Xcalak
Protected Area
Bacalar Chico
Why dive here
With 192+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, lemon sharks, nurse sharks and sea turtles - Xcalak offers some of Ambergris Caye's richest diving. Water ranges 27-31°C, warmest August, September, October.
Xcalak, a gentle drift dive just off Ambergris Caye, is a solid choice for shaking off the travel dust or for newer divers. The reef here tops out around 19 meters, an easy depth to manage while you take in the scenery. We often see decent numbers of schooling snapper and grunts, and it's a good spot to patiently look for macro life tucked into the coral formations. While not the flashiest site in Belize, it's a consistently pleasant dive, a nice, easy entry back into the rhythm of the ocean.
Typical Xcalak Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 19m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Nearest Dive Centres to Xcalak
Dive shops near Xcalak
White Sands Dive Shop
Coral Divers Limited
Whiet Sands Dive Shop
Tuff E Nuff Tours & Dive Center
Sea Star Belize
Island Divers
Reviews for Xcalak
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Xcalak
Xcalak Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Xcalak, 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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