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Esmeralda Canyon

Esmeralda Canyon really stands out from the other sites around Ambergris Caye, and it’s a site we always try to hit. Descending into what feels like a submerged maze, you weave through these incredible coral slot canyons. It’s a bit like swimming through a coral library, with walls of mustard hill coral, ridged cactus coral, and massive starlets towering above you. Our favourite part is navigating the tight turns, sometimes so narrow you can almost touch both sides, then suddenly opening into a sun-drenched sandy patch where a nurse shark might be resting. We usually spot a few grey snapper cruising the channels, and keep an eye out for yellowline gobies darting around the smooth flower coral. Visibility here typically holds at a solid 20 metres, making the sunbeams that penetrate the canyons particularly striking. It’s a pretty chill dive, maxing out at 21 metres, so it’s great for anyone comfortable with some close coral navigation. Just watch your buoyancy; those coral walls are ancient and we want them to stay that way.