Diving in Turneffe Atoll

Explore 24 dive sites in Turneffe Atoll, Belize. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Turneffe Atoll

The warmest water temperatures in Turneffe Atoll occur in January, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
  • February: 27.4°C (air: 25.7°C)
  • March: 27.4°C (air: 26.5°C)
  • April: 27.4°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • May: 27.4°C (air: 28.1°C)
  • June: 27.4°C (air: 28.4°C)
  • July: 27.4°C (air: 28.4°C)
  • August: 27.4°C (air: 28.4°C)
  • September: 27.4°C (air: 28.4°C)
  • October: 27.4°C (air: 27.9°C)
  • November: 27.4°C (air: 26.7°C)
  • December: 27.4°C (air: 26.0°C)

Marine Life in Turneffe Atoll

Home to 383 recorded species including 318 reef fish, 27 hard corals, 14 sharks & rays, 6 whales & dolphins, 5 other, 2 jellyfish.

Recommended Packing List for Turneffe Atoll

Based on average water temperature of 27.4°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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 Turneffe Atoll

  • 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 Turneffe Atoll - Nearest Airports

  • Sir Barry Bowen Municipal Airport (TZA), Belize City - 30 km away, approx 48 min travel time
  • Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), Belize City - 42 km away, approx 60 min travel time
  • Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB), Coxen Hole - 194 km away, approx 227 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres