Ambergris Caye

Amigas Del Mar, Out Island Divers, Paradise Villas, August, 1995. "Bought a package dive trip. Don't ever do this. If you aren't happy with dive operations, it's too bad. They have already been paid. They do not go out of their way to be accommodating. They know they have you. For local diving we were booked with Amigas Del Mar. They were rude and belligerent to a beginning diver who panicked after the back roll entry. Out Island Divers tried hard with the remaining small boat, since Reef Roamer II overturned. I wish I had known how long the trips were to the outer cayes where the good diving was. Staying on Turneffe or Lighthouse makes more sense. You waste your whole day on a slow boat. Four hours plus out, the same back for three dives? We did experience The Elbow. Schooling fish, large fish. There should have been a better explanation of current diving for those not experienced in this situation. Villas were fair to good though our refrigerator and air conditioner quit. They moved us to another with apologies." Danny & Judi Laws, Bowie, TX

Belize Yacht Club, June, 1995. "I took an experienced group of 24 divers on a package. Island, resort, food -lobsters in season two days before our arrival - was great. Hosts at BYC were fabulous. They opened an outdoor bar and grill that week, food catered or brought in. A/C units of suites. Dive operation (owner went 'back home' to Scotland) started off great, good safety talks, good boats. However, with two boats of 12 dives each on fourth day while down"single occupant of dive boat stole $400 cash. Dive operation and got Belize police promptly refunded it and fired dive-master." Tom Howard, Hanover, PA

Hot Dive, May, 1995. "The crew was great ­­ they went wherever we wanted, when we wanted and ran everything in a first class manner ­­ Just need to stay another week. Small, personal ­ ­ not for party divers." Jean Taulman, Taos, NM

Paradise Dive Club, May, 1995. "Flexible and accommodating. Only two divers on boat. Not terribly safety oriented. Divemaster did not care to make decompression stop. Didn't ask for C­cards." Mark Geiger, LA, CA

Ramon's Resort, November, 1994. "Strong currents through Hol Chan left me bruised and somewhat frightened on three dives, annoyed on two others. Divemaster, Belizean, less than concerned: arrogant. 'Dive or don't' attitude. I'm not a strong swimmer or diver and prefer one to two atmospheres diving to study the critters." Bill Butler, Memphis, TN

Ramon's Village, July, 1995. "Don't waste your time diving at Ambergris; go to an outer island. Town was neat and people were friendly. Didn't wear shoes all week. The diving nearby was poor. Waves were five foot swells in small boats. The divemaster was arrogant and took those of us who could handle a second dive, deeper than our first. We were the only ones who stayed 15 ft. above everyone else because they weren't experienced and trusted the dive-master. When one of our friends got sick he sent him to surface by himself. We joined him. We did a few days diving and had enough. We saw a few mantas, cuda, one large reef shark. Visibility was poor due to current. The coral was not healthy and the underwater park coral was all dead. . . . We requested transferring unused dives to go on a outer trip or anything else at the resort; they refused and were rude. However upon returning home, we contacted US manager and he reimbursed us. We also had bogus charges on our bill that he checked out and refunded us. After logging many great dives at other places we were disappointed in Ambergris." Karen & Craig Lange, Yakima, WA

Ramon's Village, August 1995. "Lots of diving and fishing. Not much night life but that was okay, as we were too tired from all the diving to do much partying. Quaint and unique place to stay. Excellent side trips and nondiving excursions. Seafood was excellent ­ other food okay. Pricing was reasonable. Lighthouse Reef and the Blue Hole were worth the long boat ride." Jack Godkin, Sanford, NC

Reef Divers, July 1995. "The staff is excellent. I've dived with them on two trips and I liked them well enough to do my divemaster training with them. Larry Parker, the owner, is the best instructor I've ever had." Kerry Donaldson, Springfield, MO

Glover's Reef

Manta Resort, October 1994. "No wind, so no­see­ums a BIG problem. Wish I had more bug stuff. 100 percent DEET worked well when I finally borrowed some. Take everything you need as this is a NO FRILLS Resort. 80­85 degree water, 100 ft plus visibility. Three tanks a day and one night dive. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Bone fishing between dives was excellent right off the beach. A 9' 8 weight w/18 Crazy Charlie's will catch all the bonefish you want." Michael Cole, Edwards, CO

