Reef Explorers
ENFR
Menu
DestinationsDive sitesWhen to goMarine lifeLearn to dive
World mapHidden gemsLevel upDiving glossaryFind my dive trip
Aerial view of the Great Blue Hole, Belize

Belize

8 documented dive sites, 2 of them for Open Water divers. Known for whale sharks, blacktip shark and caribbean reef sharks.

Best months
Mar–Jun
Water
26–29 °C
Levels
Open Water, Advanced, Experienced

Photo: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

  • Best
  • Good
  • Possible
  • Closed
  • Not documented yet

Belize in October

Possible
Sea
30 °C
at the surface
Air
29 °C
27 °C at night
Rain
230 mm
one of the wettest months
Wind
19 km/h
on average

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind) and 2023–2025 (sea), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Year-round destination. Best Mar–Jun (liveaboard.com); Apr–Jun peak (dive-the-world); dry season Dec–May. Official hurricane season runs 1 Jun–30 Nov, historically worst Aug–Oct (also the wet season), so Aug–Oct is shown as possible; Jul and Nov are shown as good (rainy/hurricane season but outside the historic peak). June is shown as best because both dive sources name it a best month and it is whale-shark season, despite being the first month of hurricane season.

Source: liveaboard.com

Dive sites in Belize

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m2 sites

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m5 sites

For experienced divers

usual dive down to 40 m1 site

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

SpeciesJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Whale sharksSource: dive-the-world.com
SnappersSource: travelbelize.org
TrevallySource: dive-the-world.com
  • Peak season
  • Seen

Whale sharks: Mar–Jun. Snappers: Mar–Jun. Trevally: May–Jul

Also reported here, season not documented yet:

  • Blacktip shark
  • Caribbean reef sharks
  • Nurse sharks
  • Turtles
  • Eagle rays
  • Stingrays
  • Barracuda
  • Garden eels
  • Moray eels
  • Manta rays
  • Bull sharks
  • Hammerhead sharks
  • Dolphins
  • Manatee
  • Groupers
  • Whitespotted toadfish
  • Crocodiles

Where is Belize?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Ambergris Caye (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

Belize: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Belize?
The best months to dive Belize are Mar–Jun. Year-round destination. Best Mar–Jun (liveaboard.com); Apr–Jun peak (dive-the-world); dry season Dec–May. Official hurricane season runs 1 Jun–30 Nov, historically worst Aug–Oct (also the wet season), so Aug–Oct is shown as possible; Jul and Nov are shown as good (rainy/hurricane season but outside the historic peak). June is shown as best because both dive sources name it a best month and it is whale-shark season, despite being the first month of hurricane season.
Is Belize good for beginner divers?
Yes, partly: 2 of the 8 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including South Channel and Sayonara Wreck. The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in Belize?
The water is usually between 26 °C and 29 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in Belize?
Divers regularly see whale sharks (Mar–Jun), snappers (Mar–Jun), blacktip shark, caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks and turtles.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

All destinations

Your next dive is somewhere out there.

Find my next dive trip
Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash
Photo credits