Private Villa
Single Supplement – $2995 US
The initial deposit for this trip is $400 US per person. At 12 months before departure there is a $600 US per person interim deposit, and at six months there is another $1000 US per person interim deposit. The final balance will be due three months before departure. A few payment options are available including debit and credit cards.
Individual travelers – Ben will happily find someone of the same sex for you to share a room with. If he cannot find you someone, no single supplement surcharge will apply.
Inclusions:
- Round-trip airport and resort transfers
- 1 night stay at Fort George Hotel & Spa Belize City with full board (all meals)
- Belize Mainland Mayan Tour
- 7 nights accommodation and full board (all meals) at the Turneffe Island Resort
- 12 snorkel boat sessions at Turneffe Atoll, including 1 day snorkel trip to the Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef Atoll
- Complimentary activities include kayaks, paddle boards, pool and Hobie Cat
- Complimentary WiFi (satellite-based, slow, depends on the weather)
- Tour Guide and Photo Pro Alex Lindbloom
- Mask, snorkel, fin rental
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Park fee ($100 US per person)
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, laundry and general sundries
- Spa services
Trip Organizers
Ben and his U.K. based team are the organizers and leaders of this trip (more about them below). Galen & Nicole from TropicalSnorkeling.com are promoting this trip, but all signups, trip organization and payments are made to and managed by Ben’s team. TropicalSnorkeling.com does receive a referral fee in exchange for promoting the trip, at no extra cost to attendees.
How to Sign Up or Learn More?
Use the contact form below to contact Ben and his team to request more information about them and express your interest in signing up. They will get back to you shortly with full details.
More About Ben and Our Partnership
Ben (pictured with Nicole) is our friend and snorkeling trips partner. He and his team are based in the U.K. and have over 20 years of experience guiding in Asia and beyond. He has been running his own business since 2010 and is primarily offering guided snorkeling trips, but he started with diving. He began offering snorkeling specific trips because he was aware that snorkelers often get the short end of the stick when thrown in with divers. He and his team love the freedom and low stress of snorkeling, and are very aware of the different needs of snorkelers versus divers, in terms of the reef depth, and calm surface conditions needed.
From our experience going on some of his snorkeling trips we found them very well organized, the guides were fantastic and very helpful, and the underwater experiences were exceptional. Snorkeling groups really get the benefit of all of Ben and his guides’ years of experience in the water, and with different resorts and liveaboards.
All of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio of snorkelers to guides. These are premium trips including nearly everything you will need, accommodation, meals, transportation, and more.
His company is licensed and insured. Barring extreme circumstances they do not cancel trips.
Learn More About the Resort
Turneffe Island Resort Website