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Dive Review of Seahorse Diving/Private condos in
Belize/Glover Reef

Seahorse Diving/Private condos: "Whale shark diving in Belize", Apr, 2019,

by Al Underbrink, AL, US (Reviewer Reviewer 6 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 11091.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food N/A
Service and Attitude N/A Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 1 stars
Value for $$ 3 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments The goal of my group of experienced divers was to see whale sharks. The whale sharks follow schools of snapper and feed off their spawn. Spawning occurs around the full moon cycle (2-4 days) from about February to June. The dive objective is to swim in 200+ feet deep water, locate a school of snapper, and wait for the whale sharks to swim over and feed. Dive depths are typically 60-80 feet and the schools of snapper below are massive. However, in four dives, we did not see any whale shark at all. Perhaps warming ocean temperatures have changed the habits of either or both of the snapper and whale sharks. After two days of kicking around following the snapper, the dive operators confided that there had been NO sightings the entire season. We abandoned our original plan and went reef diving for the remainder of the week.

As disappointing as the whale shark dives were, the reef diving was a unique experience. The reefs are in a marine preserve and are thus well protected and healthy. The Seahorse divemasters, as with many Caribbean operators, actively hunted lion fish. Over time, nurse sharks have come to learn this. On most dives, there were up to a half dozen following our dive group. However, following doesn't truly describe their behavior. The nurse sharks were our hunting partners. They swam beside us, pointed out lion fish by swimming in tight circles around them, and waited for a wounded lion fish to be fed to them on a stick (the spear). Many times per dive, anyone who sank to near the bottom to look under a ledge might be bumped by a nurse shark anxious to be first in line. Even if you weren't spear fishing. They were like hunting dogs and were a lot of fun.

All of these dives are 30+ miles from the dive operation. Boat rides were 60-90 minutes, so I understand why people prefer liveaboards in this area. The boats are fine for short rides, but are not particularly comfortable for such long periods of time. The distance and transit time generally limited us to two tanks per day, but three tanks are sometimes offered. For many, that may not be enough. On such long day trips, we were served a decent lunch on the boat or more often on a small island with a resort and restaurant. Not luxurious, but rustic. I didn't mind it at all and considered the trips as adventures.
Websites Seahorse Diving   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving All over the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
Closest Airport Placencia Getting There Connections through Belize City. 30 minutes in small plane or 4 hours driving on largely unpaved roads

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas calm, choppy, no currents
Water Temp 78-82°F / 26-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions Maximum depth and time. Some of the dives were open ocean and required the dive group to stay together
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
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 3 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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