Great Blue Hole dive: 3 tanks, Lighthouse Reef Atoll

Three dives, one legendary hole, and a reef wall alive with fish

A full-day 3-tank dive adventure from Ambergris Caye to Lighthouse Reef Atoll, visiting the Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye Wall, and Long Caye Aquarium Wall. You descend to 130 ft to explore the Blue Hole's stalactites and stalagmites, glide along a 60 ft coral wall teeming with tropical fish, and finish at a vibrant reef garden. Open Water certification and a logged dive within the past six months are required. A minimum of 10 divers must confirm the trip.

The experience

The day starts with a 2 to 2½ hour boat ride to the Blue Hole, where you descend to 130 ft to see the dramatic limestone formations, stalactites and stalagmites that make this site legendary. Reef sharks occasionally patrol the depths. After surfacing, you move to the Half Moon Caye Wall at 60 ft, where colorful coral slopes drop away beneath you and tropical fish move through the water in schools. Lunch happens on Half Moon Caye itself, the island where red-footed boobies nest in the palms and you can walk the beach between dives.

The third dive wraps the day at Long Caye Aquarium, around 60 ft down, where coral gardens and vibrant marine life fill the site. Continental breakfast, seasonal fruits, banana bread and cheese come before you leave. Lunch is traditional rice and beans with stew chicken and potato salad. Coffee, tea, rum punch and fresh fruit appear throughout the day. An experienced licensed dive master leads all three dives and stays with the group underwater.

You'll need Open Water certification or higher, with proof of a logged dive within the last six months. Snorkelers can join, though the itinerary is built around diving. Park fees of US $40 or BZ $80 per person are paid in cash when you arrive. Pickup is included from your hotel on Ambergris Caye.

What’s included

• Continental breakfast with seasonal fruits, banana bread and cheese.
• traditional lunch of rice and beans with stew chicken and potato salad.
• coffee, tea, fresh fruit and rum punch throughout the day.
• three guided dives with an experienced licensed dive master.
• hotel pickup from Ambergris Caye.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (15 to 70 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 75

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Amigos Del Mar Dive Shop

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose based on which language you're comfortable following underwater. A moderate level of physical fitness is needed for the boat ride, the multiple entries and exits, and the full day of diving. This trip is built for divers who dive regularly and want to log serious bottom time at world-class sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Great Blue Hole and what will I see down there?

The Great Blue Hole is a massive circular sinkhole in the seafloor, roughly 1,000 feet across. At 130 ft depth, you'll see its distinctive stalactites and stalagmites: limestone formations that formed when the hole was above water thousands of years ago. The walls are dramatic and pale, and the site is one of the most photographed dive destinations in the world.

Do I need to be an experienced diver to do this trip?

You need Open Water certification or higher, which is the entry-level diving credential. You must also have logged at least one dive within the past six months to show you've kept current. If you don't have certification yet, you'll need to get it before booking.

What happens if fewer than 10 divers sign up?

A minimum of 10 divers is required to confirm the trip. If the group doesn't reach that number, the operator will cancel and offer you a different date or a full refund.

How long is the boat ride out to the Blue Hole?

The boat ride takes 2 to 2½ hours each way from Ambergris Caye to Lighthouse Reef Atoll. The full day, including all three dives, lunch and travel, runs about 12 hours from pickup to return.

Are snorkelers allowed on this trip?

Yes, snorkelers are welcome to join. While the itinerary is designed around diving, snorkelers can participate at the same sites, though they'll stay in shallower water and experience the reefs differently than divers going deeper.