Manta Resort, November, 1994. "Wonderful dive experience. A true 'get away from it all' trip. We flew into Belize City and from there taken by air-conditioned van to the dock. After a bumpy 2 1/2 hour boat ride, we arrived at the 12-acre island on Glover's Reef. There are ten mahogany cabanas and one guest house. A club house sits in the middle of the lagoon. The cabanas were comfortable and cozy. We always had hot water, and a breeze kept us cool. . . . Food was excellent. Sean, the cook, was creative and knows his trade. The staff went out of their way to make sure we were well taken care of. . . . Diving was excellent. We were allowed to computer dive, and three dives a day were done at whatever schedule we desired. Our dive master was one of the best that I have ever dived with. The boat captain knew the water and dive sites and always hit the spot, even though none of the sites was marked. After the first dive you never had to mess with your dive gear again. The crew set it up for you and rinsed it each night after the days diving. We did not see any big critters, but our divemaster said that they had probably gone to deeper water because of the tropical storm that passed through the week before. . . . This also explained the visibility being about 60 to 80 feet that week. . . . The only negative to an otherwise wonderful trip was the unbelievable population of sand flies. We had been warned of these voracious critters before we left and were prepared for them. Those who were not paid dearly. We were not bitten much but at times they were so thick you had to move because they were so bothersome. We don't let these little demons ruin a dive trip. Go there with plenty of ammo and you will be OK. . . . We loved the place so much we are returning. The price is steep, but this seems the case everywhere in Belize. The staff makes it worth the money." Steve Smallsreed, Columbus, OH

Manta Resort, March 1995. "Divers taken to the dive sites in two, small, open skills (quite crowded with ten or twelve divers) ten to twenty minutes away. The visibility is good, nice walls though not as many fish as one would expect to see, turtles, morays, rays, dolphins and good night dives. The divemaster, Joe, was one of the best I have ever encountered ­- careful, thorough, computer friendly, always in a good mood, never flustered by divers' dumb tricks, on time, and enthusiastic. Pretty good care of our gear by staff. Full 3000 psi. Excellent night dives. Too much paddling along at the dive sites instead of stopping to see the action -­ always catching up with the pack. Boat followed above to pick up divers as they ascended. . . . Ten cabins on a small island, similar to Turneffe resort. The food is quite ok but one really serious problem is the no-see-ems. Every moment on land is a real hassle. I had at least 150 bites by the third day and no amount of DEET, Skin­So­Soft, a strong fan, or sleeping under the sheet helped. That killed any thought of returning. Another serious problem was overbooking - they were short by one cabin. Some singles agreed to share a private house on the island with one person using the living room as a bedroom -not what they had paid for. And the manager thought he was doing us a big favor by letting us 'vote' on two or three dives per day - naturally, we chose three. The sales literature specifies three dives so his action was puzzling. And the bumpy, 2 1/2 hour boat ride between Belize City and the resort is a real bummer. At least this is a vast improvement over the 4-5 hours it used to take. The Belizian government prohibits sea-planes because of fear of drug traffic although this resort has a quiet lagoon ideal for float planes." Walter Brenner, Wayne, PA

Manta Resort, May, 1995. "Best diving I've had in Caribbean. Been to Little Cayman, Brac, Bonaire, Anthony's Key, Bayman Bay, Cozumel. This was overall best diving. Coral healthy, nice walls. Warm water, no current. Few large fish, but I'm a coral freak, so I didn't really care. Not all sites were great, but the best ones were really outstanding. . . . Biggest draw-back: fierce no - see-ums. Worst I've seen. DEET works, but hard to use all the time. Worth it for the great diving. It isn't the South Pacific, but it's the best in Caribbean." Frank Simons, Colorado Springs, CO

Manta Resort, August, 1995. "Diving was outstanding. All wall drift dives. We had 13 people in our group and dove together all week. The boat returned to resort between each dive (approximately 2-3 hour surface intervals), and we all liked that. Staff and food were exceptional. Saw nurse sharks, eagle rays, turtles. We were all experienced divers and our profiles were 70-90 ft. for 10 or 15 minutes and then up to 45 or less to 500 -psi. Average dives were an hour or more. No-see-ums were plentiful."Kendall Botello, Phoenix, AZ

Lighthouse Reef

Lighthouse Reef, February, 1995. "Generally good except the food, which was medium quality and no snacks. After assuming we had paid total costs we were instructed to tip all staff and the amounts each. It created an awkward situation." Anon, Portland, OR

Lighthouse Reef Resort, July, 1995. "Good dive operation; marine life in good condition. We loved our crew and divemasters. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Our gear was lifted on to us, taken from us as we came up. . . . Few people. A/C rooms quite comfortable. The food was safe, but poorly prepared ­- not something to look forward to after a day of diving." Chris Rex, Placerville, CA

