Blue Hole / Half Moon / Aquarium: Full Day Trip - 3 awesome dives
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Blue Hole Dive Trip
A day trip consisting of three absolutely spectacular
dives, the Blue Hole dive is probably the most significant
signature dive for most divers passing through this area.
Made famous by Jacques Cousteau, and recently
made a World Heritage Site, the Blue Hole is a sunken
underwater cave approx. 1000 ft. in diameter and 408
ft. deep. The top of an underwater cave is located at
approximately 100 ft. deep. The cave contains
stalagmites and stalagtites. Recommended for
Advanced Divers, we dive the walls and caverns at
135 ft. A school of black tip sharks live inside the blue
hole and can make for a dramatic dive.
Then, it is off to the second stop - the Half Moon Caye
wall. Half Moon Caye is an island located inside the
Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Part of the island has been made
into a protected area for the local "Booby Birds" that
nest there. The waters near the island have also been
made into a Marine Park. The second breath-taking
dive in this series of really awesome dives takes place
here at the wall on Half Moon Caye. Inside the wall
area the depth is about 50 - 60 ft. The second dive is
done at approximately 70 feet for 40 minutes. It is not
unusual to see large sponges and fans protruding from
the wall. The view here is absolutely spectacular.
Sightings here, in addition to the absolutely
spectacular coral formations, can include barracudas,
schools of rays (spotted eagle or manta rays), turtles,
sharks.
After the second dive, decompression time is done on
Half Moon Caye island (a 2 min. boat ride), where lunch
is also served. After lunch, you may tour the nesting
grounds of the protected Booby Birds. An additional
mandatory charge of $40 U.S. per person is levied on all
visitors to the bird sanctuary or marine park. Be sure to
have yours handy when you arrive. There is an
observation tower built into the pedestrian trail that
allows you to view the birds from a bird's eye view
(above the trees). Please remember to bring nothing
but footsteps and take nothing but pictures. The
wardens will love you for it.
The third dive stop takes place at the wall called the
Long Caye Aquarium. Just as the one before, the views
are absolutely awesome. The wall dives are some of
the most beautiful dives one can ever do. Each of
these three dive spots is located is pristine and virtually
untouched areas of the reef. Again, soft corals seem to
be popular here on these wall dives. The third dive is
done at approximately 50 ft. Bottom time - 40 minutes.
I hope you enjoyed your tour!!!
