Half Moon Wall - Lighthouse Reef

Half Moon Wall, over in Lighthouse Reef, is one of our absolute favourites. It’s got that classic Belizean wall vibe, but with a few twists that just make it sing. We usually drop in where the reef crest is just a few metres down, then drift along as the wall opens up beneath us, often to depths we don't bother tracking – it just keeps going. The corals here are fantastic, especially the big colonies of blushing star coral and massive starlets that really catch the light. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of barberfish zipping around, and we’ve often spotted blackcheek and dusky blennies popping their heads out of tiny crevices. Keep an eye out for trumpetfish mimicking the gorgonians, and if you’re lucky, a well-camouflaged spitlure frogfish. The current can be decent here, usually a gentle push that makes for an easy drift. We prefer it in the mornings before the sun gets too high, the light filtering down the wall is just magic then. It’s a site that rewards slow exploration, peering into every nook and cranny.

Location: Lighthouse Reef, Belize, Central America
Coordinates: 17.208286, -87.535820
Type: wall

Marine Protected Area: Halfmoon Caye

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

Nearest Dive Centres to Half Moon Wall

Itza Resort - PADI

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.

Notable Species

Redear Herring (Harengula humeralis) - Reef Fish
Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Thin leaf lettuce coral (Agaricia tenuifolia) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
Fray (Jenkinsia lamprotaenia) - Reef Fish
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Kwab (Sparisoma radians) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Half Moon Wall

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