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Dive Review of Ecologic Divers/Sun Breeze in
Belize/Ambergris Caye

Ecologic Divers/Sun Breeze, Mar, 2013,

by Richard Sziede, VA, USA (Reviewer Reviewer 4 reports). Report 6936.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food N/A
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Every ten years or so I go back to Ambergris Caye. It is just as
charming as 20 years ago. Oh, some things have changed. Golf
carts are gas, not electric. Many more now. More cars. There were only two 20 years ago. Estel's is closed, and I couldn't find a rooftop bar for sundowners.

Most places have floors now. But Elvi's keeps a sand floor. Some
things are important. And Fish a la Elvi is actually better than
I remembered. Restaurant signs still say, "No Shirt, no Shoes,
No Problem."

Stayed at the Sun Breeze. It has only gotten better in the 20
years since our first stay. There is an "Above and Beyond"
story. My buddy D. lost his smart phone on the Mayan Air flight
to the island. A Mayan Air worker picked it up and wanted $100
to return it. The Sun Breeze manager together with the Mayan Air
manager and Belize cops "persuaded" the worker to return the
phone without the ransom. Commented the Sunbreeze manager,
"Tourism is important in Belize. You should not have a bad
experience."

Dined at a different joint each night. Never had a bad meal.

We spent one evening with ACES crocodile sanctuary. Crocs ain't cute. They do not inspire sympathy. But still....

Crocs are apex predators. They are endangered for
the same reasons as are sharks and other apex predators. Learn
more at www.americancrocodilesanctuary.org/. The web site
is worth a visit, and the tour is eye-opening.

The diving was with Ecologic Divers rather than the Sunbreeze
house shop. This was a The Dive Shop trip, so they picked.
Ecologic. As the name suggests, Ecologic is more environmentally sensitive than some Belizian outfitters. They don't bait sharks.
All dives were led. Limited to about 45 minutes. This was not
arbitrary. Ecologic boats are small with a single ladder, no
platform. Entry is back-roll by twos. Exit is a single ladder,
divemaster assisted. Hence slow, cutting into bottom time.

Ecologic staff are as good as dive staff can get. There were
glitches. Mostly missed communication. But the divemasters
compensated. Ecologic also compensated for a missed diving day
due to weather by running an inside-the-reef 3-tank day when the
wind remained high.

Divemasters carried spear guns for Lion Fish. Spear guns were
not offered to divers. So we joined the hunt by flushing out
Lion Fish for the spear. Like being a hound on a fox hunt. Woo Hoo!

Sharks and grouper have learned to follow the spear gun for
spoils. They do not seem harmed by eating dead Lion Fish. But I
saw a Trigger Fish hit a dead LF. His bite included a spine. He
spit it out, hit it again and spit it again. I presume he was
stung. As the Trigger Fish swam away his mouth was working.
Looked like he was going, Pthooy, pthooy!

Side tour to Lamanai on our out-gassing day. Searious Adventures got
off to a slow start, going back to the dock for tourists who
missed the pick-up time. This limited our time on-site, making
the actual tour of the ruin a bit rushed. Pity, because it's an
enjoyable site. Access is by boat. So there isn't a parking lot
full of tour buses stinking up the joint with diesel fumes. Wish
I had more time on-site. I could have spent a day just in the museum.




Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Truk
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather windy Seas choppy
Water Temp 78-81°F / 26-27°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 60-80 Ft/ 18-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions All dives guided.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 1 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments No camera tank on boat.
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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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