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Dive Review of Aqua Scuba Belize/Casa Coral in
Belize

Aqua Scuba Belize/Casa Coral: "Great week with Aqua Scuba Belize", Dec, 2015,

by jeff appel, TX, US ( 2 reports). Report 8775.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments We knew we wanted to dive Ambergris Caye in Belize, and began our research. Found Casa Coral through VRBO.com, and found Casa Coral, a 3 br, 2 bath accommodation, right on the beach, in town, that was nice, had a huge balcony facing the ocean, and the entire roof that was decked with 3rd floor views of the ocean, town, and even the bay behind us. Pricing was not any more per person than many other hotel type accommodations.
For Diving, we chose Aqua Scuba Belize because they would guarantee the 4 of us a trip to the Blue Hole and a Trip to Turneffe, and their pricing was competitive with others. As an added benefit, they provided all dive gear (although a little worn) that enabled us to pack light.
The first day of local diving was good with more nurse sharks than I remembered, and a good assortment of reef fish and a fair amount of soft corals. We dived Hol Chan as a night dive, and although not quite the life I remember from my last dive here 9 years ago, the 20 plus stingrays and other various life made up for it.
The following day, we made the early trip to the Blue Hole, and although the 2 1/2 hour trip was long, the large 58' twin turbo diesel Aqua Scuba boat made it with ease. The Blue Hole dive was typical for the blue Hole, a formation dive, with little fish life. The following two dives at half moon caye and the dive site aquarium provided amazing soft corals, Garden Eels, several reef sharks, and a nice assortment of typical Caribbean fishes.
The following day, we took the same boat to Turneffe, and dove the sites Black Coral Mountain, Vicente, and Jack Sparo. The dive company provided me with a Hawaii sling spear, and along with the divemaster, Roy (Gandi),we speared 24 lionfish total during the 3 dives. Culling the reef of these menaces, along with the excitement of the hunt, made great diving even better. The larger ones were kept, cleaned on the boat, and became dinner that night at Caliente, a restaurant next to the dive company's dock.
On our last dive day, we dived "Hustlers Special" and "Mermaids Lair" just off the San Pedro shore/reef. Hustlers Special was an amazing site with at least 11 Nurse sharks, and 4 black tips, providing that special exhilaration of diving near these beautiful creatures. Lobster, Scrawled Filefish, Queen Angels, Rock Beauties, Trumpetfish, two green morays, and lots of sponges made the overall trip one to remember.
Aqua Scuba Belize' divemasters Roy and Omar, as well as boat captains Francois and Lobo, and deckhand Marvin made the week enjoyable, and a pleasure. We will definately return, and hope to duplicate this trip soon.
Our favorite meals were provided by Melt, a bar/restaurant 1 block from our Condo, Caliente, the restaurant that cooked our speared lionfish, and also Saras. Although Saras is almost a mile north of town, the fresh snapper, reasonable prices, and atmosphere made it worth the drive. Our drive was by golfcart, which is the predominant means of transportation on the island/peninsula.
My first trip here was over 25 years ago when there were only dirt streets, and probably fewer than 500 residents. My second trip, 9 years ago, saw a lot of growth. Today, the town of San Pedro has over 18,000 residents, quite a few paved streets, and lots of development. It still has a quaint feel, but enjoy it now. My fear is that it will continue to grow exponentially, and will loose the charm it has had in the past.

Jeff Appel
Brenham, Tx
Websites Aqua Scuba Belize   Casa Coral

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Cozumel, BVI, Cayman, Roatan, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Little Cayman, Belize,
Closest Airport San Pedro, Belize Getting There Southwest Airlines to Belize City, Tropic Air to San Pedro,Belize

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy, cloudy Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 81-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 75-100 Ft/ 23-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Dive computer profile, 3 minute safety stops,
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 5 stars

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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