Placencia

Rum Point Inn, May 1995. "Forty-two foot Auriga is a dream but it doesn't run consistently. Back up dories are too small and uncomfortable for the 20-mile ride to the outer reef. If the sea is moderate, the ride was a bone cruncher and we experienced a soaking ride once. . . . May is the hottest season in Southern Belize. They say the vis improves after the rainy season. Lettuce leaf coral abounds -­ acres of it off Pumpkin Caye. Tons of pristine soft gorgonians and sponges covered with brittle stars. Golden coelenterates, green and purple tipped sea anemones. Five loggerhead, huge eagle ray. This would have been the best diving anywhere if the vis was better. . . . Agnes and crew prepared gourmet meals every evening. There is an extensive library with references for anything related to the sea and Central American history ­­ also extensive collection of videos, CDs and tapes. Bring heavy duty bug repellent, sun screen, and a hat." Glenn Thomas and Jean Porwell, Monson, MA

Rum Point Inn, June, 1995. "If dives had not been led, I believe diving would have been excellent. Photographers should stay home. Dives turned into swimming marathons, if you stopped to take a picture. Reefs were best I've dived in Belize or Honduras. Saw large nurse sharks, turtles, spotted eagle ray, manta ray during week. . . . Left resort 8:30 a.m. for 45 to 60 minute trip to outer reef for one 70-80' dive. Lunch was served on one of the numerous Cayes and then an afternoon dive of 60-70'. Usually back by 3:00-4:00 pm. Night dive was best I've ever had ­- maybe because we went slow and had time to look. Saw reef sharks and sleeping turtle, squid, slipper lobster and lots of neat stuff. It was also on the outer reef. Overall, I really enjoyed trip. Most of the group were beginners who thought they had died and gone heaven." Steve Blair, Oklahoma City, OK

St. Georges Cay

Cottage Colony, February, 1995. "Cottage Colony had excellent food and moderate reasonable accommodation. . . . Tim Diskin, the divemaster, was pleasant, entertaining and competent. Snorkeling was from a boat with a $20/trip charge but was the best our experienced snorkeling friends had ever encountered. 79 degree water, 60­100 foot vis. . . . A relaxing island; easy to get to quality diving. The overnight trip aboard the Manta was also a fine adventure. The Blue Hole and other Lighthouse reefs like Half Moon Caye Wall were excellent. . . . Inland Belize is worth a week's adventure with some planning." Bill Jurney, Roseville, MN

St. George's Lodge, November, 1994. "If one were to name the most important element that makes diving at St. George's Lodge unique, it would have to be its owner, Fred Good. I feel fortunate to have made Fred's acquaintance and would rank each week I go there as the best post­certification, learning opportunity I've experienced on any dive trip. . . . Fred provides one of the best dive orientations of any resort or live­ aboard that I have done, and he takes requests. One diver asked for a juvenile spotted drum, and Fred made sure that on the next dive that several were included. For a California diver, Cozumel is closer, but Belize offers a far greater variety of creatures, more pristine sites, and far more impressive variety of coral, which has not been 'kicked'. . . . Even if you weren't a diver, the ambience of the island, the hospitality of the beautiful lodge that Fred built, and the gourmet meals offer even a nondiver, a rewarding vacation. The food and dinner conversation are both quality. Dinners particularly use many tastes of local fare ­- something that many resorts advertise, but do not deliver. The problem each night is not to overdo the hors d'oeuvre before dinner. You feel fortunate to have this level of resort accommodations on such a unique Belizean caye. . . . Another plus that makes St. Georges a value are the short boat rides to the dive sites. We had a greater than usual choice of sites that offer a good spectrum of fish ranging from a nursery with vast varieties of miniatures to giant spotted eagle rays with nine feet wing spans that cause you to stop breathlessly in the water for longer than you thought possible to watch their graceful and unique flight path. I have dived with a number of operations throughout the world, and St. Georges Lodge is truly unique." Lee Tussing, Huntington Beach, CA

St. George's Lodge, 1995. "I'd have to dig out my log book to tell you how many trips I've made to the lodge over the past six years, but I've logged over 200 dives there. There has been tremendous variance in the visibility over that period but it has been a rare dive when I didn't see something wonderful that made the dive special. Admittedly many of the things I most enjoy finding now are close to microscopic, and I would never have even spotted them when I first started coming to the Lodge. . . . The addition of Nitrox has opened a new area of the reef for exploration. We can now spend longer times at depth and the terrain on this sector of the reef is perfectly suited for multi level diving using Nitrox. . . . The atmosphere here is not for everyone. I am a CPA so the absence of telephones and FAX machines is a big plus in my book. My idea of heaven is a pile of books, no television to provide background noise and a comfortable place to read between dives­­need I say more? . . . Since my first trip to St. George's Lodge I haven't returned to any of my prior favorite destinations. The combination of frequent diving, long dive times attained using the multi level nitrox format, and friendly atmosphere creates a dive experience difficult to duplicate. . . . When we first began visiting Belize none of our friends had heard of the country. Now it is heavily promoted and has become a popular tourist destination. So far, the Lodge hasn't changed significantly from our first visit. I hope that condition prevails." Phyllis Blackburn, Huntington Beach, CA

