Caye Chapel Reef

Best months: Dec–Apr

Protected Area

Caye Caulker

Why dive here

With 378+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, dolphins, eagle rays and hammerhead sharks - Caye Chapel Reef offers some of Turneffe Atoll's richest reef diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.

Best timeDec–Apr

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Bull Sharks, Dolphins, Eagle Rays and Hammerhead Sharks · 378+ species recorded

Water27-30°C · warmest August, September, October

CharacterReef dive · max 30-120 feet

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

Caye Chapel Reef, just south of Caye Caulker, starts a bit silty in the shallows. We’ve found it can get misty at 30 feet, possibly from some of the nearby construction, with scattered coral heads and gorgonians. Push a little deeper though, and it shifts dramatically. The spur-and-groove formations really develop, big coral buttresses separated by wide sand chutes, and the visibility tends to clear up nicely. The spurs eventually give way to a mini-wall at 70 feet, dropping down to sand flats around 100-120 feet. That deeper sand is where we’ve often spotted large roughtail stingrays, just chilling. Along the reef wall and in those canyons, keep an eye out for lobsters and channel clinging crabs. We also like this site for its smaller stuff, the flamingo tongues on the gorgonians, slender filefish, and those tiny secretary and arrow blennies nestled in the purple sea fans. It’s a good choice if you appreciate a dive that rewards heading a bit deeper, and enjoy a mix of macro life alongside the chance for some bigger sandy bottom dwellers.