Diving in Belize — October 2017
A convergence of several things led us to head south over the Columbus (Leif Erikson) Day long weekend:
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The plane was plenty small; we took up the whole back section. Really, the trip was to finish up Robert's Open Water Certification. Sarah and I were just along for moral support. We all appreciated the pilot dropping us off at the terminal; apparently the palms don't mind the occasional plane wing. |
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You can tell it was grueling trip :) Actually, it was very smooth, but the pool was very inviting. As was the ocean... You have to look really closely to see Sarah is being followed in the photo below. (You may need to look at the big version of the picture.) |
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| Ramon's treated us very well. Their restaurant is quite tasty; they have a huge menu of blended fruit drinks, and our cabin had AC — it was tropically warm. |
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After dinner, we got to bed pretty early. Actually, we stayed mostly on East Coast time; that made an early breakfast before the dive boats easy. And we were pretty tired after diving, so tended to get to bed early. Our first dive day, Robert had to finish he required skills and Sarah and were able to join a different group on the same boat. The boat trips tended to be about 6 minutes ("12 Belizian minutes"). That's Robert and two other divers-in-training behind Sarah below. |
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| There were a lot of fish. Sarah even found a school of yellow-tailed snapper to join. |
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| After that first dive (to Hol Chan), the boat took us over to Shark and Stingray Alley. Apparently this is the spot fishermen clean their fish (and dive boats chum to attract the nurse sharks and rays). |
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We spent a relaxing afternoon back at Ramon's once the sharks got bored and swam off to the next boat. Ramon's was great for just hanging out... The next day, Robert had a couple more dive skills to complete and then some paperwork. |
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| Of course that meant more diving, and, it turns out, more nurse sharks. That's Sarah flying over and then swimming next to one of the many nurse sharks around Mosquito Coast Reef. |
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While Sarah and I were checking out the sharks, Robert was working on his underway compass skill (and checking out the sharks). After about an hour surface interval back at Ramon's (just enough time for a smoothie), we headed to Happy Hour Canyons. That was Robert's final check out dive. When we got back he became the family's newest Certified Diver: junior open water, until he turns 15. That's Robert and his great instructor, Ernest on the left.
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| We celebrated with some more snorkeling with Flaubotaman, the Salmon River lobster. |
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| With our newly certified diver, we took two more dives on our last full day in Belize: Mermaid's Lair and Cypress Canyon. |
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| Mermaid's Lair was pretty popular, likely because, again, nurse sharks :) |
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| With that, our short vacation was winding down. The next day we headed back to the airport (200 yards from Ramon's; but all the planes are small and you really don't notice them at all). Sarah noticed this combination at the airport: The hyperbaric chamber next to Captain Shark's bar. I guess that gives your dive buddies a place to hang out if you suffer decompression sickness. |
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Same small plane (this time Robert and I were up front — no secure cockpit door needed). Same beautiful scenery. A few last photos before getting on the jet to take us back home. |
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| If you get the chance, and like to dive, Belize, Ambergris Cay and Ramon's get high praise from us. |
Vacation notes:
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