Gallows Point Reef - Turneffe Atoll
Diving Selwyn Rocks feels like exploring a cold-water fortress. The rocky landscape here is rugged, a maze of boulders and cracks where you’ll find plenty to investigate. Keep an eye out for Red Rock Crabs scuttling across the seabed and the occasional Big Skate gliding past. We’ve also spotted Spiny Dogfish hanging out in the deeper sections. This site is best for divers comfortable with cooler temperatures and who appreciate the unique, hardy marine life of the Pacific Northwest. If you’re into spotting species you won’t find in the tropics, Selwyn Rocks delivers.
- Location
- Turneffe Atoll, Belize, Central America
- Coordinates
- 17.484173, -88.044220
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: St. George's Caye Cemetery
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)
Nearby Dive Sites in Turneffe Atoll
- 126 - 2m (wreck)
- 65 - 1m (wreck)
- Belize Barrier Reef (reef)
- Black Beauty
- Caye Chapel Reef - 30-120 feet (reef)
- Crawl Cay - 5-18m (reef)
- Crickozeen Cut
- Elbow - 20-40m (wall)
- Gallows Point Reef (reef)
- HMS TRIUMVIRATE - 1m (wreck)
- Lindsey's Back Porch - 45 feet
- MIRON L - 42m (wreck)
- Northern Bogue
- Pilican Cay
- Rendezvous Cut - 30 feet
Nearest Dive Centres to Gallows Point Reef
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.
Notable Species
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Thin leaf lettuce coral (Agaricia tenuifolia) - Hard Corals
- Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
- Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
- Grooved brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis) - Hard Corals
- Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Gallows Point Reef
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