Dive Review of Amigos del Mar/Mayan Princess in
Belize/Ambergris Caye

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Amigos del Mar/Mayan Princess, Jul, 2009, by Michael J Millet, CA, USA ( Top Contributor 96 reports with 59 Helpful votes). Report 5054.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Ambergris Caye has become quite developed and the local reefs reflect this growth. This was my 4th dive trip to AC; my first was about 10 years ago. The marine life on the local reefs has noticeably diminished. There are very few shrimp or crab; fish usually seen in larger numbers such as chromis and butterflyfish are minimal. There were several angelfish especially rock beauties. The local reefs do have a decent quantity of larger fish -- groupers, nurse sharks, green morays. These critters are used to being fed by the local dive operators and will respond to the arrival of the dive boat, greeting you as you enter the water. Without such baiting, it is questionable how many of these larger fish would be around since the reefs are lacking their natural prey -- other live fish. If you have a problem with dive guides handing fish, then do not dive with ADM. Our dive guide, Tony, routinely will manhandle nurse sharks and black groupers giving them to divers to hold. The fish don't seem to mind it; but it does seem a bit unnatural. The eagle rays are the highlight of the diving. Eagle Ray Canyon always has a few. This dive site is inside the marine park so there is a $10/day fee to dive here. It is worth the $. ADM does run a nice, large, comfortable boat out the outer reefs. I did a 3 tank trip to Turneffe Reef. The diving is much better on the outer reefs -- hardly any development. This trip takes all day departing at 6:30 am and returning about 5:00 pm. 2 years ago I did the Belize Aggressor that spends a week on the outer reefs. This is a better to do these reefs. I stayed at the Mayan Princess, which is in the middle of San Pedro and just a few steps from ADM. It is modest but very comfortable with friendly staff. The bottom line is it will be a long while before I return to AC. The only real attraction are the eagle rays. I would again do a live-aboard to the outer reefs.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Galapagos, Solomon Islands, Yap, Palau, Kosrae, Truk, GBR, Fiji, and all over the Caribbean.
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	windy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	82-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-75 Ft/ 15-23 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Stay with dive guide; 1 hour dives
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	The day boat from Amigos del Mar (ADM) had a camera rinse bucket. The local reefs have minimal smaller reef fish, shrimp or crabs.

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Dive Review of Amigos del Mar/Mayan Princess in Belize/Ambergris Caye

Amigos del Mar/Mayan Princess, Jul, 2009,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Amigos del Mar/Mayan Princess in
Belize/Ambergris Caye