Dives

Diving excursions index (click to scroll down):

REEF DIVING
By boat

Enjoy an up-close and personal experience with some of the sea’s most fascinating creatures. Gain an appreciation of not only the beauty but also the fragile nature of the undersea world, and what you must do to protect it. During these diving experiences, divers will explore some of the most pristine reef systems that the Caribbean offers.

Single tank dives or multiple dives are available. For the more adventurous diver, night dives can also be arranged. All reef dives are approximately a 10 to 25 minute boat ride from the Pier.

Departs: 9:00am / 1:30pm
Returns: 12:30pm / 3:15pm
Available: Daily
Includes: Roundtrip transfers, guided tour by a knowledgeable dive master, tanks, weights and water.

HOL CHAN COMBO DIVING
By boat

The perfect place to start with a shallow dive, Hol Chan is a natural channel through the reef. This marine sanctuary covers about 5 square miles. An impressive amount of marine life and coral can be seen on this dive of about 30 feet (9 meters). Tidal currents funnel a steady supply of food to filter feeders such as gorgonians, sea-fans, sponges, schools of grunts and mutton snappers. Joining these plankton feeders are Nassau groupers, black groupers, Atlantic spade fish, cubera snappers and a huge congregation of schoolmasters. At the channel walls many eels can be seen, and large groupers will accompany divers right from the boat on.

Afterwards you head over to shark Ray Alley for one snorkeling stop with the friendly sting rays and nurse shark which you can pet and hug. The perfect trip for families with both divers and snorkelers.

Departs: 9:30am or 1:30pm and is approximately 3 ½ hours.
Includes: Roundtrip transfers, guided tour by a knowledgeable dive master, tanks, weights and water.

MEXICO ROCKS DIVING
By boat

Mexico Rocks, located right in front of PORTOFINO, is a basically a cluster of coral heads. Truck size colonies of boulder coral 10 - 12 feet (3.5 meters) high nearly reach the surface and provide refuge to a wide variety of marine life. From flame scallops, anemones, sponges, tube worms, shrimp to moray eels, butterfly fish and wrasses inhabit this area. The shallow conditions and favorable light are perfect for underwater photography.

Departs: 9:00am / 1:30pm
Returns: 12:30pm / 3:15pm
Available: Daily
Includes: Roundtrip transfers, guided tour by a knowledgeable dive master, tanks, weights and water.

DIVING AT MATA CUT
By boat

Mata Cut is another cut in the reef, very close to PORTOFINO Beach Resort. It remains of an old barge called Changa's wreck lies just inside the reef in less than 10 feet (3 meters) of water. A variety of soft corals and encrusting sponges decorate the barge's frame and the rusted out hull is hanging-out from a small school of snappers. It is a great place to combine fish and wreck photography. Especially dramatic scenes exist when the midday sun sends shafts of light through the holes in the hull. During this 16 feet (5 meter) dive you can encounter stingrays searching for crustaceans and molluscs on the sand flats. Large orange and red starfish prowl the turtle grass area's for clams. Colorful tropical fish can be seen everywhere among the coral. Stoplight parrotfish, trumpet fish, blue striped grunts, triggerfish, blue tang and rock beauties are an abbreviated list of what you can find here.

Departs: 9:00am / 1:30pm
Returns: 12:30pm / 3:15pm
Available: Daily
Includes:
Roundtrip transfers, guided tour by a knowledgeable dive master, tanks, weights and water.

CYPRESS GARDENS
By boat

This is a spur-and-grove reef with deep and narrow canyons. The sand floored cuts fall to depths of over 100 feet (30.5 Meters). This area is home to many juvenile fish and an amazing display of healthy sponges and coral. Like so may other places along the reef, there is a dazzling variety of shapes and colors present. Also great photographing opportunities.

Departs: 9:00am / 1:30pm
Returns: 12:30pm / 3:15pm
Available: Daily
Includes: Roundtrip transfers, guided tour by a knowledgeable dive master, tanks, weights and water.

* COMPLIMENTARY TRY DIVE
At Portofino’s swimming pool…

You are more than welcome, to try our complimentary Try Dive in our pool! Come and experience diving with us. Your scuba instructor will spend a little time with you to explain the basic principles of scuba diving and give you an overview of your scuba gear. Once you feel comfortable, your instructor will take you in the pool to help you learn basic scuba skills. Then when you are hooked on diving, you can immediately progress to the half day PADI Discover Scuba Diving experience!

* When you would like to experience how it feels like to breathe under water, please notify our front desk personnel least 24 hours in advance. As this is based on availability, to secure this great opportunity, we recommend doing so upon checking in at the resort, as with all the amazing diving Belize has to offer, the dive shop can be quite busy at times.

This is just a small selection of the dive sites near to PORTOFINO Beach Resort, other famous dive sites include: Sandbar, Pillar Coral, Tackle Box Canyons, Tres Cocos, Basil Jones Canyons, Victoria Canyons, San Pedro Canyons, and many more.

And please feel free to check out our Dive Package or email us for more details at info@portofinobelize.com.