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Explore Turneffe Atoll

Turneffe Atoll, nestled off the Belizean coast in the Caribbean Sea, offers a diving experience like no other with its status as the largest marine protected area in the region since 2012. Encompassing over 400 mangrove islands, Turneffe is a thriving hub of marine biodiversity, inviting divers to explore its sparkling turquoise waters. With more than 70 dive sites, the atoll caters to various diving styles, from resort diving to liveaboard adventures. The diverse environments, including vibrant reefs, dramatic walls, and intriguing wrecks, promise a wealth of underwater wonders. Among the must-visit sites is The Elbow, known for its swift currents that draw large pelagic species, offering exhilarating encounters with the ocean's giants. The Aquarium is another captivating spot where divers feel like they're swimming in a living marine exhibit, surrounded by countless reef fish in crystal-clear waters. For history enthusiasts, Triple Anchors provides an enchanting dive with its stunning coral formations and the scattered remains of an 18th-century vessel. These unique features make Turneffe Atoll a standout destination for divers seeking rich marine life and unforgettable underwater experiences.

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Diving in Turneffe Atoll

There is a large variety of dives here, and is accessible to divers with all interests and levels of diving. Whether accessed from a liveaboard, day trip boats or from shore, there are some spectacular sites. This area has many impressive wall dives, lagoons, coral gardens, a coral covered wreck and drift dives. The mangroves provide biodiversity-rich dives with a unique backdrop. There are also opportunities to take dive courses here.

Dive Sites

Aqualung
Turneffe Atoll (★4.5)

Turneffe Atoll (★4.5)

There are not many actual atolls in the Caribbean and Belize has three of them. Turneffe Atoll is the largest and most visually spectacular of the three.

The best Months to Dive in Turneffe Atoll

Belize has two seasons, the dry season; January to May and the rainy season; June to December. The subtropical temperatures here fluctuate between 24°C–27°C/75°F–81°F. The visibility ranges between 15 meters/49 feet in the rainy season up to 30 plus meters/98 plus feet in the dry season. The water temperatures here remain pleasant between 26°C–29°C/79°F–84°F. March to June Killer and Pilot whales migrate through, July/August is Sea Turtle Season. 

Top Wildlife Sightings in Turneffe Atoll

The mangroves here provide the perfect habitat for a large array of reef fish, so the size of the schools of fish here is truly impressive. There are multiple species which can be spotted here including Eagle Rays, Sea Turtles, schools of Barracuda, Snappers and Jacks, Moray Eels. Some of the larger species which can swim by include Carribean Reef Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks and a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins. Two other unique species are American Saltwater crocodiles and Manatees. The topography, which is covered in an array of soft and hard corals, provide a colourful background for these species.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame
Moray Eel

Moray Eel
652 Sightings
J
47
F
58
M
83
A
48
M
71
J
84
J
84
A
25
S
13
O
50
N
44
D
45

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan
Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray
305 Sightings
J
10
F
29
M
34
A
31
M
35
J
63
J
49
A
2
S
3
O
39
N
10
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

iStock-Global_Pics
Barracuda

Barracuda
288 Sightings
J
23
F
11
M
38
A
29
M
19
J
60
J
27
A
31
S
6
O
14
N
5
D
25
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography
Green Turtle

Green Turtle
155 Sightings
J
9
F
20
M
31
A
23
M
15
J
11
J
16
A
6
S
5
O
0
N
4
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto
Wrasse

Wrasse
86 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
31
A
0
M
2
J
29
J
6
A
2
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
11
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle
52 Sightings
J
16
F
6
M
2
A
0
M
0
J
13
J
1
A
3
S
1
O
0
N
6
D
4
iStock-ShaneGross
Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle
43 Sightings
J
6
F
4
M
7
A
17
M
4
J
1
J
0
A
3
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl
Octopus

Octopus
17 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
1
A
5
M
0
J
1
J
2
A
2
S
1
O
4
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby
Lionfish

Lionfish
473 Sightings
J
34
F
33
M
46
A
50
M
32
J
71
J
57
A
39
S
9
O
38
N
27
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco
Parrotfish

