Turneffe Islands Atoll Diving

If you would like to make a reservation please submit the form and we will send additional details including our Booking/Cancellation Policy.  Please note that we take small groups and often sell out and do require payment in advance to secure your space.

What's so Special?

Turneffe is one of three atolls in Belize and is 30 miles long and 10 miles wide.  An atoll is a ring shaped coral reef that encircles a lagoon.  When first described by Charles Darwin he reported atolls formed atop sinking volcanoes.  However, the atolls in Belize did not form on volcanoes but rather on fault blocks that were a result of the geological processes which occurred millions on years ago as the Central America isthmus was created.  Geologists find the same type of rock deep in the atolls as that in the Maya Mountains in Southern Belize.  The atolls were dry land 10,000 years ago when sea level was 500 feet lower. In comparison to the other two atolls, Turneffe has many small islands, many of them composed primarily of red mangroves.  In 2013 the entire Turneffe Islands Atoll was declared a marine reserve so the unique assemblage of marine life and islands can be preserved, while still supporting traditional fishermen in their livlihoods.  Turneffe is the closest atoll to Belize City and travel time is about one hour to the west side, and one hour and a half to the east side.  

Turneffe is 20 miles east of Belize City and travel time is about an hour to the west side. En route we pass through the Belize Barrier Reef and the Caribbean Sea.

The Sites

There are hundreds of dive sites to explore at Turneffe, the most famous is The Elbow at the southern tip of the atoll.  If you check any of the dive books you'll notice that most of the sites described are located along the southern tip, since this is where the live-aboard boats moor.  But there are excellent dive sites around the entire coral rim that encircles Turneffe.  Your dive guide will select which sites you'll visit on your trip and may include one of the following:

• Northwest - Rendezvous, The Terrace
  
• Eastern - Calabash Cut, Turtle Point
  
• Southern Tip - The Elbow, Black Beauty, Myrtle's Turtle, Front Porch, Sayonara
  

Schedule

8:00 am
9:00 am
10:00 am
12:00 am
1:00 pm
2:30 pm
3:30 pm

Arrive dive shop
Depart for Dive Sites
Arrive at West Turneffe, Have Dive Briefing, Dive 1 
Have Lunch during surface interval 
Dive 2
Return to Belize City
Arrive Belize City

* Additional time required for Turneffe East and South sites
** Please note due to early departure time this trip is not suitable for all cruise ship passengers

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