It’s definitely time to put the dive watches into your rotation. This spring and summer have totally provided great weather and plenty of opportunity for excellent diving. Where will you be rocking your multi-dimensional, fashionable, durable and uber-functional dive watches this year? So far, I’ve only sported mine in Miami but will definitely be breaking into the deep in a few Caribbean locales before the end of the summer.
Before I share some of my favorite dive watches, I thought it might be cool to highlight one of the best dive locations, Belize. Belize is home to the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere and boasts three of only four coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere. Commonly referred to as a magnificent and unrivaled destination for scuba diving and snorkeling, Belize attracts enthusiasts from around the globe.
Divers and snorkelers alike encounter a diverse and abundant selection of marine life as well as a kaleidoscope of color, in a variety of locations spanning the length of this 190-mile Belize Barrier Reef. This includes subterranean coral gardens featuring over 70 types of hard corals, nearly 500 species of fish, the distinguished Blue Hole, playful dolphins, fascinating whale sharks, subdued sea turtles and graceful eagle rays. With visibility usually extending hundreds of feet, diverse dive sites and extensive marine life, Belize will not disappoint even the most discerning diver or snorkeler.
Some of the more popular spots include:
The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site – Exceptional diving is plentiful from end-to-end of the 190-mile long Belize Barrier Reef, which extends from the northern tip of Ambergris Caye, to the Sapodilla Cayes in Belize’s southernmost regions. A variety of dive sites begin at only 45 feet, and drop to 90 feet or more and contain deep coral canyons as well as the fascinating “drop off.” Nurse and reef sharks, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles as well as elegant drum fish, grouper, jacks, snapper and white-spotted toadfish – a species only found in Belize – are just a few of the friendly natives divers encounter.
The Blue Hole – Originally a cave, the Blue Hole was formed about 10,000 years ago when the roof collapsed. Visible from outer space, the Blue Hole is nearly a perfectly circular hole 1,000 feet in diameter and 412 feet deep, with stalactites reaching up to 130 feet.
Considered to be a trip for advanced divers, most groups descend to about 135 feet. For the best vies of underwater life, the lip of the crater, which is about 60 to 80 feet underwater, is much more interesting.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve – Loosely translated in Mayan as “Little Channel,” the Hol Chan Marine Reserve refers to the deep cut or “quebrada” in the barrier reef off of Ambergris Caye. The depth is only about 30 feet and the currant in the area is strong; but, definitely worth the challenge as schools of grouper, snapper and barracuda are frequently sighted along the walls.
Shark Ray Alley – Located just one mile south of the Hol Chan cut and considered to be a part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is Shark Ray Alley. Once a place where fishermen would clean their catches and therefore naturally attract sting rays and nurse sharks, Shark Ray Alley is now an attraction that offers visitors the rare opportunity to snorkel beside incredible marine life. Snorkelers have the ability to get up close and personal with the sting rays and nurse sharks.
The Atolls – On the outer surface of the Belize Barrier Reef, three of the four true coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere are found– Turneffe, Lighthouse and Glover’s. Strong currents pull in schools of grunt, grouper, permit, snapper and jack, while an exploration of hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, eagle rays and hammerhead sharks await divers at the Elbow, the area’s ultimate wall dive. Spectacular diving lies ahead at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, which is known for its famous Blue Hole, plunging 410 feet. From the beach, sand gently slopes down and ends hurriedly at a fantastic ridge of coral, pierced by canyons and impressive tunnels.
South Water Caye Marine Reserve – The largest marine reserve in Belize, this stretch from Hopkins to Sittee River lures more divers each year, who choose to lodge in the area for quick access to the stunning cayes that dot the shallows. South Water Caye sits perched atop the main reef, and a nearby underwater cave named “Hell Hole” awaits exploration with a mouth 10 to 15 feet wide. The walls and ledges of the cave display stalactites and stalagmites, and eagle rays, moray ells, dolphins, rock snappers and smaller fish call the area home.
Gladden Spit – Due east of Placencia, Gladden Spit is traditionally known for the massive whale sharks that divers encounter in this natural marine spawning ground, located along the southern barrier reef. The whale shark sightings in this area are virtually guaranteed during the months of March, April and May, but have been reported throughout the fall and winter as well.
Laughing Bird Caye – a protected area encompassing over 10,000 acres of sea, this is a popular day trip from Placencia. Pristine beaches populated with swaying palms, sandy shallow swimming areas and magnificent diving are a few of the elements that create this picturesque destination. Private yachts and kayaks also visit this area frequently to enjoy the natural attraction, as a cut which lies directly through the center of the caye provides a one-of-a-kind diving experience.
Port Honduras Marine Reserve – Seven of Belize’s jungle rivers flow into this reserve which stretches across 160 square miles of costal Caribbean Sea, and includes 135 small mangrove islands. The marine population has flourished and the area serves as a habitat for various endangered species, including the West Indian Manatee, and is also one of the most important fish nurseries in the Caribbean.
Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve – Approximately 40 miles east of Punta Gorda lies the Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve, a 48 square mile preserved area of reef, sand and mangrove cayes. The shallow water reefs around the outside of the reserve make the area great for snorkeling, as it often is not deeper than 15 feet. Schools of jack and spadefish frequent the outer reefs, while close to the bottom divers can find angelfish, parrot fish and snappers. The clear waters through the lagoon area, characterized by silt, sand and shallow seagrass beds in the middle of the reserve, make the spot ideal for viewing the pristine reefs of lettuce coral, sponge and algae that grow throughout.
So, with that said, here are a few looks at some of my favorite dive watches. In this little feature, I am sharing my favorite dive pieces, taking into consideration the most venerable, the most stylish and the most creative. While I have not tested all of these, I have worn many and read enough to have formed this short list, and hope that it jump starts your own research into the wrister that you’d like most on your wrist when pursuing the depths… Hope you appreciate them, and I definitely would love to hear your ideas as well.
My all time faces come from Jean Richard, see the Aquascope and Diverscope posts for …….Muehle Glashutte definitely dropped a beauty into the market with their Marinus GMT and almost gave Ulysse-Nardin’s Monaco Marine Diver a run for its $$$. The most ellsve divers that I have come to admire are the Hydro 1200 from Tudor (a brand that will soon be part of my collection) and the Master Compressor Navy Seals from Jaeger LeCoultre. All of these timepiece are so incredibly cool that you’ll find the envy of more than avid divers with these on your wrist. For more “must-have” dive watches, click here…
