Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet in
Belize/Lighthouse Reef

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Aggressor Fleet: "Shocking coral bleaching", Oct, 2023, by Robert Linscheer, CO, US ( Reviewer 5 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 12839.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	This trip was meant to tour Glover’s reef, something Aggressor only does on 3 trips in October, and only with the Belize Aggressor III. But as with my trip last year, we were unable to go there. As the captain explained (but only after we’d arrived and eaten), weather conditions were not favorable for Glover’s. Winds were high and from the wrong direction for many of the anchoring spots. There is only one mooring spot at Glover’s for a boat this large. So instead we would do the normal Lighthouse Reef itinerary. Sure there were some long faces (mine included), but you really can’t fight Mother Nature and so we looked forward to what we already knew is some of the better diving in the Caribbean. However, the crew also mentioned that the water temperatures had gotten as high as 89º over the summer and was currently 85º. The first dive revealed that (in my estimation) half the coral had either completely or partially bleached all the way down to 100ft in most sites. The crew assured us that this had happened before and that most would recover. But I have my doubts. They also said this was the worst they’d ever seen. It also seemed there were fewer fish than what I remember from just a year ago. Still, I do love getting in the water and made the most of it. The crew, as usual, was great! Attentive, fun-loving, and interested in safety. Full boat briefing the evening of embarkation and a dive deck briefing the next morning before the first dive. Special attention that recharging of cameras, batteries and other dive gear must happen on the dive deck camera table. The roving night watch would unplug everything at 11pm and plug it back in at 6am. You could recharge your cell phone in your room, but only if you were present. Most of the cabins are below the main deck and have bunk beds. The lower bunk larger than the top bunk for couples. Not much storage, so pack light and reserve a small bag (carry-on size) for stuff you don’t need often that you can stuff under the bed. You’ll have a large locker on the dive deck underneath your tank. This locker is only good for stuff you don’t mind getting wet. You’ll be assigned a locker position and tank for the duration of the trip. When you return from a dive, remove your first stage and they’ll refill it for you right there. No removing your BC every time for tank swap-out. There was a day when they had trouble with the refilling equipment and had to take tanks to the sister ship for fills. But that wasn’t too much trouble; they always had it completed before the next dive. There pretty much aren’t any anti-covid measures taken anymore. They no longer have a dunk tank for wetsuits and such, but that pretty much was it. After a dive I always stopped at the deck shower to rinse off my gear, then went back to rinse myself after stowing my gear. All diving is done off of a wide platform at just above water level. Large stride entry and a couple of wide ladders for exit. Crew would happily help you get gear to/from the dive platform if you could not easily walk with it. Food was good and plentiful. Three hot meals a day, with warm or baked snacks at mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Beer (local) & wine are complimentary. Any alcohol and you’re done diving for the day. The trip is Saturday - Saturday. The first dive will be Sunday morning with up to 5 dives a day, including a night dive. Friday will have two early dives before the transit back to port. This will ensure that you have 24 hours before flying and also allows the crew time to turn around/provision the boat before the next trip. A tip if you’re flying United: the last few times I’ve been, they’ve used both the front and rear doors for deplaning. I was in one of the rear rows and was maybe 5th through customs. Never had it that easy! I love the boat and crew, but I have to say the level of bleaching was shocking. Hence the star rating, when compared to the Pacific (I've been spoiled). I'll have to read recent reports that there has in fact been recovery before I'll return. I understand this has been happening in the Caymans as well. I'll probably take fewer, longer trips to the western Pacific in the meantime. And I probably won't make the attempt on the Glover's reef itinerary again. Two years in a row of failure has made me shy. I've also not heard that it is much different than Lighthouse.
Websites	Aggressor Fleet
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Mostly Caribbean; Belize, Roatan, Turks & Caicos, Bahamas, Saba, Bonaire, Curacao. Bucket list trips to Palau, Raja Ampat, Komodo, Kona
Closest Airport	Belize City	Getting There	Houston to Belize City. Dive boat picks up and drops off at the airport
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	calm, choppy
Water Temp	84-85°F / 29-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility	40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Dive with the group or with a dive buddy. ~100ft max, ~60 minute-ish
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Even with the bleaching, you'll still find plenty to photograph, either macro or sharks, rays, and turtles. Large carpeted photo table with plenty of power strips. Large rinse tank. The crew will retrieve your camera at the ladder, dunk and move it to the camera table. For those of us who prefer a longer soak, they'll quickly learn your habits

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Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet in Belize/Lighthouse Reef

Aggressor Fleet: "Shocking coral bleaching", Oct, 2023,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet in
Belize/Lighthouse Reef