Belize & Great Blue Hole
Where we sail
Belize is located in the Caribbean Sea, south of Mexico. Guatemala borders to the south of the small country. Belize is known as an excellent sailing area in the trade winds, with world class diving and snorkeling sites as well as a good fishing area, with beautiful beaches and MAYA temple complexes.
The most famous town is probably SAN PEDRO on the island of Ambergris Cay, which is offshore from the mainland. We start the trip from the one island in the barrier reef that “MADONNA” sang about in the song “LA ISLA BONITA”.
The sailing trip takes us to the archipelago of over 400 islands and later to the second largest barrier reef in the world – the Mesoamerican Reef. In front of this lie 3 of the 5 atolls of the Northern Hemisphere … and crystal clear water.
We sail with Jonathan in untouched nature and SNORKEL and DIVE in UNIQUE PLACES, including the GREAT BLUE HOLE.
SAILING
With temperatures ranging from 26 to 29 degrees and easterly winds between 15 and 20 knots, sailing is always a pleasure. We sail daily distances of 10 to 30 miles on these cruises. Besides the sportive or pleasure sailing with wind & wave noise there is enough time for dinghy or land excursions as well as for DIVING and SNORKELING to YOUR HEART’S content.
DIVING / SNORKELING
We sail, dive and snorkel in the footsteps of JACQUES COUSTEAU, who explored the Blue Hole and the rich fauna between the more than 400 islands decades ago. He discovered over 500 different species of fish, including whale sharks but also manatees and 50 different hard coral species. It is estimated that over 90% of all species living in the Caribbean are found here. The islands are similar to those of the South Pacific, but Belize is easier to reach.
Extensive coral reefs, drop-offs, crystal clear waters, sandy beaches, underwater caves, pinnacles, … much exotic awaits us here.
OPTIONAL
Jonathan is equipped with a quiet, electric BAUER ATEM AIR COMPRESSOR, diving tanks, drinking water system, etc … (see https://www.jonathan1.net/die-abenteuer/tauchen/ and “A message in a bottle” No. 162 of November 2022). Advantage: No long journeys from the mainland by speed boat, no mass diving event – on Jonathan we dive in small groups adapted to the individual wishes and independent of land bases.
If necessary and possible, we are happy to accommodate individual date requests.
Possible excursions
Guatemala and Belize were part of MAYAN Indian Empire. Temples and ruins in both countries still bear witness to the glory days of this Indio culture (compare also Max Frisch, Homo Faber; see also the “A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE” issue 160 of August 2022).
PLANCENCIA and SAN PEDRO are ports of departure. The cult sites of the MAYA Indians of TIKAL – they were discovered only around 1976 are worth a trip – can be reached by plane.