Rated as one of the top attractions in Belize, the great blue hole is a stunning jewel set in a ring of corals that measures 1000 feet across and 412 feet deep.
It is believed to be the world’s largest blue hole and it is a rich habitat for a variety of marine life like nurse sharks, reef sharks, black tip sharks and even giant groupers.
Watch this video on how to skydive the great blue hole:
See also: Scuba Diving the Great Blue Hole
More and more, travelers are choosing destinations based not just on the quality of the hotels or the tourist attractions but whether they can make a positive difference by visiting a far-off land. Of course, travel always has an impact on the environment in terms of carbon footprint, but a new wave of consciousness has led to eco-tourism becoming more popular. Whether it’s little steps like renting a bicycle instead of a car or choosing to stay at hotels and resorts that give back to their local communities, eco-tourism is definitely on the rise.
One of the best places to enjoy a sustainable eco-vacation is Belize. With even big-named developers building eco-lodges and hotels powered by sustainable green energy, Belize is in the forefront of nations working to make a positive difference with eco-tourism.
Belize is unique because the government is strongly committed to preserving and protecting the environment. A departure tax collected at the airport goes straight towards worthwhile initiatives like banning single-use plastic, establishing wildlife corridors, and creating animal sanctuaries both offshore and on land. Belize has gone even one step further by completely banning all oil extraction and exploration on the reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws in scuba divers, snorkelers, stand-up paddlers, and anglers from around the world.
Travel writers such as Oliver Smith of the UK’s Telegraph and ecological activists have high praise for Belize, noting that more than half the country is in the form of a protected park, conservation zone, or wildlife sanctuary. Add in the fact that many high-end resorts and lodges partner with guests in order to help protect traditional ways of life for local populations, and it’s easy to see why Belize receive high marks. Belize is also a predominately rural country where strip malls, high-rise developments, and gaudy tourist traps are virtually non-existent.
If you’re interested in an eco-vacation, try the Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize. A lovely, 16-mile long stretch of golden sands on the Caribbean coast, Placencia is an idyllic community where most people still work in traditional industries like fishing and handicrafts.
On the Placencia Peninsula, the best place to stay is the Chabil Mar, an oasis of comfort and luxury just a five-minute walk from Placencia Village. Chabil Mar is a lovely Belize resort that regularly gives back to the local community and organizes events and activities to sustain and preserve both the spectacular natural beauty of Placencia as well as the traditional economy.
Visit our website chabilmarvillas.com for more information on Placencia and Belize, and don’t hesitate to send us an email, or call US/CAN Toll Free: 1-866-417-2377, Local: (011-501) 523-3606, if you have questions or need help in planning a Belize vacation.
According to media reports, National Geographic is set to include Belize in its upcoming Top 50 Dive Destinations guide. Travel writer Carrie Miller and her husband, professional dive master Chris Taylor, were recently in Belize speaking to the press about the upcoming book which is scheduled to be published in March 2019. According to the pair, Belize is their ninth stop on a global tour to select and photograph the best dive sites in the world.
According to Taylor, a dive destination needs to have more than just colorful and interesting attractions under the waves but also complimentary activities for visitors to enjoy. Taylor, speaking to Belizean media, waxed poetically about the beauty of Belize’s mainland, including the rainforest and ancient Maya sites, which offer both divers and non-divers a wide variety of entertaining options. During the press conference, Taylor mentioned that he and his wife would be heading to the ancient Maya site of Altun Ha and other destinations on the mainland in addition to photographing and documenting dive sites on the reef.
Neither Carrie Miller nor her husband Chris Taylor has ever been to Belize before, but Miller is a long-time contributor to National Geographic, and the two spoke warmly of the hospitality and beauty that they’ve encountered in Belize. It is expected that it will take the two an entire year to finish photographing and preparing the upcoming dive guidebook for National Geographic.
In order to bring additional value to National Geographic’s readers, the pair will be spending most of their underwater time in Belize in and around South Water Caye and the southern part of the Belize Barrier Reef. According to Taylor, since dive sites like the Belize Blue Hole and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve are already well-known, he and his wife want to explore dive sites which are “a bit off the beaten path.” Taylor also mentioned that the pair were looking for dive sites that could be enjoyed even by intermediate or first-time divers such as those found in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve.
Placencia Village, where Chabil Mar is located, is the springboard to some of the most exciting dive sites in the world. The reason for this is that as the edge of the Barrier Reef comes south along the coast of Belize, it separates itself further and further from the mainland. The result is a broad expanse of coral reef with channels that go down from 90 to 110 feet, but rising abruptly into shoals and cayes, providing many nearby SCUBA locations, including South Water Caye.
If you’d like to explore some of the amazing dive sites on the Belize Barrier Reef, book your scuba diving vacation with Chabil Mar Resort. Located on the golden sands of Placencia Peninsula just a few miles from some of the best dive sites in the country, including the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Chabil Mar is an enclave of comfort and luxury.
Chabil Mar is a proud member of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few inches of space in your suitcase and take supplies for area schools or medical clinics in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local, Placencia, Belize children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our project/projects.
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