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Dive Review of Roberts grove/Calico Jacks in
Belize/Placencia

Roberts grove/Calico Jacks, May, 2006,

by scott johnson, ca, usa (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 20 reports). Report 2461.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 1 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments I arrived in Belize-Placencia on 5-9 thru 5-16 for WhaleShark diving which was 3 days before the full moon and dove with Roberts Grove.

Water temps 82 to 84, seas rough to calm….Everything I found on the internet and people I spoke with said three days before and after the full moon is when the Cubera Snapper are spawning….Thus WhaleSharks in the Gladden Spit!....well upon my second day of swimming in the blue for an hour at a time (prior to the full moon)….I asked one of the Dive Masters what was going on?…..she asked where did you hear that 3 days before the full moon? She said it is usually the 3 days after the full moon for the WhaleSharks and always has been! Well three dive trips, 6 total dives at the Gladden Spit, $750 plus….Nothing….my last dive day (a day after the full moon) there were people who had not dove in a year….They put them in 6’-9’ plus seas and strong currents!....They had to spend time adjusting weights, blowing thru air etc….Thus cutting dive times by 25 minutes! I know nothing is guaranteed (but I was told by more than one person that seeing WhaleSharks was)….but cutting your odds on $225 plus a day diving is greed on Roberts grove part.

Besides the WhaleShark diving it was typical Caribbean diving. I dove Silky and Sapodilla Cays. Some pretty beige soft corals and at Sapodilla some hard Corals….and some pretty fishies….once in awhile…here and there…just...OK diving. Roberts put 9 divers plus crew on a boat that should have had no more than 4 to 5 divers on it.

Belize is very expensive. I found the diving, meals, transportation to be the most expensive in the world. I can go to Palau for 10 days or more for what it costs to go to Belize for 5 days……and the diving is not in the same league….I have seen more in 30 minutes on a bad dive day in Palau, Christmas Island, Australia, Hawaii, Sipadan and even Costa Rica-Cano Island area that had visibility at 15’ to 20’…..Than I did in my 10 hours being underwater in Belize.

Would I go again?...I do not know…Perhaps with an all expense paid trip….paid by someone else!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Palau, Christmas Island, Australia, Truk, Galapagos, Sipadan, Hawaii, Red Sea...etc
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather rainy Seas calm, choppy, currents
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 1
Water Visibility 50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions None
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 2 stars
Small Critters 2 stars Large Fish 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities 2 stars
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments You had to ask for a bucket everyday.
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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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