Mata Canyons - Ambergris Caye
Mata Canyons lives up to its name, featuring dramatic cuts and swim-throughs in the reef structure just off Ambergris Caye. You'll navigate through these channels, often encountering nurse sharks resting in the sandy bottoms or green turtles gliding overhead. It's a fun site for divers who enjoy exploring unique topography and isn't usually too challenging, making it a good pick for those comfortable with some mild current.
- Location
- Ambergris Caye, Belize, Central America
- Coordinates
- 17.960000, -87.890000
Marine Protected Area: Hol Chan
Best Time to Dive in Ambergris Caye
The warmest water temperatures in Ambergris Caye occur in September, averaging 30.3°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 26.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.9°C
- February: 26.8°C
- March: 27.2°C
- April: 28.0°C
- May: 29.1°C
- June: 29.5°C
- July: 29.7°C
- August: 30.1°C
- September: 30.3°C
- October: 29.9°C
- November: 28.8°C
- December: 27.9°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Ambergris Caye
- Amigo s Wreck - 15-30m (wreck)
- Basil Jones Canyons - shallow
- Belize Diving: The Highlight of the Caribbean
- Boca Chica Canyons
- Boca Ciega - 45-100+ feet
- Buena Vista Canyons
- Caroba canyons
- Catalan Rocks
- Caye Caulker Marine Reserve (reef)
- Christ of the abyss - 10-20m (reef)
- Coral Garden (reef)
- Cypress Canyon (wreck)
- Cypress Canyons (reef)
- Cypress Garden - shallow to 100+ feet (reef)
- Daradanellos Cut
Nearest Dive Centres to Mata Canyons
Marine Life in Ambergris Caye
Home to 193 recorded species including 156 reef fish, 19 hard corals, 7 other, 3 sharks & rays, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 jellyfish.
Notable Species
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Redear Herring (Harengula humeralis) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Thin leaf lettuce coral (Agaricia tenuifolia) - Hard Corals
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Mata Canyons
Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C, currents 5 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories