Dive Review of
Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort in
Belize

Bonaire, Guadeloupe, BVI, Cozumel, Cancun, Turks & Caicos, Little
Cayman, Dominica

Dive Conditions

30 minute bottom time  

My UW housing (trial run) was placed in a bucket.    

Overall Rating

We visited the Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort in Belize for 10 days in
early November under the all-inclusive package.  It advertised itself as an
eco-friendly resort for both nature (specifically birdwatching) and scuba. 
These activities are our passions so we thought it a great place to go.

The resort is situated between Dangriga and Placencia with a beautiful
beach, pool, and the luxurious cabanas with king-size beds, polished wood
floors, huge showers, and twice daily maid service.  The gourmet food is
served formally. 

The land excursions for birdwatching to the nearby Cockscomb Wildlife
Refuge and Mayflower/Bocawina National Parks were fabulous and WELL worth
visiting even if you’re not into birding.  There is also a archaeological
trip available to ruins near Guatemala, a 2.5 hour drive.

The resort is located within a large bay; however, the reef is nearly an
hour’s boat ride away.  The resort has two boats fitted for
diving/snorkeling.  The first day’s diving was cancelled due to high winds
at the reef but we were able to go the following day (Dive cancellation
seemed routine due to winds even though conditions in the bay were calm). 
There were only six people at the resort and only four of us were diving so
we had lots of room and attention from the divemaster and two crew members.
 We left our equipment on the cabana porch the night before the dive and
all was set up when we boarded the following morning.  All equipment is
available if needed.  

The crew takes care of all your equipment set up and they are very helpful
in getting you in and out of the water.  However, based on the three dives
completed (my husband developed an abscessed tooth and I developed an inner
ear problem precluding additional dives), Kanantik requires a maximum
bottom time of 30 minutes.  When questioned, the answer was that divers
must be escorted throughout the dive; therefore, everyone comes up when the
first one is 800 psi.  I had 1400 psi after my first dive and received
little more than a shrug from the crew when questioned.  The divemaster
does little to point out anything except turtles.

The three sites visited (maximum depth was 80’) were unremarkable as
Hurricane Iris destroyed much of the surface reefs in 2001.  Visibility was
no more than 30 feet due to northerly winds.  We did manage to see a large
Nassau grouper, a large school of Creole wrasse, parrotfish, a manta ray,
and a few hawksbill turtles.

Surface intervals were spent on South Water Caye where we were provided a
tasty lunch (main course, salad, fruit, bread, dessert) and plenty to
drink…including beer if we wanted (???!!!).  

Overall, Kanantik is not the place to go if you want to dive exclusively or
diving is your main interest.  
 

What others have to say about Undercurrent
And get immediate access to ALL 250 dive reviews of Belize
and all other dive destinations immediately!