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Dive Review of Peter Hughes -- Sun Dancer II in
Belize/Lighthouse Reef/Turneffe Reef

Peter Hughes -- Sun Dancer II, Oct, 2012,

by Michael J. Millet, CA, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 92 reports with 58 Helpful votes). Report 6763.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments The Sun Dancer II is a spacious boat with all cabins having a queen bed or 2 full twin beds. Cabins have a large window and plenty of storage; each has a flat screen and DVD player.

The dive stations and dive deck are easy to get around even with a full boat. Diving on the atolls is fairly laid back with out & back dives along a wall. Very little current and decent viz.

Encountered the usual Caribbean critters: hawksbill turtles, groupers, a few eagle rays, lots of eels, shrimp, crab, and had some good luck finding the spotted toadfish (so ugly they're almost cute). Also, plenty of barracuda and decent sized schools of jacks under the boat.

Like other places in the Caribbean, the reef fish these atolls are being negatively affected by the growing presence of lionfish, which we encountered on essentially every dive.

The crew was very friendly and helpful, as usual for an Aggressor/Dancer boat. I do feel that the variety and quality of the food served on the boat has declined.
Websites Peter Hughes -- Sun Dancer II   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Galapagos, Solomon Islands, PNG, GBR, Vanuatu, Palau, Philippines, Indonesia, Yap, Kosrae, Truk, Fiji, Socorros, All over the Caribbean.
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, cloudy Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 82-85°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions No deco
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments The Sun Dancer II has 2 camera tables, plenty of battery charging stations and 2 large dedicated camera rinse tanks. Air hose at camera tables; no smaller towels for cameras.

The marine life at the outer atolls of Belize is better than that around Ambergris Caye but it is not as plentiful and vibrant as it was a few years ago. The reefs appear to have more algae on them perhaps a result of the increase in lionfish that are eating the reef fish.

Best photo ops were arrow crabs, pederson shrimp, hermit crabs, eels, spotted toadfish and a few moon jellies.
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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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