Paradise Canyons
Protected Area
Hol Chan
Why dive here
With 192+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, lemon sharks, nurse sharks and sea turtles - Paradise Canyons offers some of Ambergris Caye's richest cave diving. Water ranges 27-31°C, warmest August, September, October.
Paradise Canyons is one of those sites we always recommend to friends heading to Ambergris. It’s a series of deep coral fingers, running perpendicular to the shore. We’ve had some cracking dives here, cruising along the sandy channels between the canyons, then rising up over the coral walls themselves. The coral formations here are really something – big stands of mustard hill coral and smooth flower coral, creating these dramatic overhangs. You can often spot nurse sharks tucked away in the sandy bottom, and we’ve seen eagle rays glide past more than once. The sheer number of snapper and grunts schooling here can be incredible, sometimes so thick they almost obscure the reef in front of you. Our favourite trick is to find a spot with a slight current and just hang out, letting the fish come to us. Visibility averages a solid 20 metres, making it easy to appreciate the scale of the canyons. It's a relaxed dive, usually around 20 metres deep, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak in a classic Caribbean reef.
Safety Notes
Overhead environment - never enter without proper cave/cavern training, redundant equipment, and a guideline.
Nearest Dive Centres to Paradise Canyons
Dive shops near Paradise Canyons
Aqua Scuba Belize
Ambergris Divers Dive Shop
Ambergris Divers Dive Shop
Scuba School And Family Dive Center Belize
San Pedro Water Sports
Amigo's del Mar
Reviews for Paradise Canyons
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Paradise Canyons
Paradise Canyons Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Paradise Canyons, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (17.98, -87.92) (0km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
86°F · Range: 28.6–31.5°C
Current Speed
4 cm/s
Direction: N (0°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.045 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
35.42 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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