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Scuba Forum / Scuba Locations / February 2005Belize - Ambergris Caye vs Atolls??
Considering a Belize trip in May. Have heard that Atolls are the way to go, but costs big $$. Can anyone comment on Ambergris Caye diving compared to atolls? Or, do dive boats from Ambergris Caye go to the atoll sites? If so, how long are the boat rides? Thanx in advance. > Considering a Belize trip in May. Have heard that Atolls are the way to go, > but costs big $$. I haven't found that they cost big dollars over and above what you would end up paying for diving, acco and meals on Ambergris Caye. >Can anyone comment on Ambergris Caye diving compared to > atolls? At length. What is it you want to hear? Do you have significant dive experience in the Caribbean? The diving off of Ambergris Caye can be good and sometimes great, but it isn't world class like that out at the Atolls. In San Pedro, there are lots of restaurants, bars and clubs and as little or as much activity, as you'd like. >Or, do dive boats from Ambergris Caye go to the atoll sites? If > so, how long are the boat rides? You can do day trips to the Atolls, but if you do, I seriously recommend that you go with Amigos del Mar in their Pro48. Cost wise, for example, the Blue Hole Day trip is around $185. That gets you there early in the am to dive the Hole, with two awesome followup reef/wall dives, lunch at Halfmoon Caye (as beautiful a little island you will ever see anywhere), with panty-rippers and/or beer served on the trip back to San Pedro. Quite a wonderful way to spend a day, though pricey. The trip takes approx. 2 hours there and again on the way back. >Thanx in advance. > You can do day trips to the Atolls, but if you do, I seriously recommend > that you go with Amigos del Mar in their Pro48. Cost wise, for example, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > hours > there and again on the way back. You can do a 3-tank dive with a superb dive operator like Ed Robinson's in Maui for only $160, which includes a 130' dive on the back wall of Molokini as well as lunch. No beer, though. Is the high cost of the dive due to the free beer or is Belize just much more expensive than Maui? And don't give me some rationale about the 2-hour trip. Our local boats do 2-3 hour each way trips for $80-110, again including lunch in many cases. > > You can do day trips to the Atolls, but if you do, I seriously recommend > > that you go with Amigos del Mar in their Pro48. Cost wise, for example, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Maui for only $160, which includes a 130' dive on the back wall of Molokini > as well as lunch. No beer, though. That's outrageous!! > Is the high cost of the dive due to the > free beer or is Belize just much more expensive than Maui? > > And don't give me some rationale about the 2-hour trip. Our local boats do > 2-3 hour each way trips for $80-110, again including lunch in many cases. Check the price of gas in Belize vs the price of gas in CA and Hawaii. >> 2-3 hour each way trips for $80-110, again including lunch in many cases. > > Check the price of gas in Belize vs the price of gas in CA and Hawaii. It looks to be about $3.25 a gallon. In CA it's a little over $2.00 a gallon. Hawaii costs just a bit more than CA. But gas is hardly the dive boat's only price concern. I'd wager that it costs a bit more for divemasters and a captain in Hawaii, as well as the lunch, sodas, insurance, and the rest. In Maui, they don't even dock their boats since slip rentals are about $130K a year. Nope. I think one of your Amigos is getting very, very rich off of these Blue Hole dives. Maybe I'll move out there and start offering Blue Hole dives for only $175 and I'll throw in a continental breakfast as well. > >> 2-3 hour each way trips for $80-110, again including lunch in many cases. > > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Blue Hole dives. Maybe I'll move out there and start offering Blue Hole > dives for only $175 and I'll throw in a continental breakfast as well. It already comes with a continental breakfast, but I believe you would do well, as long as you were using as good a boat. How many divemasters go on the Hawaii boat? The Amigos boat never has less than 3 not including the captain. >> Nope. I think one of your Amigos is getting very, very rich off of these >> Blue Hole dives. Maybe I'll move out there and start offering Blue Hole >> dives for only $175 and I'll throw in a continental breakfast as well. > > It already comes with a continental breakfast, but I believe you would do > well, as long as you were using as good a boat. I