Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Hol Chan,‘ little channel’ in Mayan, is the oldest Marine Reserve in Belize, and our final location. The sheer abundance of life here is a testament to effective management and well-enforced no-take zones. The Hol Chan Marine Education Center, opened in 2025 in San Pedro, is well worth a visit.
Ramon’ s Village Dives, the oldest dive shop in Belize, was our fantastic host for the day. The first dive saw us weaving in, out, through, and around the vibrant coral fingers and gullies with a starry-eyed balloon fish, Caribbean reef and nurse sharks, groupers, green turtle, and no less than three Caribbean red-tipped sea goddess nudibranchs.
Shark Ray Alley
Saving the best for last, Shark Ray Alley did not disappoint. Barracuda greeted us over a shallow seagrass bed with groupers, conch and a green turtle. As we swam through the shallow‘ alley’, schools of fish crowded the
Ramon’ s Village dive boat
coral sides, a needlefish school overhead. We spotted a couple of nurse sharks resting, an eagle ray cruised by, multiple smaller sting rays, and a couple of giant stingrays fed in clouds of silt. While max depth was 8.5m, this was my favourite dive and an excellent end to our tour of Belize.
Southern stingray on the sand
A great barracuda asserts itself
Nurse shark on the move
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