Belize

After doing a few dive trips to Cozumel in the mid-1980's we decided to branch out a little and explore some new underwater territory. This was our first trip to Belize, already a world-renowned dive spot at the time of this trip in 1988.

Off Ambergris Cay, Belize. This is the world's second-longest barrier reef, and it is spectacular. Lush reefs with abundant wildlife, great 100-ft plus visibility underwater, and sheer vertical wall diving made this place great when we first dove here in 1988. Now it's super-popular and even though I haven't dove here in over thirty years, I hope for the best, that the masses of tourists haven't ruined this place (a la Florida Keys).

Ambergris Cay, Belize. Just pokin' around, seeing whatever there is to see....

Ambergris Cay, Belize. This was a bizarre and unsettling spectacle. We dove one afternoon with this local diver, who feeds the same moray eel (pictured) at the same time every day. He's been doing this for years with no incidents. But today as we watched, the eel came out of its hole and began to attack him. Here he's fending off the eel with a knife, to avoid getting bit. He didn't want to hurt the thing so he turned and swam off. Well the eel wasn't done yet and came after him, eventually catching him and latching its needle-like teeth around his achilles tendon. And it wouldn't let go! The guide eventually had to grab the eel and pull it off, dragging those sharp teeth right across the tendon and opening up 4 nasty fang wounds. Witnessing this attack will definitely will keep me from feeding morays in the wild!

Ambergris Cay, Belize. Just another nice underwater vista. I shot all of these photos on film (it was the 1980's after all), using a cheap underwater camera.

Ambergris Cay, Belize. Home sweet home, island style. Steps from the beach and fantastic diving.