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Dive Review of Blackbird Caye Resort in
Belize/Turneffe Atoll

Blackbird Caye Resort, Sep, 2002,

by Chuck and Nancy Anson, CA, USA . Report 345.

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 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Blackbird Caye offers value for the diving dollar that is hard to match in Belize. If your idea of the perfect dive vacation is dive, eat, and sleep, with a good book thrown in for variety, then this is the place for you. The hour and a half boat ride out to Turneffe Atoll from Belize City (drinks included) was very scenic and more enjoyable than expected. The sand spit called Blackbird is 166 acres and houses cabanas and a dining area for a maximum of 25 guests and the staff. The food was delicious. We stayed for two weeks and never ate the same meal twice, unless we wanted to. Fresh fish, conch, shrimp and lobster were prepared daily in a variety of ways. Pork and chicken dishes were also offered at each meal. The accommodations were comfortable, spacious, single cabanas that were cleaned daily. Each cabana had air conditioning, hard wood floors, and a large closet with more than adequate drawer space. There was a good sized bathroom with a large tiled shower and plenty of hot water. There was also a CD player in each cabana so you can bring your own music if listening to the local radio station is not your bag. No phones or TV and Yes Virginia, there are bugs. Mangroves are the natural habitat for a variety of insects, but a good healthy breeze and assiduous use of bug spray provided adequate protection even for this sweet blooded diver. The dive boats are large, spacious, and well maintained. They leave on time, three times a day and surface intervals are spent on shore. This leaves plenty of time to off gas before the second dive and allows for two deep dives (50ft plus for 50 minutes) each morning. The dive staff is very helpful. They set up and maintain your gear for each dive unless you prefer to do that for yourself. The reefs close to the resort remain healthy for the most part. We enjoyed Chinaman’s Reef the best, a ten minute boat ride south. Although we saw only two sharks, we did see several large turtles, and stingrays and eagle rays on many of our dives. What really adds value to your diving dollar are the Tuesday all day trip to Lighthouse Reef and Half Moon Caye and the famous "Blue Hole"; and the Friday half day trip to “The Elbow”. These reefs offer world class diving and are included in the price of your package. There is no shore diving but daily snorkeling trips can be arranged. We enjoyed sharing meals with the resort manager, Mr. David. He will do everything he can to make sure his guests are well taken care of. All you have to do is ask, that is, if you can get a word in edgewise! In the Flordia office Rebecca is very helpful, toll free at @ 888-271-3483 or via email at blkbrd@bellsouth.net, or their website at www.blackbirdresort.com

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Bonaire, Roatan, Cozumel, San Salvador, St Croix,
Fiji, St Vincent, Caymans, Grand Turk
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, choppy, noCurrents
Water Temp 83-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Depth limits 130', 500 psi, 50 minute max dive time.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 2 stars
UW Photo Comments Large boats had separate rinse for cameras; small boats did not unless you asked. Crew handled equipment professionally. No separate camera tables. Film was available but no camara shop and no spare parts for cameras.
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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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