Diving in Lighthouse Reef

Explore 49 dive sites in Lighthouse Reef, Belize. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Lighthouse Reef

The warmest water temperatures in Lighthouse Reef occur in September, averaging 30.0°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.2°C
  • February: 27.1°C
  • March: 27.2°C
  • April: 27.8°C
  • May: 28.6°C
  • June: 29.2°C
  • July: 29.3°C
  • August: 29.7°C
  • September: 30.0°C
  • October: 29.9°C
  • November: 28.9°C
  • December: 28.0°C

Marine Life in Lighthouse Reef

Home to 216 recorded species including 175 reef fish, 20 hard corals, 9 other, 6 sharks & rays, 2 jellyfish, 2 sea urchins.

Dive Site Difficulty in Lighthouse Reef

Lighthouse Reef has 1 intermediate dive sites - suitable for experienced divers.

Recommended Packing List for Lighthouse Reef

Based on average water temperature of 28.6°C, currents 22 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

Marine Protected Areas in Lighthouse Reef

  • Halfmoon Caye - Natural Monument (IUCN Category II)
  • Hol Chan - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category II)
  • Laughing Bird Caye - National Park (IUCN Category II)
  • Bacalar Chico - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • South Water Caye - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Glover's Reef - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sapodilla Cayes - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Réseau de réserves du récif de la barrière du Belize - World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) (IUCN Category Not Applicable)
  • Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Port Honduras - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category IV)
  • Blue Hole - Natural Monument (IUCN Category III)
  • Caye Caulker - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category VI)
  • Corozal Bay - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • Swallow Caye - Wildlife Sanctuary (IUCN Category IV)
  • Emily or Caye Glory - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Gladden Spit - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Sandbore, Lighthouse Reef - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Caye Bokel, Turneffe Atolls - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • South Point, Lighthouse Reef - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Seal Cayes, Sapodilla Cayes - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rocky Point, Ambergris Caye - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Rise and Fall Bank, Sapodilla Cayes - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Northern Glover's Reef, Glover's Reef Atoll - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Nicholas Caye, Sapodilla Cayes - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • Dog Flea Caye, Turneffe Atolls - Spawning Aggregation Site Reserves (IUCN Category IV)
  • St. George's Caye Cemetery - Archaeological Reserve (IUCN Category VI)
  • Maugre Caye, Turneffe Atolls - Nassau Grouper & Species Protection (IUCN Category IV)
  • Northern Two Cayes, Lighthouse Reef - Nassau Grouper & Species Protection (IUCN Category IV)
  • Turneffe Atolls - Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Port Honduras - Specially Protected Area (Cartagena Convention) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Glover's Reef - Specially Protected Area (Cartagena Convention) (IUCN Category IV)
  • Hol Chan - Specially Protected Area (Cartagena Convention) (IUCN Category II)
  • Zone 1 - High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Zone 2 - High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Zone 3 - High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Zone 4 - High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Zone 5 - High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Zone 6 - High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Zone 7 - High Protection for Biodiversity Marine Reserve (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Lighthouse Reef - Nearest Airports

  • Caye Chapel Airport (CYC), Caye Chapel - 64 km away, approx 84 min travel time
  • Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), Belize City - 75 km away, approx 97 min travel time
  • Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB), Coxen Hole - 159 km away, approx 189 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres