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Dive Review of Turneffe Island Resort in
Belize

Turneffe Island Resort, Aug, 2005,

by Rich Priesing, ca, USA (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports). Report 1959.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 1 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Turneffe Island Lodge (www.turneffelodge.com) is a 30 mile - 1.5 hour boat ride from Belize City.The resort is incredibly well run and organized. Country Club Diving! You set your gear up once at the beginning of the trip and the divemaster and boat captain take care of the gear until you leave. Bo is a DM with over 5000 dives and really knows his stuff, and Captain John,kept the boat at a discreet distance but was always there at the end of every dive, and pulled BC's and Gear out of the water with ease. Three Dives per day were generally drift dives in gentle current along the barrier reef. With the exception of the Blue Hole day (the BH, Light House Reef and another dive)the sites were 5-10 minutes from the resort dock. Aside from the BH at 130' (79F), water temps were usually 84-86 F. Entries were back roll from the open boat, all surface intervals were at the resort where drinks, fruit and cookies were available. There is no shore diving although you can snorkel in front of the resort.

Sea life was pretty good. We only saw more than 1 shark on a dive at the Blue Hole where there was a dozen or so reef and bull sharks hanging out at the safety stop. Groupers, tarpon, turtles, schools of smaller fish on almost every dive. The Elbow was the best site for larger fish. The coloration and variety of sponges was the best I have seen. Corals were healthy but not as colorful as I've seen at other locales.

Food and accomodations were outstanding. Meals were family style, and with the small number of guests every one gets to know one another. It was like Summer Camp for Divers and Fisherman except the Food and Accomodations were 4 star. The bar was open every afternoon and Sherman is not only an outstanding barman, but a pretty good artist as well. Dive Staff and Dining Room Staff were outstanding, everything else was done unobtrusively and well. Grounds were immaculate.

The only negative about the whole trip had nothing to do with the resort, and that was Belize City. It is very poor, and not entirely safe,particularly at night. The nicest hotels were 2 star at best, not for the unadventurous.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Hawaii, Dominica, Bahamas
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm
Water Temp 82-86°F / 28-30°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Depths were suggested, other than that dive to your own computer and air limits. It was suggested that you go to a safety stop with 700 psi and on the boat with 500, but never checked.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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