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Overview
Zone D of Hol Chan Marine Reserve, about a mile south of the reserve's main cut off Ambergris Caye. Decades of fish cleaning by local fishermen drew Atlantic nurse sharks and southern stingrays into the shallow sand patch, and now twenty or more sharks routinely circle in waist deep water as boats arrive. Depths run only 5 to 12 feet over a white sand bottom, so divers and snorkelers share the column with the animals. The draw is close encounters and natural light photography rather than reef structure, and most operators pair it with a Hol Chan reef dive on the same trip.
Briefing note
Inside Hol Chan Marine Reserve (Zone D), so a per person park fee applies and is usually bundled by operators. No gloves, no touching, no chasing. Sharks are habituated and generally calm but bites have occurred when divers grab them or get between them and bait. Often combined with a Hol Chan reef dive on the same boat trip. Suitable as a snorkel or for first dives; current is typically mild.
What you'll see
5 species curated- year-roundAtlantic nurse sharkPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundSouthern stingrayPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundYellowtail snapperPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- year-roundGreat barracudaPeak: Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec
- seasonalGreen sea turtlePeak: Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Reef data for this area
Jurisdiction-level snapshotsBenthic snapshot — AGRRA
Mesoamerican Reef — Belize (AGRRA)
Current mean coral cover
16.3%in 2022
Earlier survey
19%in 2015
↓ -2.7 pts
AGRRA Caribbean benthic transects across Belize barrier reef + atolls. Belize barrier reef + offshore atolls (Turneffe, Lighthouse, Glover's).
Reported at the jurisdictionscale, not the dive site — the published surveys don’t resolve a single reef. Healthy Reefs Initiative 2022 Mesoamerican Reef Report Card (AGRRA data) →
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25–27 °C | 12–25 m | mild |
| Feb | 25–27 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Mar | 26–28 °C | 18–30 m | mild |
| Apr | 26–28 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| May | 27–29 °C | 20–30 m | mild |
| Jun | 28–30 °C | 18–25 m | mild |
| Jul | 28–30 °C | 15–25 m | mild |
| Aug | 28–30 °C | 12–25 m | mild |
| Sep | 28–30 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| Oct | 27–29 °C | 10–20 m | moderate |
| Nov | 26–28 °C | 12–22 m | mild |
| Dec | 25–27 °C | 12–22 m | mild |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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