SFdivers
New
Hello,
I recently found SB and have been busily trying to read up on posts regarding the Bay Islands and Belize. My wife and I are in the midst of planning a ~ 2 week dive trip to Honduras and/or Belize and the more we read the more we realize we can't do it all.
Our dream is to see a whale shark(s), so we're trying to plan a trip that gives us a the best shot at seeing one (or several! so long as we're talking about dreams I can be greedy, right?). At the same time we realize there is a very decent chance we won't see any whale sharks on this trip, so we'd like to fill it with some solid diving at prices that won't blow us out of the water.
With that in mind, I'd like to pose a few questions to those fortunate divers who have had experience in both the Bay Islands and Belize and can compare and contrast their experiences in each and hopefully be so kind as to point us in the right direction of some diving highlights. Any insights the group can lend would be greatly appreciated! Please feel free to chime in on any/all of the following:
1. Our timing is a little flexible, but we probably can't leave for our trip until around May 18th or so. I've also read that it's best to look for Whale Sharks in the 10 days (after?) the full moon. Supposedly the full moons in May and June are May 9 and June 7. So that means we'd probably be too late for the full moon whale shark period in May. But then I've also read that it gets more rainy/choppy/lower visibility around the beginning of June. Do you think our chances of catching a whale shark are much better in the days following June 7 or would we be better off going for better dive conditions in late May and hoping we see a whale shark?
2. I've read the best places to seek whale sharks in the region are around Utila and the Gladden Spit. Not wanting to touch off a regional argument here, but do any of you have thoughts as to where the whale sharks may be more prevalent in late May - mid June?
My wife and I are most motivated by seeing sea life rather than rock formations, wrecks, caves or other technical dives. We were blown away by the biodiversity and number of large fish, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, etc. we saw in Rangiroa,
French Polynesia. Though the Blue Hole intrigues us, we're not sure we want to spring the extra $$$ to get out there this trip...we'd rather be in areas with rich reef life and lots of fishies. With that in mind -
3. In Belize we are considering trying a slightly less-touristed dive area like staying out on the Glover's Reef atoll or the Sapodilla Cayes. Plus that would keep us more towards the south and closer to whale sharks at the Gladden Split (or Honduras) Hoping that there is lots to see there and not too crowded? Or do you all think we'd really be missing out if we didn't make it up to Caye Caulker / Hol Chan and the Turneffe and Lighthouse atolls?
4. Any recommended dive operators (good equipment to rent, deep knowledge about dive sites, not too crowded, and fairly priced) to go after whale sharks at the Gladden Split or around Utila?
4. In Honduras, how would you characterize the differences in what you see diving Roatan or Utila? Are they significant?
We definitely would want to spend some time on Utila because of its whale shark reputation. The dolphin dive at Anthony's Key on Roatan also sounded pretty unique to us (and my wife loves dolphins) - I'm just wondering if there are significant differences otherwise which would mandate that we definitely need to spend time on both islands or whether the diving feel is relatively similar? I understand from what I've read that the topside feel of the Bay islands can be quite different.
We look forward to any comments / insights you can share!
Many thanks,
Noel
I recently found SB and have been busily trying to read up on posts regarding the Bay Islands and Belize. My wife and I are in the midst of planning a ~ 2 week dive trip to Honduras and/or Belize and the more we read the more we realize we can't do it all.
Our dream is to see a whale shark(s), so we're trying to plan a trip that gives us a the best shot at seeing one (or several! so long as we're talking about dreams I can be greedy, right?). At the same time we realize there is a very decent chance we won't see any whale sharks on this trip, so we'd like to fill it with some solid diving at prices that won't blow us out of the water.
With that in mind, I'd like to pose a few questions to those fortunate divers who have had experience in both the Bay Islands and Belize and can compare and contrast their experiences in each and hopefully be so kind as to point us in the right direction of some diving highlights. Any insights the group can lend would be greatly appreciated! Please feel free to chime in on any/all of the following:
1. Our timing is a little flexible, but we probably can't leave for our trip until around May 18th or so. I've also read that it's best to look for Whale Sharks in the 10 days (after?) the full moon. Supposedly the full moons in May and June are May 9 and June 7. So that means we'd probably be too late for the full moon whale shark period in May. But then I've also read that it gets more rainy/choppy/lower visibility around the beginning of June. Do you think our chances of catching a whale shark are much better in the days following June 7 or would we be better off going for better dive conditions in late May and hoping we see a whale shark?
2. I've read the best places to seek whale sharks in the region are around Utila and the Gladden Spit. Not wanting to touch off a regional argument here, but do any of you have thoughts as to where the whale sharks may be more prevalent in late May - mid June?
My wife and I are most motivated by seeing sea life rather than rock formations, wrecks, caves or other technical dives. We were blown away by the biodiversity and number of large fish, sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins, etc. we saw in Rangiroa,
French Polynesia. Though the Blue Hole intrigues us, we're not sure we want to spring the extra $$$ to get out there this trip...we'd rather be in areas with rich reef life and lots of fishies. With that in mind -
3. In Belize we are considering trying a slightly less-touristed dive area like staying out on the Glover's Reef atoll or the Sapodilla Cayes. Plus that would keep us more towards the south and closer to whale sharks at the Gladden Split (or Honduras) Hoping that there is lots to see there and not too crowded? Or do you all think we'd really be missing out if we didn't make it up to Caye Caulker / Hol Chan and the Turneffe and Lighthouse atolls?
4. Any recommended dive operators (good equipment to rent, deep knowledge about dive sites, not too crowded, and fairly priced) to go after whale sharks at the Gladden Split or around Utila?
4. In Honduras, how would you characterize the differences in what you see diving Roatan or Utila? Are they significant?
We definitely would want to spend some time on Utila because of its whale shark reputation. The dolphin dive at Anthony's Key on Roatan also sounded pretty unique to us (and my wife loves dolphins) - I'm just wondering if there are significant differences otherwise which would mandate that we definitely need to spend time on both islands or whether the diving feel is relatively similar? I understand from what I've read that the topside feel of the Bay islands can be quite different.
We look forward to any comments / insights you can share!
Many thanks,
Noel
on :sblogo: you'll have good advice on many of your questions, and there sure were a lot of them!
