Instant Reader Report on Diving
Off the Wall/Slickrock Adventures in
Belize/Glovers Reef, Long Caye in
2003/01

 [Unspecified] 

Dive Conditions

Belize law requires that all non liveaboard dives be guided. After one or
two check out dives to establish level of competence, Carlos the DM was
supportive of all profiles.  

All diving is done from skiffs without camera facilities, but the ride back
to shore  and a freshwater rinse is only 5 minutes.  

Overall Rating

  The Long Caye wall is justly famous - it is spectacular with huge coral
heads, deep canyons, a 3000 ft wall and above average large and small
sealife. For most divers it's a long 1.5 to 2 hr boat ride across open
water; for the few who have learned about the Caye itself it's paradise. 
  Slickrock Adventures Inc. (www.slickrock.com) operates the Long Caye
island resort as well as "Adventure Week" tours. Owner Cully
Erdman has been in business for many years and knows the business.
Slickrock owns half of the 13 acre caye, providing a tropical getaway with
basic cabanas or tent palapas, solar power, excellent Belizean meals and
unlimited access to every type of water sport equipment.
  The "Off The Wall" dive operation is excellently managed,
providing spectacular, personalized reef and wall diving with a boat ride
never exceeding 5 minutes. Jim and Kendra Schofield run the operation 
(email to offthewall@btl.net), which is affiliated with PADI and offers
Discover Scuba and refresher courses as well as basic and advanced classes.
 Dives are usually led by Divemaster Carlos, who has the sharpest eyes --
he showed us a white-lined toad fish, found only in Belize, and then only
rarely.  Although Belizean law requires that all dives be guided, Carlos is
very accommodating.  He's ready to dive any time you are, and as many times
as you want.  He challenged us to wear him out.  
     All dives were drift dives, with Junior, our boat captain, following
bubbles.  Groups were small (2-3 people), and the diving the best ever.  We
usually started with a deep descent on the wall, and worked our way back up
with the final 10 minutes frequently spent above 20 feet over gorgeous
reefs and an aquarium of reef fish and critters.  Lobsters are huge and
turtles and nurse sharks frequent visitors.  Off the Wall "OWNS"
Glover's Reef -- others only visit.  

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