Dive Review of Frenchies Dive Services/Frenchies in
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Frenchies Dive Services/Frenchies: "Update of October 2021 report on Frenchies and Caulker", May, 2022, by NEAL LANGERMAN, CA, US ( Contributor 16 reports with 17 Helpful votes). Report 11925 has 1 Helpful vote.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations	N/A	Food	N/A
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	UNDERCURRENT_JUNE_2022 Update and expansion of the September 2021 report on diving Caye Caulker, Belize with Frenchies Diving Services. As this update is being written, we have done over 100 dives with Frenchies in about 3 months. Our bottom-line opinion has not changed – Frenchies is a professional diving operation with excellent guides and a strong safety culture. Please see the tribute video I posted to recognize this achievement on Facebook. The link is: [facebook.com link] The island is crowded with tourists. Resumption of “normal” activities rather than pandemic suppressed business has really changed diving. In September, we were generally the only divers or with 1-2 others. Now, there are typically 12-16 divers plus 3-4 guides and two boat operators for every dive. In September, we had the opportunity to explore the local reefs. Now, diving is primarily to the south around Turneffe Atoll or Lighthouse Reef or to the north for Esmerelda Reef, off Ambergris. While these sites are beautiful, they are 30 minutes to 2 hours distant. In September, there was little rain, minimal wind, and flat, calm seas. Diving was easy. Currently, the east wind has been blowing most days at 20 – 40 km/hr. The Belize coast is totally exposed to the east thus a long ocean reach generates significant wave activity. This restricts available dive sites and makes exiting the water at the end of the dive a bit difficult, even with the good ladder on the Frenchies boat and assistance of the crew. The visibility has been lower with milky conditions reducing wide-angle photography. Macro remains very good, if you stay below the surge. We have had some marvelous dives, particularly on the north side of Turneffe Atoll, but we have had a few dives that were wind-related challenging. Perhaps my favorite site is Mini-Elbow, with a mild current, spectacular wall, and abundant sea-life. Free-swimming Green Morays and Eagle Rays are common, and small tropical fish cover the reef. The number of Sharpnose Pufferfish is staggering. Frenchies is well-organized to provide the casual diver with a great experience. Their rental gear appears well maintained and their staff know how to fit the gear to the diver. I have observed very few rental equipment problems and have not heard a single complaint. Frenchies adjusts planned dive times to match the expected skill level of most of their divers. They allow divers who are approaching the 500 psi (40 bar) limit to ascend to safety stop level and follow the group. Guides keep such divers under observation. While most dives are 45-50 minutes, divers seem to understand that longer would cause air availability stress. Frenchies has set us up with our own guide and there is very seldom someone other than my wife, me, and our guide, so our dives tend to last at least 55-65 minutes. We are usually first divers in the water and last out. This results in “short” surface intervals, but I rarely see available bottom times of less than 10 minutes. Nitrox is NOT available. Frenchies provides snacks between dives. There is always fresh fruit – usually ice-cold watermelon and fresh cut pineapple. For the three-tank dive days, they provide a buffet-style lunch consisting of Belize stewed chicken, rice, macaroni salad and green salad. Water and assorted cold beverages are always available, and the crew tries to ensure that divers stay well hydrated. Island Accommodations Frenchies is not directly associated with any hotel or resort. The two closest hotels are Coral Reef and Ocean Pearl Royale. We are staying in a small cabana at the latter. It is less than 200 feet from Frenchies pier, which makes carrying our large cameras bearable. There are many other lodging options on the island that will fit most any budget. The village and all accommodations are rustic. Dining choices are extensive. Fresh fish and Belize raised vegetables, pork and chicken are the mainstays. Belikin beer seems to be the national beverage of Belize and is quite good. Our favorite dinner restaurants are Pelican Sunset, Swings, and Happy Lobster. The BBQ stands along Front Street serve up a wonderful lunch of BBQ chicken or ribs. Bars like the Sports Bar often have live entertainment. When it rains… the mosquitoes come out. Bring your favorite bug dope. Photography There are many photo-ops around the island. These range from tourist attractions like the “Caye Caulker” or “The Split” signs to ubiquitous Frigate Birds riding the east wind above the island. I have yet to shoot a sunset timelapse. The sunsets have just not been impressive. I do have a few good sunrise panoramas. Underwater photography is good. The corals and sponges around Turneffe Atoll are world-class. Water visibility tends to be very good. I get beautiful blue water backgrounds at f11-14; ISO 400. Macro is good, but not in the same league as Indonesia. I now have a large collection of blennies, fire worms, and a few nudibranchs. Flamingo Tongue Cowry are common and beautiful. I am fortunate that our guide, Louie, loves to find small critters for me and larger marine life for my wife. The shark and ray population off Ambergris Cay is awesome, approaching that of Cuba. For wide-angle I generally use a Nikon 12-24 mm lens and a Nikon 105 mm lens with a +1 diopter. I have had fun using a Nikon 10.5 mm lens for ultrawide creative work. The crew is very good with handling large cameras. The set up a large plastic tub filled with fresh water and both our camera kits ride in it while underway. I have had no handling related problems. The bottom line is Caye Caulker, and Frenchies Diving Services provide a wonderful way to explore the Mesoamerican Reef. Keep your bubbles tiny and the current behind your fins.
Websites	Frenchies Dive Services Frenchies
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	All of continental USA; Caribbean, Gulf, Sea of Cortez, Eastern & Western Pacific & more
Closest Airport	Belize City	Getting There	Most international airlines serve Belize. I prefer the Express Ferry to the island.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	choppy, surge
Water Temp	83-84°F / 28-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Max depth and time. 500 psi (40 bar)
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	no
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	1 or 2
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	See comments above and visit my FB page [facebook.com link]

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Frenchies Dive Services/Frenchies in Caribbean (General)

Frenchies Dive Services/Frenchies: "Update of October 2021 report on Frenchies and Caulker", May, 2022,

Photos Submitted with this Report

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 Frenchies Dive Services/Frenchies in
Caribbean (General)