Off the coast of Belize lies a Treasure of Biological Diversity waiting to be explored, The Belize Barrier Reef!
Extending north and south for one-hundred and eighty miles, the barrier reef offshore of the Belize mainland is considered the most diverse section of the entire Mesoamerican Reef system. It is unmatched for snorkeling, sea kayaking and diving with an incredible diversity of corals and an abundance of tropical fish. In Belize, we find a continuous reef structure running the length of the country parallel to the coast. From the mainland, the reef cannot be seen; it lies 10 to 20 miles offshore. Traveling east from the mainland, the reef first becomes visible as a line of white surf crashing over the reef crest, with blue sea to the outside marking the deeper habitat of the fore reef. Approaching closer, we first enter the reef’s lagoon – a shallow area of turquoise waters, brilliant white sand flats and waving beds of turtle grass and corals. Shielding the coast of Belize from the full force of the sea, the barrier reef is a unique example of a living community of coral animals that has profoundly altered their geography.
