Updated September 6, 2021
This is the seventh in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one will focus on Belize and Costa Rican liveaboards.
In addition to this series on liveaboards, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.
Have you been diving in Belize or Cocos Island before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Dive Trips to Belize – Dive Sites
The longest unbroken barrier reef in the western hemisphere, consisting of more than 400 islands, sits just off the eastern coast of Belize. Just outside the barrier reef are 3 of the 4 coral atolls in the western hemisphere, as well. Each atoll has a fringing reef that drops off to depths greater than 3,000 feet. This has created conditions for a rich, colorful coral reef garden with great diversity and outstanding large animals including schooling fish, eagle rays, reef sharks, turtles, and large pelagics like whale sharks. Highlighted sites include Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Atoll, and the Blue Hole (scroll down toward the bottom to see the map).
The diving environment is suitable for all levels of divers. There are great walls and some drift, though much of the diving is in very calm to nonexistent current. The temperature is pretty warm year-round with water temps in the mid-70s F (24 degrees C) in winter and mid-80s F (29.5 degrees C) in summer. Base your thermal protection accordingly. Lycra cover is recommended for protection from abrasions. Visibility is generally great and is normally best from April to June.
For reviews of diving in eastern Florida and other Caribbean locations, please check out these posts:
- Scuba Diving in Islamorada Florida
- Scuba Diving on Key West Florida
- Best Scuba Diving Key Largo Florida
- Scuba Diving West Palm Beach Florida
- Ft. Lauderdale Scuba Diving
- Scuba Diving St. Barts
- Scuba Diving St. Eustatius
- Scuba Diving in Saba
- Scuba Diving St Kitts and Nevis
- Best Scuba Diving St. Martin
- Scuba Diving Ambergris Caye Belize
- Best Guadeloupe Scuba Diving
- Anguilla Scuba Diving
- Scuba Diving in Antigua and Barbuda
- Best Scuba Diving Jamaica
- Scuba Diving Cuba Best Dive Sites Cuba
- Best Cuba Scuba Diving Liveaboard Jardines de la Reina
- Scuba Diving the Dominican Republic
- Best Scuba Diving Panama
- Banco Chinchorro Diving Mexico
- Scuba Diving Playa Del Carmen
- Scuba Diving Tulum Mexico
- Cozumel Scuba Diving Review
- Scuba Diving Cancun Mexico
- Best Scuba Diving Puerto Rico
- Scuba Diving St Vincent and the Grenadines Review
- St. Lucia Scuba Diving Review
- Turks and Caicos Scuba Diving Review
- Best US Virgin Islands Vacations Scuba Diving
- Best Trinidad and Tobago Vacations Scuba Diving
- Best Caribbean Beach Vacations Curacao Scuba Diving
- Best Caribbean Diving Destinations Aruba
- Best Caribbean Dive Vacations Bonaire
- Best Tropical Island Vacations Dominica Scuba Diving
- Best Caribbean Scuba Diving Los Roques Venezuela
- Barbados Scuba Dive Vacations
- Grenada Scuba Diving Review
- Best Scuba Diving Caribbean – Martinique
- Best British Virgin Island Diving Liveaboard
- Best Bahamas Liveaboard Scuba Vacations
- Best Belize Dive Trips & Cocos Island Diving
Cocos Island Liveaboard Diving – Dive Sites
Located 339 miles (543 km) southwest of Cabo Blanco, Costa Rica, Cocos Island is rectangular and small, at about 15 square miles (24 square km), and formed through volcanic activity around 2 million years ago. The Cocos Island Marine Park was established there in 1978 and UNESCO declared it World Heritage Site in 1997 all in order to protect and encourage the unique wildlife. There are more than 27 endemic fish species below the surface and many plants, birds, reptiles, and insects on land that are unique to Cocos. It is kind of a mini Galapagos. The diving is recommended for the advanced as there can be heavy current and surge.
The sub-seascape consists of pinnacles, rocks, and seamounts rising from the open sea. This location and environment have provided an excellent location for whale sharks, manta rays, hammerheads, and other schooling sharks, particularly from June to December. Outstanding dive sites around the island include Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone, Dirty Rock, Bird Island – Chatham Bay, Lone Stone, and Ubing Rock – Wafer Bay. Please check the map below. Water temp is pretty warm year-round at 75-86 degrees F (24-30 degrees C) and visibility ranges from about 79-98 feet (24-30 meters).