make better coffee and maybe I'll even throw in some of the Sausage King's bacon. That's a great combination before a deep dive. > How many divemasters go on the Hawaii boat? The Amigos boat never has > less > than 3 not including the captain. When I've gone there were always 2-3 DMs escorting groups of 2-4 divers, plus a captain. The DMs even speak English. Amy, my fave, used to teach 5th grade so she's great at dealing with the likes of me. I saw Kim take a lionfish hit and still deliver the next dive briefing with barely a rattle in her voice. Talk about dedication. > >> 2-3 hour each way trips for $80-110, again including lunch in many cases. > > > > Check the price of gas in Belize vs the price of gas in CA and Hawaii. > > It looks to be about $3.25 a gallon. In CA it's a little over $2.00 a > gallon. Hawaii costs just a bit more than CA. So a third as much again . . .hmm, lessee, my math ain't that great, I'll grant you. So your Maui 3 tank day, which doesn't go as far, is $160 vs $185 to the Blue Hole. $2 divided by $3.25 is 62.5% $160 divided by $185 is 82.5%. Ergo, Maui is far more less value for the money. Your CA boats seem to be more in line at 59%, though there's some serious question as to whether or not the lunch is as good or served on as beautiful an island. OTOH, you tell me the CA boats have bunks and you can catch some zz's on the way out and back. Amigos boat is very comfy and clean but no place for a nap. > But gas is hardly the dive boat's only price concern. I'd wager that it > costs a bit more for divemasters and a captain in Hawaii, as well as the > lunch, sodas, insurance, and the rest. In Maui, they don't even dock their > boats since slip rentals are about $130K a year. Even less value then. Amigos has their own dock. (snip) > Your CA boats > seem to be more in line at 59%, though there's some serious question as to > whether or not the lunch is as good or served on as beautiful an island. Actually many of the CA boats do good food as they actually have galleys on board and not just some sandwiches that were made the night before. I've had spaghetti, meatloaf, fajitas, burgers, pizza, even some ceviche made from a freshly killed halibut. The Hawaii boats usually serve sandwiches that were made the night before, though they usually throw in some awesome pineapple. > OTOH, you tell me the CA boats have bunks and you can catch some zz's on > the > way out and back. Amigos boat is very comfy and clean but no place for a > nap. And what's the price of some good sleep? I know you don't want to answer that. Of course the water is a bit cooler here, practically to the point that I demand they pay me to dive in it, but that's beside the point. > Even less value then. Amigos has their own dock. At least until the next hurricane. > > Your CA boats > > seem to be more in line at 59%, though there's some serious question as to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > that were made the night before, though they usually throw in some awesome > pineapple. Lunch is yummy chicken, delicious potato salad, veggies, buns and fruit. Lots of selection of various drinks (non-alcoholic until dives are done). Usually Mars bars for after dive snack, always coconut and some scrumptious baked goods. Lots of cold water and other drinks available. > > OTOH, you tell me the CA boats have bunks and you can catch some zz's on > > the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > And what's the price of some good sleep? I know you don't want to answer > that. It's obviously more money than I'll ever have. Good sleep, what the hell is that and how do I get some? > Of course the water is a bit cooler here, practically to the point that I > demand they pay me to dive in it, but that's beside the point. :^) > > Even less value then. Amigos has their own dock. > > At least until the next hurricane. They always rebuild as soon as possible and every time they rebuild, the dock and the shop are better than before. > Considering a Belize trip in May. Have heard that Atolls are the way to > go, > but costs big $$. Can anyone comment on Ambergris Caye diving compared to > atolls? Or, do dive boats from Ambergris Caye go to the atoll sites? If > so, how long are the boat rides? Thanx in advance. I've only been to Belize once and I stayed at Crown Colony Resort in St George's Caye. Now, this is a very small inland indeed and there's nothing else to do but dive, eat and sleep. The only other resort in the island is St George's Lodge, which is a bit nicer but more expensive. The prices mentioned in the website below for Crown Colony includes food. What they did when I was