Snorkeling Hol ChanThe Hol Chan Marine Reserve is one of the more popular snorkeling and diving  sites in  Belize. Located of the Off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye  and just a short boat ride away Hol Chan is Belize’s oldest marine reserve. The name Hol Chan is Mayan for little channel.

The reserve is situated on a cut through the reef.  There is a vast amount of sea life found with the Hol Chan cut and the 4 zones of the park. Imagine the thrill of swimming along side large numbers of nurse sharks and sting rays and other assorted fish.

A recent article on CNN named Hol Chan as one of the ten top  spots to snorkel.

For more information and pictures  Hol Chan you can check out  Ambergris Vacations and tacogirl.com.

Hol Chan

hol chan

Well we sent young Cindy to the Blue Hole for the day and now she wants to marry all the crew at Pedro’s dive club. She said their boat, staff and equipment were excellent. The guys knew their stuff, were very professional and lots of fun too – must have been the super strength Panty Rippers after the day of diving!

She had to get up very early, pick up from the dock was 5.30am followed by the two hour boat ride out to the Atoll – even though Cindy is not an early bird she agreed it was well worth it. Thankfully, they filled her with coffee at the dive shop then she stuffed her face on breakfast, snacks, fruit and lunch.

She dove the Blue Hole and saw what she calls “proper’ sharks, black tips, reef sharks and a Bull shark – she was apparently slightly nervous with the Bull shark VERY close to her! Then off to Half Moon Caye wall for the 2nd dive – lunch at Half Moon Caye where there is the Booby Bird Sanctuary. Of course, she got pooed on! Then the third dive at the Aquarium which she said was really stunning.

If you too would like to dive the Blue Hole – just ask Cindy and she’ll tell you all about

Underwater Photo’s courtesy of Ian, a guest at Pedro’s Hotel.


Amigos Del Mar boat

John-Henry, Mitch and Sev on the boat

Amigos Del Mar boat

Ian – a guest of ours that went with Cindy and the gang – thanks for the photos!

Blue Hole trip

Blue Hole trip

Caribbean sea

“The Blue Hole from the surface

Blue Hole trip

Gearing up – the boys knew where everyone’s stuff was at all times – they were so good

underwater

blue fish

coral

Coral and fans

shark

“proper” shark

diver

Cindy!

coral

diver

Cindy again

caribbean sea

Caribbean Sea

caribbean sea

Caribbean Sea

Ian staying at Pedro's

Ian staying at Pedro’s

Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye

information boards

Coconuts Gone Wild

Half Moon Caye

Beach at Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye

Hermit Crab information

Hermit crab information

Hermit Crab

Hermit Crab

Hurricane information

Hurricane information

View at Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye

Littoral Forests

Littoral Forests information

Red-footed Boobies

Red-footed Boobies information

Interesting tree formations

Interesting tree formations

Leaf-toed Gecko

Leaf-toed gecko information

Bird on Half Moon Caye

Boobie on Half Moon Caye – yes one relieved itself on Cindy’s arm

Birds on Half Moon Caye

Birds on Half Moon Caye

Signs

Don’t feed the Sharks sign

Amigo's Del Mar boat

Back to the boat after lunch

Boarding the boat to go home

Back on the boat for the 3rd dive

third dive spot

Panti Rippa's on the way home

Panty Rippers on the way home (Note to self: Mike has a heavy hand with the coconut rum!)

Heading home

Heading home after a great day of diving

Cindy surrponded by shoes

She obviously had a Panty Ripper too many and her friends took advantage of her whilst she was snoozing on the boat and surrounded her with shoes. She’s still talking about the trip. Where should we send her next?