St. George's, April, 1995. "I have been to St. George's before. This time Fred Good persuaded me to take Nitrox certification and I replaced misconceptions and became convinced of the safety and advantages for experienced divers. I continue to be amazed by the number of dolphins we encounter at St. George's." Wood, Houston, TX

St. George's Lodge, May, 1995. "I am 50 years old and the editor of Sea Frontiers, a marine science magazine. For the six years that I've held this job, I've felt guilty because I didn't dive. Everyone else on my staff does. I tried to pretend that very diligent snorkeling was enough. . . . One of my editors met Fred Good and told him how terrified I felt about learning to dive. Fred passed on the message that he could teach me easily. . . . I was finally willing to take the risk because I love Belize so much. I figured if I were going to die trying, it may as well be in Paradise. I didn't have to die. I spent some time with Fred and his assistant Fran at the end of the dock learning skills and within ten minutes of getting wet, I was no longer terrified. But, the real joy of the experience came, naturally, in the first dive. Before I had time to think about terror, claustrophobia, or where my next breath was coming from, Fred was pointing out the critters, the coral formations, the odd patterns on the sandy bottom. Whatever looked fascinating. I couldn't stand to do anything but pay attention. New information and wonderful images were hitting my brain faster than I had time to absorb them all. Fred is a master of distraction but safe distraction. He was right with me all the way, pointing, praising, gently testing at just the moment when my confidence was high. . . . The accommodations, food, company (when I wasn't too tired to notice) were the best I've had in Belize. Bonnie Gordon, Miami, FL.

St. George's Lodge, July, 1995. "A great dive resort, with comfortable accommodations, terrific home-cooked meals (served family style), a great owner and dive operator in Fred Good, and easy access to wonderful diving off the barrier reef in Belize. The weather in July is variable, and this affected visibility at times; but Fred Good is a genius at finding good spots to dive, so our diving was never adversely affected by the weather. . . . Fred is terrific in working with different levels of divers: the more advanced divers in our group had great freedom to plan and execute their own dives, while novice divers were appropriately pampered to allow them to improve their skills. . . . Fred knows the reef like the back of his hand, so we saw everything gorgeous coral, marvelous cuts and caverns in the reef, and an enormous array of marine life, from dolphins, sharks, large grouper, jewfish and tarpons to anemone shrimp. . . . One of the best things about St. George's is that it provides Nitrox diving - this allowed us to plan long dives (starting at 120 feet), and it ensured that we never felt exhausted at the end of a day of diving. . . . I have never had a better week of diving. St. George's Lodge is a splendid haven for people who want to spend time focused strictly on good diving, in a setting made notable by a warm and gracious staff, excellent food, comfortable accommodations, peaceful environment, and terrific diving." Harry T. Edwards, Washington, DC

Spanish Lookout Caye

Spanish Bay Resort, March 1995. "A 25 minute boat ride from Belize City over calm water. Opened in 1991, it has changed little. A Belizian owned and operated facility with ten roomy cabins on stilts over the water. The connecting boardwalk leads to the dining/bar area that is next to their small mangrove island. Food is excellent and lots of it - 'what would you like to have for (you name the meal)?' - typical of the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff. As before, there were only two divers so we had the reefs to ourselves. They are pristine with an abundance of fish life, good visibility and some incredibly beautiful sites. New ones are being established every day. There are a few small mangrove islands nearby and a couple of one-palm sand dunes on the horizon. Lots of interest for snorkelers and birders, too, but otherwise, definitely a place to relax, watch the sun come up or go down and just mellow out. A terrific bargain." Walter Brenner, Wayne, PA

Southwater Caye

Blue Marlin, March, 1995. "Excellent diving conditions and service. Somewhat expensive. Excellent trip/critters to Glover's Reef. Barrier reef system is starting to be over fished by commercial fisherman, can be seen over a period of my six years going to Belize." Art Sondbery, Lewes, DE

The Living Reef, May 1995. "Good. Divemaster Tony Reed would definitely recommend. Only two of us on boat. 80­90 foot vis." Mark Geiger, LA, CA

Copyright 1996 by DSDL, Inc., publishers of Undercurrent. All rights reserved. No portions of this report may be reproduced in any way, including photocopying and electronic data storage, without prior written permission from the publisher. For more information, contact DSDL, Inc., P.O. Box 1658, Sausalito, CA 94966.