there was they would have these 2 female cooks come in very early in the morning and cook the meals for the divers. They would take boat back to Belize City in the evening after supper. Check out the website below and see if they are what you consider to be expensive. http://www.global-travel.co.uk/cottage.htm http://www.scubavoyages.com/st_georges_diving_lodge.html If it is your cup of tea, IMHO the best way to dive Belize is on a liveaboard. That way, you can experience the diversity of diving that Belize has to offer. FWIW, I found the blue hole dive to be a complete yawner. > Considering a Belize trip in May. Have heard that Atolls are the way to > go, > but costs big $$. Can anyone comment on Ambergris Caye diving compared to > atolls? Or, do dive boats from Ambergris Caye go to the atoll sites? If > so, how long are the boat rides? Thanx in advance. > If it is your cup of tea, IMHO the best way to dive Belize is on a > liveaboard. That way, you can experience the diversity of diving that Belize > has to offer. > > FWIW, I found the blue hole dive to be a complete yawner. I'm very sorry to hear that. I've never been in there without a bunch of sharks up close and personal. >Considering a Belize trip in May. Have heard that Atolls are the way to go, >but costs big $$. Can anyone comment on Ambergris Caye diving compared to >atolls? Or, do dive boats from Ambergris Caye go to the atoll sites? If >so, how long are the boat rides? Thanx in advance. I'd advise going to a different destination over diving local to San Pedro, if diving is the primary reason for the trip. It's only fair, and Belize is certainly one of the more expensive locations in Central America, thanks in large part to its geographic isolation. The very long day I spent out to Lighthouse Reef suggests the Atolls are pretty decent, but compared to every else? Not sure. At least not overfished like the San Pedro waters.  SignatureJason O'Rourke www.jor.com love San Pedro but let's be honest..the diving sucks...over fished, poor ecological care of the reef.. RM > love San Pedro but let's be honest..the diving sucks...over fished, poor > ecological care of the reef.. > RM I'm afraid I don't agree that the diving "sucks". I see fish on every dive and at certain sites you can see free swimming nurse sharks, turles, spotted eagle rays, large groupers and barracuda, moray eels, french angels, lots of parrots, toronados of jacks and various and sundry reef fish. I've never seen any particular ecological abuses of the reef either. Many of the sites are buoyed to avoid damage from anchors. There has been some reef damage from Hurricane Mitch but last time I was there, it was recovering nicely. And different sites, while all spur and groove reef formations, still offer up varied coral species. For example, the site called Pillar Corals has some fabulous formations giving the site its name. Cypress Gardens delivers up a "garden" of lovely soft corals and many splendid smaller reef fish. Schools of creole wrasse pass on most every dive. Just one example, Victoria Tunnels has a number of fun swim-throughs. Hol Chan, though a more shallow site, is within the protected marine park and there are many, many fish to be encountered there and in particular some extremely large and friendly grouper. > I'm afraid I don't agree that the diving "sucks". I see fish on every > dive I can see fish on every dive at our local Lake Perris. That certainly doesn't mean it doesn't suck. > > I'm afraid I don't agree that the diving "sucks". I see fish on every > > dive > > I can see fish on every dive at our local Lake Perris. That certainly > doesn't mean it doesn't suck. :^P Glad to see you back safe and sound, birthday boy. >> I can see fish on every dive at our local Lake Perris. That certainly >> doesn't mean it doesn't suck. > > :^P > > Glad to see you back safe and sound, birthday boy. Safe, but not sure how sound. A couple nights of Bourbon Street takes its toll on old farts like me. > >> I can see fish on every dive at our local Lake Perris. That certainly > >> doesn't mean it doesn't suck. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Safe, but not sure how sound. A couple nights of Bourbon Street takes its > toll on old farts like me. Trust me. It doesn't get any easier. > A couple nights of Bourbon Street takes its > toll on old farts like me. Yeah, it must suck to be in your mid 30's. SignatureSteve The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable belief that it was intended as a statement of fact. If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address. |
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