Lighthouse Reef, Belize
    Zone 2

    Long Caye Ridge

    Best months: Oct–Jan

    Protected Area

    Zone 2

    Why dive here

    With 213+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, eagle rays, nurse sharks and sea turtles - Long Caye Ridge offers some of Lighthouse Reef's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.

    Best timeOct–Jan
    WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit
    Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Eagle Rays, Nurse Sharks and Sea Turtles · 213+ species recorded
    Water27-30°C · warmest August, September, October
    CharacterReef dive
    StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

    Long Caye Ridge is one of those spots in Lighthouse Reef where we always feel like we’re seeing something new, even after a dozen dives. It’s a shallow drift, usually, with a current that nudges you gently along a sloping wall, topping out around 19 metres. Our favourite way to dive it is to drop in just south of the main ridge and let the water carry us north. You'll float over brain corals the size of small cars, their convoluted surfaces a mosaic of colour. Look closely in the nooks and crannies – we’ve often spotted Roughhead Triplefins perched on the coral heads, tiny but with so much character. Schools of Schoolmasters hang in the blue, sometimes so thick they form shimmering tunnels. We love finding the Mottled Jawfish here, poking their heads out of sandy patches, often with a clutch of eggs in their mouths. Keep an eye out for turtles munching on the turtlegrass beds near the shallower parts of the ridge. The whole dive has a peaceful, unhurried feel. It’s ideal for photographers or anyone who likes to take their time and really observe the smaller stuff.

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    Conditions

    Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Long Caye Ridge

    Long Caye Ridge Ocean Conditions

    Monthly averages for Long Caye Ridge, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (17.22, -87.61) (6km away)

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    October Averages

    Sea Temperature

    30°C

    86°F · Range: 29.1–31.7°C

    Current Speed

    11.66 cm/s

    Direction: NW (301°)

    Chlorophyll-a

    0.074 mg/m³

    Very clear (oligotrophic)

    Salinity

    35.96 PSU

    Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)

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