The Atolls

Made up 450 precious gems ranging from mere specks of coral awash tide, to exotic resorts. Snorkelers breathe in colour un-imagined. Divers plunge into world class dive sights. Three of the Atolls are: Glovers Reef 15 mile long 4 mile wide Glovers reef is treasure. A marine reserve since 1987, is enjoys by boaters, divers, anglers, kayakers and even campers. Its pristine lagoon harbours 750 coral patches, while outside the ring of island, 50 mile of sheer drop off from 400 to 2,600 feet, plus numerous shipwrecks, Lighthouse Reef 50 mile east of Belize City, 20 mile long and four mile wide lays Lighthouse Reef. Here 2 lighthouses warn ships of the shallows: one on sandbore Caye north; the other-dating to 1828 is half moon Caye to the south. Thousands of coral heads thrive in brilliant turquoise water no more than 30 feet deep. There is one exception- the famous Blue Hole. The blue hole plunges to a depth of 412 feet deep and is 1000 feet wide, made famous when Jacques Cousteau first explored its depths. At the crest of this thousand foot circular reef, snorkelers in clear water delights to corals, exotic fish, colourful sponges and graceful sea fans. Turneffe Island Atoll The Largest of the 3 atolls, Turneffe Island is 30 mile long and 10 mile wide, is encircled by myriad shallows and lagoons, site of 2 lighthouses-an 1885 beacon on Mauger Caye to North and a second tower on Caye Bokel to the south. This archipelago support fine resort, research facilities and an airstrip. Best know for wall diving site surround the atoll. At the elbow a popular site at the southern tip, is home to school of grunts, grouper, snapper, and jack.