Belize or Roatan

[kabo123]

hello everyone

well i am in need of information, please

my girlfriend is planning us a trip to one of the above and i would love to know as much from people that have dove these areas as possible, especially if they have speared here.

thanks
kevin

[Nikki]

Been to Roatan and stayed at the Fantasy Island Resort about one and a half years ago - going back this May (23rd through June 1st). Had a GREAT time - diving sites are varied and relatively pristine, lots of marine life (turtles, crabs, seahorses, lobster, grouper, etc. ) but not sure if can spear there. Food at resort is high quality and package includes dives/food/lodging for around $750 for week. Air out of Miami for around $250 at www.taca.com direct to Roatan.

Heard Belize (ambergris caye) has good diving also. Again, not sure about spearing.

My advice would be to plan on sightseeing and to let the locals do the fishing/spearing for you - food tends to be pretty cheap there, a meal that would cost us $50 here can be found for around half that - or less - there...

[seabeast]

been to belize twice with the wife(not a spear trip). first time stayed on ambergris caye. illegal to spear with scuba has to be skin diving. it gets hit pretty hard from locals, its a poor country if theres any food to be had easily they already got it. also saw the commercial fleet which was 15ft sailboats loaded to the gill with kids to go shoot fish for a living. saw nice fish in the marine sanctuary. second time i went to blackbird which is a small island 40 miles offshore and the diving was 150% better it had healthier reef systems and 60ft reefs that dropped off 2000ft if you like wall diving. vis wasnt as good and no major walls right off of ambergris. if your girlfriend dives i would plan on staying on a resort offshore for a couple days then heading inland for a couple days to hit tikal and other mayan ruins, the canoe trips through the caves were pretty cool too. if she doesnt dive theres more to do on ambergris, she may get bored on a small island in the middle of the ocean and you can still pay to go out further for about 150pp for 3tank full day trip from ambergris