South Water Caye Diving and Snorkeling

South Water Caye Dive Sites

Located about a 1 hour and 15 min boat ride to the northeast of Placencia, this reserve straddles the barrier reef for about a 7-mile stretch. The wall dives here are amongst the best in the country.

There are so many sites in this huge marine reserve, and along this long stretch of the barrier reef, that it definitely requires more than one visit to understand the scope of the area.

Some of the dive sites we frequently visit are:

Trick Ridge

This dive site features an incredible ridge along the top of a plunging wall, with a deep sand channel running parallel to the ridge. This area is known for its resident spotted eagle rays, as well as large southern stingrays and rough tail rays. On top of the ridge, you can expect to find an array of bright hard and soft corals infused with colorful reef fish. Both hawksbill and Loggerhead turtle frequent the area, so you will almost always see one on the dive.

Rosella’s Garden

This dive site got its namesake from a longtime resident of South Water Caye. You can expect encounters with nurse sharks and southern stingray in the sandy bottom between tow reef structures. Ranging from 45 -60 feet, you can also expect to see spotted eagle ray, both loggerhead and hawksbill turtles, as well as a wide variety of colorful tropical fish thriving around pristine coral structures.

The Abyss

This is quite an impressive wall dive. The wall begins at about 40 feet and has a sheer wall that plunges into the abyss. The visibility here often exceeds 100 plus feet. Sighings here may consist but not limited to colorful hard and soft corals, eagle rays, turtles, lobsters, and nurse sharks.