Sometimes you want to spend your holiday flopped on the beach. Sometimes you want to get fired up with adrenaline and spend your holiday adventuring. Whilst Belize offers both, if you’re looking to rev up your water activities, then this is for you. 

Belize is home to the second largest Barrier Reef, which stretches 185 miles along the coastline. This reef is the perfect playground for the underwater adventure lovers. Diving and snorkelling, sailing and kayaking, kitesurfing and parasailing; many of Belize’s biggest thrills can be found under and on the water. Here are some of our favourite aquatic adventures to get the heart-rate up. 

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

Located within our reef, is one of the most iconic attractions of Belize – the Blue Hole Natural Monument. Visible from space, this perfectly circular chasm of deep blue measures 1,000 feet across and is more than 400 feet deep. This geological wonder is on every diver’s bucket list. Diving down under, divers will see giant stalactites, dripstone sheets and limestone columns surrounded by reef sharks and tropical fish. 

In addition to the Blue Hole, Belize is a diver’s paradise. Other divine dive spots include Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef and Glovers Reef.  For those that don’t have a dive certification, snorkelling is another great way to immerse yourself in underwater life.  And as Belize is the perfect place for this with its shallow reefs, crystal clear waters and abundant marine wildlife. For the brave, visit Shark & Sting Ray Alley, a snorkel hotspot with friendly reef sharks. 

Explore more top spots for diving and snorkeling here. 

Water Sports 

For those that prefer to keep their heads above water, the waters of Belize are like an adventurers paradise. Just off the islands, you can spend your day enjoying the sea at a slower pace either paddling boarding or kayaking. The crystal clear waters mean you can at times see the sandy floor bottom and fishes that call these waters home. For those that seek a bit more speed, there is kitesurfing, jet skiing and an array of other motorized motor sports. You can even take to the sky and see the sea from above parasailing. 

Explore more water-based adventures here. 

Fishing 

With a unique seascape of deep-sea drops to mixed flats and lagoons, Belize is a great destination for sport fishing! Fishing trips are available for any level, from first time fishermen to avid sea men. These include catch & release, fly fishing, deep sea fishing, spearfishing and inner reef drop fishing. Thinking of planning a fishing trip?

Check out our full guide here.  

Photo courtesy Ray Caye

Rounding up our list of aquatic adventures, is one for those that would love to be on the water all day. Try a sailing holiday with Xsite Sailing and spend each and every day swimming, snorkelling, fishing and enjoying all the sea has to offer. Choose to visit more bustling islands like Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye or head down South and island hop your way around tiny isolated islands whilst barely seeing another boat.  

Sail away with our full guide to this adventure here. 

Belize has so many water activities to offer for the marine-curious travellers. The added bonus? It is also incredibly laid-back and offers a beautiful setting to just relax. So, if adventure with a bit of lounging on the beach  sounds like your ideal vacation, then Belize is for you.