Belize Diving Services – Turneffe Atoll, Elbow

This world-class dive is a three-tank trip that takes divers to the south, east, and west sides of Turneffe Atoll.

Guest gather at the dive shop at 6 am for a breakfast of coffee, cinnamon bread, eggs, juices, and fruit. We then board the boat and begin the hour or so trip to the south end of Turneffe. The trip to the site is a comfortable ride inside of the barrier reef. With only 20 minutes of open seas, this trip is more civilized than going to the Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef.

Our first dive of the day is “Black Beauty”. This Advanced Dive frequently has strong currents and is done as a drift dive. When the currents are kicking, you will find schools of hundreds of horse-eyed jacks and other pelagic fish such as marlin, sail fish, and tuna, rarely seen on scuba dives.

For the second dive, weather permitting, we head north along the east coast of Turneffe towards Calabash Caye. This rarely visited area of Belize offers an unspoiled look at a fine example of a Caribbean reef dive.

After the second dive, divers are treated to a wonderful lunch prepared by owner, Dani, who uses her skills as a trained chef to prepare safe, healthy fare that all can enjoy. As you eat lunch, we tour through the lagoons and mangroves of Turneffe Atoll for a first hand look at unspoiled nature and abundant bird life.

The third dive of the trip is shallow and on the western part of the island. Here divers will enjoy the calmer waters offered by the leeward side of the atoll and be able to maintain a shallower depth so as to stay within decompression limits.

The Elbow is offered weekly at Belize Diving Services and upon request.