All Belize and Cocos Island Dive Boats
- Belize Aggressor III – Belize
- Belize Aggressor IV – Belize
- Okeanos Aggressor II – Cocos Island
- Okeanos Aggressor I – Cocos Island
- MV Sea Hunter – Cocos Island
- MV Argo – Cocos Island
- Cocos Island Aggressor – Cocos Island
Belize Liveaboard Dive Boats
Belize Aggressor III – Most Popular
Featuring
- Itinerary: Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse Reef including The Blue Hole
- Maximum of 18 guests, 6 staff
- Belizean, Mexican, Caribbean, and European cuisine, as well as a BBQ
- En-suite cabins with own TV and DVD player
- Sundeck with hot tub Jacuzzi
- Beer and wine are free of charge
- Diver tracking devices are available
- Motorized dinghy, 2 rigid life rafts
Featuring
- Itinerary: Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse Reef including The Blue Hole
- Maximum 20 guests, 9 staff
- Most cabins have sea view windows,
- All cabins have an en-suite bathroom, TV, and DVD player
- Belizean, Mexican, Caribbean, and European cuisine, as well as a BBQ
- Wine and beer are complimentary
- Large boat
- 3 life rafts
Cocos Island Liveaboard Dive Boats
Okeanos Aggressor I – Most Popular
Featuring
- Itinerary: Cocos Island, including Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone, Dirty Rock, Bird Island – Chatham Bay, Lone Stone, Ubing Rock – Wafer Bay
- Maximum of 22 guests, 8 staff
- All cabins with private bathrooms, TV & DVD
- Dedicated restaurant and bar, complimentary drinks
- Variety of American-style dishes, barbecues, and a bit of local cuisine
- Personal diver locator devices
- Large boat with a steel hull
- 2 motorized tenders
Featuring
- Itinerary: Cocos Island, including Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone, and Dirty Rock
- Maximum of 20 guests, 9 staff
- All cabins with private bathrooms
- Free laundry, personal diver locator
- Dedicated restaurant and computer room
- Combination of American and local cuisine
- Large, steel-hulled boat
- 2 life rafts, 2 twin-engine tenders
- Possibility of DeepSee Submersible dive
Featuring
- Itinerary: Cocos Island, including Dos Amigos, Manuelita, Bajo Alcyone, Dirty Rock, Punta Maria, shore visits can be arranged
- Maximum 20 guests, 9 staff
- International, Italian and local cuisine is served
- All cabins with large ensuite, TV, satellite phone
- Free laundry, diver location devices
- The option of DeepSee Submersible dive
- 2 life rafts, 2 fiberglass tenders
| Belize Aggressor III | Belize Aggressor IV | Okeanos Aggressor I | MV Sea Hunter | MV Argo | |
| Length | 30 m | 42 m | 34 m | 39 m | 40 m |
| Guests | 18 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 20 |
| Crew | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| Equipment | $175/trip | $175/trip | $360/trip | $30/day | $30/day |
| Nitrox | $100/trip | $100/trip | $150/trip | free | free |
| Single Rm | 65% | 65% | 65% | 100% | 100% |
| Price/Day | $308/day | $423/day | $490/day | $505/day | $565/day |
| Belize | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Cocos Isle | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Photo Opportunities
With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Belize and Cocos Island liveaboard scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Wow, this vacation looks like an absolute dream! I’d love to be able to do this one day. I’ve never really been scuba diving before, but I can only imagine how amazing it would be. If you had to choose one of these options, which do you think would be the best? I always tend to go for the cheapest option, but maybe that’s not always a good thing.
Hi Holly,
Thanks a lot for your comments. I’m glad to have peaked your interest in scuba diving.
Of the two options, Belize and Cocos Island, Belize offers better opportunities for beginning divers. Conditions overall in the ocean environment are a little more advanced at Cocos Island. That being said, what you need to do is get certified as a diver. That generally requires that you are able to swim 200 yards comfortably and have around 4 days to devote to learning the skills and doing some closely supervised diving. Pricing for the course itself is variable, but generally around $400-$500. There are many places to do this where the diving is very fascinating, including Belize. If you would like some advice on how to get it done, including the logistics, or anything else related to scuba diving, please let me know. It would be a whole new world for you to explore as a diver.
Best of luck,
Joe
I really like the fishy border on your website.
All these pics make me want to dive right in. Looks so calming and peaceful.
I want to get away from it all and enjoy being out on the water with family and friends.
Diving into the water is really fascinating with all the different sea creatures, to see.
Hi Shy,
I am happy that my site has inspired you to think about doing some diving. It is a great way to get away from the stress of daily life and relax in a whole different world.
If you are interested in giving it a try, I can direct you toward a sort of discovery diving program or a step beyond that which would be to become a certified, licensed diver who is qualified to go on a liveaboard or get diving services anywhere. Just let me know. If you have any further questions or comments, I’d be happy to oblige.
Best regards,
Joe