Belize Snorkeling Trip
Join This 7 Day Snorkeling Liveaboard Tour of Glovers & Turneffe Atolls
January - February, 2020
April - May, 2020
We are so pleased to bring you this fantastic and unique Belize snorkeling trip opportunity. Join 16 snorkelers on the 110 foot Aggressor III yacht, exclusively chartered for this snorkeling-only exploration of the best sites off the coast of Belize, the remote atolls of Turneffe and Glovers Reef.
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.
Enjoy seven wonderful days of adventure by liveaboard where each day will offer something different below the surface.
Belize is a paradise for snorkeling with countless numbers of world-class reefs, and diverse marine life. Explore shallow reefs, walls, crevices and sandy bottoms dotted with coral bommies (patch reefs or heads). The reefs are adorned with gorgonian fans, enormous sponges, and healthy soft and hard corals – providing a perfect backdrop for the myriad of marine life on offer in the Caribbean Sea.
Although it has been ten years since we (Galen & Nicole) have snorkeled Belize, Glovers Reef Atoll was spectacular. And we have seen many recent reports and pictures of visitors snorkeling Glovers & Turneffe that show the reef health is excellent and full of life. This is probably because these atolls are fairly remote and not visited by many people. This is certainly a trip we would like to go on if we were not already committed to other destinations.
There are many options available to extend your trip with interesting historical, landscape, and cultural excursions, including to Belize’s Mayan ruins
and cave tubing rides through the jungle.
Where Are Belize & Glovers & Turneffe Atolls?
Belize is on the Caribbean coast in northern Central America, just south of Mexico, with Guatemala neighboring to the west.
It's an easy destination to get to from the USA. Direct flights into
Belize City International Airport (BZE) are available from all major
airlines. From Europe you would need to fly first to the USA, Mexico or
Guatemala. In Belize City you will board the charter boat, and then
cruise out past the barrier reef to the two remote atolls in the
Caribbean Sea.
Turneffe Atoll is located past the barrier reef that stretches the length of Belize, around 20 miles east of Belize City.
Glovers Reef Atoll is about 28 miles off the coast of Belize, and south of Turneffe.
What Will This Belize Snorkeling Trip Aboard the Aggressor Liveaboard Be Like?
This custom itinerary was created by Aggressor Yachts at our request to include both Turneffe Atoll, and Glovers Reef, two of the best snorkeling locations available in Belize. These remote reefs are some of the healthiest spots left in the Caribbean, thanks to the combination of extremely deep ocean walls and shallow areas inside the atolls. You will find fantastic snorkeling spots with alive patch reefs full of sea life.
On average you can expect three to four one-hour long snorkeling sessions per day with enough time top side to relax and enjoy your comfortable liveaboard yacht.
Turneffe Atoll
You will start your snorkeling adventure at Turneffe Atoll. Located 20 miles east of Belize City and surrounded by deep oceanic waters, it is the largest and is considered the most biologically diverse coral atoll in Belize. 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 sea grass 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 reef sharks to
schools of colorful angel and butterfly fish.
From Turneffe we move south to Glovers Reef.
Glovers Reef Atoll
Glovers Reef is a partially submerged atoll located 28 miles off the southern coast of Belize. It forms part of the outermost boundary of the Belize Barrier Reef. This is the most southern of the three atolls, and arguably the best as it is known for excellent water clarity and wealth of marine life. The atoll is characterized by a dozen small cays of white sand, palm trees and great snorkeling spots. The reef was named after an 18th-century pirate who would maraud Spanish merchant ships.
Within one mile of the eastern edge of the atoll the reef wall descends some
2600 feet to the sea floor. It’s this combination of deep waters and
shallow sheltered lagoons that invites the wealth and diversity of
marine life that will be discovered during our time snorkeling the
atoll.
Belize Aggressor III
The Belize Aggressor III is a 110ft world-class liveaboard yacht complete with nine cabins which come equipped with private bathrooms, showers and air conditioning. The onboard menu features chef-prepared international cuisine catering for all dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.), as well as offering complimentary soft drinks, beer and wine. All guests are welcome to bring a bottle of their favorite liquor if they chose to.
As well as a spacious lounge, the ship has a large sun deck, bar, grill
and hot tub with internet service available through the satellite
system. At night presentations will be hosted in the lounge, as well as
the opportunity for night snorkeling, movies and games. A small library
of books for exchange is also maintained onboard.
The ship comes
complete with a crew of 6 on hand to ensure comfort and satisfaction for
all guests. Most of our snorkel excursions are made from the deck at
the rear of the yacht and equipped tender for easy pickups from snorkel
sites when needed.
Mastercard and Visa are both accepted onboard.
Optional Land Exploration Extensions
Ben and his team can help you extend your adventure by booking a land extension to see some of what Belize has to offer topside. They can arrange tours of the cities, excursions to Belize’s 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 & How to Sign Up
This is a small group charter and we expect it to fill quickly. Your spot is reserved with your deposit of US $400 per person. Contact Ben below for deposit instructions.
Trip Dates:January 18-25, 2020 - Trip date full, but you can be on a waitlist.January 25 - February 1, 2020 - Trip date full, but you can be on a waitlist. April 18-25, 2020 - Trip date full, but you can be on a waitlist.April 25 - May 2, 2020 - Trip date full, but you can be on a waitlist.
Price:
$3,295.00 US per person (Twin/Double Share)
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:
- Return airport transfers
- 7 nights accommodation and full board (all meals)
- Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks on board the Belize Aggressor III
- Services of snorkel guide and boat skiff for snorkeling excursions each day
- International flights
- Snorkel equipment
- Tips
- Travel insurance
- Dinner on final evening
- Port and Park Fees ($110 US per person)
- Optional Land Tours – Pricing on request
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 & Our Partnership
Ben contacted us about his upcoming new snorkeling trips, and we were very excited to go on them and share them with you. We have spent a lot of time emailing and video conferencing with Ben (his company is in the U.K.) to work out the details of what is being offered, and to get a good feel for how we get along, which is very well indeed!
He and his team have around twenty years of experience guiding and diving in Asia and beyond, and eight years running his own business (which gets great reviews). He started 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.
All of his trips are small groups of 12-18 guests, or with a similar ratio of snorkelers to guides. And for where they visit, and how packed they are with experiences, they are very affordable.
His company is licensed and insured. They have never cancelled a trip, and all funds are held in a trust until the trip is completed giving you 100% financial security if they or any of their suppliers go out of business before the trip happens.