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Dive Review of Turneffe Island Resort in
Belize/Turneffe Atoll

Turneffe Island Resort: "Still super diving at Turneffe Island Resort", Nov, 2022,

by Jeffrey D Hubbard MD, NY, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 33 reports with 18 Helpful votes). Report 12239.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments [Note: This is Turneffe Island Resort. There are other resorts with “Turneffe” in the name.]
The Resort is a small island at southern end of Turneffe Atoll, about 30 miles SE from Belize City. The principal activity is scuba diving, and it also offers sport fly fishing (bonefish, tarpon, permit) for its international guests.
We arrived 2 weeks after hurricane Lisa. Some reconstruction going on, but business & diving 100% as usual. Reefs show some torn-up sponges but little coral damage. Fish as usual. The very high radio mast came down in Lisa, but was back in service within several days. There is a special platform near the top, and the ospreys have nearly finished the new nest there.
Fifteen dives per week, with one night dive, scheduled around meals. Boats could carry 8 divers + divemaster and driver; usually not more than 6 divers. Most sites within 10-15 min of Resort, return after each dive for surface interval; crew changes tanks. Backroll entry, reboarding ladder with help from driver. Dives are drift – boat will find you at surface. We dove nitrox, 32%, fills >3200 psi, but air would be fine. Camera bucket and careful handling; towels on board. Spacious boats, no head, no cover.
We dove with senior captain & divemaster Brad, all-knowing master of the sea. From the tiniest spiny-head blennie to the largest shark, Brad knows all about them. Larger sharks are identified by scars – major players are named. Invasive lionfish are speared on site, and left for (not fed to) the efficient Lionfish Disposal Team, staffed by sharks, larger groupers and snappers, and large green morays.

Accommodations are spacious and quiet. Well air conditioned, plenty of hot water (they collect rainwater, supplemented by reverse osmosis if needed.) Open-air bar lost the thatched palapa (roof) to Lisa, recon underway. Meanwhile, bar is open in the 2-3 year old Clubhouse, which looks like a Houston law firm new conference room inside, compared to all other buildings on Island which are traditional Belizean architecture. Food is Belizean, of course, with reduced spiciness. Great care with food sensitivities and preferences.
Staff is very friendly and helpful; many have worked there for years. There is extensive staff housing, since Belize city is 90 minute boat ride away.
Turneffe Island Resort has the best Caribbean diving and service we have seen in forty years of exploration. Many guests return. (This is our 7th visit in 6 1/2 years.) Access from US is easy. Island boats from Belize city run Wednesday & Saturday; we arrive a day early and overnight at Radisson Fort George Hotel, where the island boats dock, to reduce travel glitches.
Websites Turneffe Island Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Fernando de Noronha (Brasil), Australia, Fiji, PNG, Micronesia, Hawai'i
Closest Airport BZE Getting There Direct flights, or good connex through Atlanta, Houston

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy, dry Seas calm, choppy, no currents
Water Temp 82-83°F / 28-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 40-60 Ft/ 12-18 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Stay within sight of divemaster, begin ascent when No Deco Time reaches 7 minutes, 3 minute safety stop, 500 p.s.i. when under boat.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 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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