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Dive Review of Second Nature/Jaguar Reef in
Belize/Southern (Stann Creek)

Second Nature/Jaguar Reef, Nov, 2004,

by Doug Strommen, ga, usa . Report 1478.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 5 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 3 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Jaguar Reef Lodge, Southern Belize, November 2004
This well-groomed oceanfront mini lodge, located near Hopkins Village, south of Dangriga, had pleasant accommodations for our nine day stay and first experience in Central America. Despite seasonal rains, we dove six of eight days, using a down day to tour the jungle. (Malaria preventative recommended.)
Jaguar Reef shuttles divers a short distance on unpaved roads to docks located slightly inland. Their dive operators are “Second Nature”, a husband and wife team, helpful and knowledgeable PADI divers originally from England. The lodge boat is adequate for the max of eight divers, and dive staff. They kept our gear overnight and changed out our tanks each dive. Additional dive staff trainees attended to the needs of recreational divers of varying abilities. One issue for us was the forced use of a small personal boat when the diver count wasn’t profitable. NITROX remains unavailable with this outfit. A competing lodge a short walk north on the beach, Hamanasi, has Nitrox, and a larger boat on property. A new lodge dive shop is in the plans for Jaguar Reef.
Two tank morning dives on reefs about 15 miles off the mainland were the norm, diving walls and reef cuts with no current. The boat followed on the surface. In the 86 degree Fahrenheit waters, skins provided protection from the sun and abundant corals. No afternoon or night dives were offered. Be sure to request the three tank dive to Glover Reef when eight or more divers are staying at the lodge.
Underwater sightings were nurse and bull sharks, large hawksbill turtles, lobsters, flounder, balloon and puffer fish, butterflys, angels, trunk fish, grouper, hog fish, goat fish, barracuda, and tarpon. Highlights included a flock of eight spotted eagle and a barrel sponge measuring at least 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide. We enjoyed searching out little creatures like cleaner shrimp, watching jaw fish do their thing, and trying to photograph sea horses we found near piers while snorkeling between dives. Above the water, we observed frigates, pelicans, boobies, osprey, and hummingbirds on the cays when traveling and in between to dive sights. Belize is on the migratory path of many birds, and we met several ornithologists taking advantage of this.
Although we had hoped for a lodge with more divers around, this was a very pleasant and relaxing experience. Be careful when reading the advertisements in dive magazines about lodges on the cays, many of which are extremely remote and some are run down. Bring your deet or natural alternatives for the sand fleas and mosquitoes.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 26-50 dives
Where else diving Kauai, HI
Florida Keys
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy Seas calm, choppy, noCurrents
Water Temp 84-86°F / 29-30°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars 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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