Parrotfish
374 Sightings
J
25
F
14
M
58
A
43
M
22
J
60
J
60
A
24
S
3
O
26
N
20
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey
Angelfish

Angelfish
363 Sightings
J
19
F
14
M
62
A
35
M
29
J
71
J
40
A
38
S
9
O
19
N
5
D
22

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak
Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark
356 Sightings
J
22
F
9
M
44
A
20
M
31
J
58
J
46
A
33
S
26
O
30
N
8
D
29

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker
Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets
290 Sightings
J
12
F
11
M
40
A
32
M
23
J
59
J
42
A
20
S
7
O
23
N
9
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer
Stingrays

Stingrays
228 Sightings
J
4
F
19
M
28
A
14
M
10
J
36
J
33
A
15
S
8
O
37
N
14
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster
215 Sightings
J
9
F
18
M
45
A
4
M
21
J
43
J
33
A
7
S
2
O
15
N
1
D
17

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek
Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish
185 Sightings
J
7
F
2
M
37
A
10
M
16
J
42
J
37
A
17
S
5
O
4
N
3
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler
Crab

Crab
178 Sightings
J
1
F
18
M
19
A
3
M
15
J
44
J
16
A
15
S
7
O
17
N
10
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Shutterstock-RLS Photo
Lobster

Lobster
144 Sightings
J
12
F
11
M
19
A
5
M
6
J
31
J
16
A
3
S
3
O
7
N
7
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis
Snapper

Snapper
134 Sightings
J
7
F
4
M
26
A
5
M
1
J
35
J
17
A
6
S
3
O
14
N
3
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR
Pufferfish

Pufferfish
119 Sightings
J
13
F
17
M
22
A
6
M
4
J
23
J
10
A
5
S
3
O
3
N
2
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel
Triggerfish

Triggerfish
115 Sightings
J
4
F
5
M
22
A
14
M
2
J
25
J
11
A
7
S
6
O
2
N
4
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo
Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish
97 Sightings
J
9
F
2
M
25
A
0
M
8
J
8
J
4
A
15
S
4
O
3
N
1
D
18

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish
94 Sightings
J
6
F
1
M
20
A
0
M
4
J
24
J
15
A
12
S
6
O
0
N
1
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal
Damselfish

Damselfish
88 Sightings
J
0
F
1
M
22
A
2
M
8
J
27
J
5
A
5
S
3
O
3
N
1
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca
Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish
87 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
18
A
2
M
9
J
26
J
6
A
6
S
2
O
4
N
1
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp
Jackfish

Jackfish
82 Sightings
J
6
F
0
M
13
A
3
M
0
J
24
J
13
A
0
S
4
O
13
N
1
D
5
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin
Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip Reef Shark
80 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
4
A
1
M
5
J
0
J
28
A
12
S
2
O
22
N
2
D
2
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer
Grey Reef Shark

Grey Reef Shark
77 Sightings
J
7
F
1
M
1
A
2
M
7
J
13
J
23
A
1
S
2
O
14
N
1
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix
Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts
73 Sightings
J
7
F
0
M
17
A
1
M
4
J
26
J
5
A
2
S
1
O
4
N
1
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross
Shrimp

Shrimp
62 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
2
A
0
M
8
J
24
J
4
A
4
S
2
O
7
N
0
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Udo Kefrig
Clownfish

Clownfish
60 Sightings
J
8
F
3
M
6
A
11
M
5
J
8
J
4
A
7
S
1
O
4
N
1
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk
Goatfish

Goatfish
52 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
13
A
1
M
4
J
21
J
0
A
4
S
1
O
2
N
3
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel
Boxfish

Boxfish
42 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
4
J
18
J
1
A
3
S
6
O
4
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics
Soldierfish

Soldierfish
24 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
5
J
3
A
3
S
1
O
2
N
0
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

iStock-Miguel-Angelo-Silva.
Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish
19 Sightings
J
9
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
1
J
0
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
5

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