Belize by Hawn Diver

Belize, Wave Dancer, 1999
Author: Hawn Diver

Aloha Everyone:
Thought it was about time I contributed to the message board. Anyway, just got back from a week aboard the Wave Dancer in Belize. Arrived early Saturday despite a 5 hour lay over in IAH (Houston). Total flight time was 9 1/2 hours from Hawaii (HNL). East bound travel always "screws up" my body clock so, after 6 Belikan's, I was feeling no pain & was assured a good night sleep.
Continental Airlines had lost my luggage but, said they would pay for the gear rental if my luggage could not be found. Surprisingly, a boat taxi shuttled my gear to our dive site on Turneffe Atoll on the 2nd day. Gear intact, I was ready for a week of blowing bubbles.
The Wave Dancer is Peter's "work horse". She is normally booked at least a year in advanced and, I was very fortunate that someone had cancelled 3 weeks prior. The vessel shows her age but, is still maintained in good working order. There was nothing broken & entire ship was clean & well maintained.
As usual, meals & service was superb! We were pampered & catered to as if on a 4 star land based dive resort. Meals were savory & plentiful.
The Diving....one word, VISIBILITY! Despite being Hurricane season, I was not expecting average visibility in the 50-75ft range. With the exception of 7 dive sites on the windward side, the remaining dives(19)were done on the leeward side. Don't really know, but suspect plankton, alage bloom. I was hoping with all the "muck" we may have an encounters with Manta's or even a Whale Shark but, to no avail. I did have brief encounters with eagle rays & saw dolphins & nurse sharks in the distant. I did all the dives (26) knowing that you can not anticipate what you'd might see or encounter. The Blue Hole was simular to stingray city & jellyfish lake...Been there, done that. It was an interesting dive but, wouldn't do it again. Favorite dive sites for me were Aquarium & Que Brada. Walls were thick with marine life. Saw Gorgonians 8-10ft in size. Sponges encrusted with nudis, cleaning shrimps & blennies.
Having dove Palau, Turks & Caicos, Cayman Islands on liveaboards, I'd still do Belize again! The reefs & walls have potential for world class diving. I just wouldn't do it in summer. From what I understand, visibility exceeds 100ft from Jan-May but, H20 temps drop to mid to upper 70's. H20 temps were a toasty 85 & I was fine alternating between my diveskin & 2/1 shorty.
Stay wet, & tiny bubbles
Aloha,
Hawn Diver