On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Mike S
The 3rd and final stop on our visit to Belize was for reef exploration on Turneffe Flats Atoll including snorkeling on this world famous coast. And speaking of snorkeling I did it with my new contact lenses & I could see underwater for the first time in my life!
All the underwater pics were taken by our wonderful guide Abel and shared with all of the group! So, I didn’t even have to think about getting an underwater camera worrying about taking pictures, I could just enjoy the experience.
We had two afternoons reef and exploration around the atoll (the largest in the Mesoamerican reef atoll at 30 miles long and 10 wide.) which lies about 20 miles from the coast off Belize City. Turneffe Flats Resort runs boats back and forth to the dock at the Radisson Hotel in Belize City every Wed. and Sat. We went out on Wed. and returned on Sat. and many people stay longer, as I would have loved too.
The traditional spitting in the mask and rubbing and rinsing has never worked to prevent fogging for me at all. But our great guide Abel was ready with thorough cleaning solution (25% Joy dishwashing liquid) to use after proper prep on my new mask (at least 3 scrubbings/rinsings with toothpaste/water using my fingers ahead of time, I did 4x) and it worked perfectly! So I got to admire sea creatures like this beautiful Sea Anemone at last!
The snorkeling was amazing for the first time in my life it was a better experience that being at a big aquarium! I cant wait to go back!
We watched this Skate (I think a spotted skate, but I’m not sure I know birds much better than fish) and we also watch some sting rays feeding by snuffling in the sand for tasty burrowing fish. crustaceans and invertebrates.
Coconut palms on the beach pride the place where Mrs. S (now with….. spent much of her time relaxing and reading with wonderful views of the warm Caribbean Sea.
The sunrises over the sea were beautiful and held endless fascination to me
Another sunrise with clouds and a passing Magnificent Frigate Bird.
People go to Turneffe Flats Resort for saltwater fishing (Bonefish, Tarpon and Permit), snorkeling and or diving and reef exploration. They survived the COVID era ok and are back to doing very well. I got an email from them last week and they have spaces available now for snorkeling and reef exploration, but they dont have any available slots for fishing until mid-July.
The shallow water areas in the Atoll’s lagoon have this amazing tropical water color and getting in it was great. This was our first snorkeling spot where the pictures above were taken and provided to us by Abel. Our incredibly knowledgeable and pleasant guide.
Red Mangroves are the most salt tolerant of the three species of mangrove found in Mesoamerica. We did a lot of cruising by boat through the channels and we were on our explorations. Their stilt roots harbor a vast amount of aquatic life and are vital for the larvae of many open water fish too.
One evening there were thunderstorms around and I couldn’t stop sky watching at sunset. I can’t wait to go back sometime.
Raven
sweet
WaterGirl
Wow. The sunrise and water photos are my favorites. Which is most of them!
Reboot
Very nice! That last picture is a definite ‘wish I was there.’
Yutsano
Belize sounds wonderful. What’s also nice is their official language is English, so communication shouldn’t be too difficult.
Wag
Great sunrise photos!
susanna
Now I’d like to go one of these days. Enjoyed the photos, at sunrise and sunset (preferably with billowy clouds), and it looks like easy going times in the water, fishing, snorkeling, etc. What’s not to like.
Was scuba diving off mainland Belize about 45 minutes off Ambergris Caye in the early 90s, and that was a magnificent experience. Wish I’d taken up fishing while there. Thanks for these representative pictures of a beautiful place.
Mike S (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!)
@Yutsano: Yes, communication is easy in Belize for English speakers. Many people speak Mayan and/or Spanish at home and in the southern part I believe some speak a Carribean Creole variant, but everyone we’ve met in Belize speaks English very well.
BigJimSlade
Very nice underwater shots!
StringOnAStick
Belize has been on my list for awhile, thanks for the photos!