Frequently Asked Questions
Ecologic Divers
This is our brand new dive shop rebuilt in the Fall of 2016 after Hurricane Earl destroyed our old shop. We are still in the same place, on the north end of Barrier Reef Drive just south of the Phoenix Resort. Yes, we are now open for business. Please come visit us!
Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is a large submarine sinkhole off the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of the Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 36 miles from Ambergris Caye. The hole is circular in shape, 984 ft across and 407 feet deep. We dive the Blue Hole to a depth of 130 feet where we explore the stalactites.
Mayan Ruins
Mayan ruins and archaeological sites are found throughout Belize. The Xunantunich site is located 80 miles west of Belize City near the Guatemalan border. Pictured is the El Castillo temple at Xunantunich, the second tallest structure in Belize. Let us book your mainland trips and tours.
Spotted Eagle Ray
Spotted eagle rays are commonly sighted in Belize waters, and you will often see them on our dive trips. If you are snorkeling at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, be on the lookout for them swimming through the bowl. They are amazingly beautiful and graceful critters.
Nurse Shark
Nurse sharks seem to always be around on many of our dive trips. They are, for the most part, harmless. Ask your Divemaster to dive Esmeralda as these sharks frequent the area. In contrast to other local dive shops, we do not allow the touching of sharks or any other marine wildlife.
Our Dive Guests
This is a group of our dive guests chillaxing in one of the pools at the Phoenix Resort next door to our dive shop. The Phoenix Resort was named the best hotel in the world in 2012 by Trip Advisor. Book a condo at The Phoenix -- it is definitely a first class place to stay on your dive vacation!
Dolphins
You never know when a pod of dolphins is going to show up on one of our dive trips. It is fun to see them play and interact within the pod, and also with the divers -- they show real personality.
Cave Tubing
Cave tubing is a fun, low stress adventure on the mainland. The waters in the river are normally shallow, cool and refreshing, and the cave is surprisingly large and long. Book this trip with us on a day when cruise ships are not in port in order to avoid the maddening crowds.
Vacation Planning
We can recommend or book your accommodations, dive trips, mainland tours, fishing trips, and even your commuter flights. Call us at 1-800-244-7774. We are here to help make your vacation on Ambergris Caye a special and memorable experience!
Protect Our Reefs
We discourage our guests from touching or disturbing the reef coral or any wildlife on their dives. We value our reef and our wildlife, and want to do everything we can to protect this very special dive and vacation destination. So ... don't touch our stuff!
Our Dive Trips
We offer the best dive trips on the island. Our local reef dives and our dive trips to the atolls are lead by the best divemasters on the island. They are committed to showing you the beauty down under. Plus, they are a whole lot of fun! Check out our dive trips here!
Trip Advisor
Ecologic Adventures
Visit our Ecologic Adventures web site for the best in sailing catamaran charters on Roatan, Honduras. Whether you want to charter by the day or by the week, we can accommodate you. Our 50 foot live aboard catamarans are simply beautiful!
Frequently Asked Questions
- How good is the diving and snorkeling in Belize?
- Isn't Belize a long way from the United States?
- How do I get to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye?
- Where in San Pedro is Ecologic Divers?
- Is your dive gear any good?
- Is a recompression chamber available in Belize?
- What is the official language of Belize?
- What about using cash and credit cards?
- Can I safely drink the water?
How good is the diving, fishing and snorkeling in Belize?
In short, world class! The Belize Barrier Reef stretches 185 miles along the Belize mainland -- basically one very long quality dive site. The atolls also have many excellent dive sites including the Blue Hole in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll made famous by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970's when he explored it with his research ship, Calypso.
Inside the barrier reef are excellent snorkeling spots such as the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Some of the best fishing in the Caribbean can be found in the blue waters offshore from Belize. Around Ambergris Caye, you can fish for bonefish, tarpon, snapper, jacks, grouper and much more.
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Isn't Belize a long way from the United States?
Belize is a short two hour flight from Houston or Miami, and is closer than the Virgin Islands or other islands in the Eastern Caribbean.
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How do I get to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye?
To get to Belize, you will need to fly into Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) outside Belize City. Major airlines including Continental, Delta and American have daily flights from the United States.
The easiest way to get to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye is to take a commuter flight on Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. They have hourly flights out of Goldson, and it takes about 15 minutes to reach San Pedro.
You may also take a water taxi to San Pedro, about a one and a half hour ride. Because of the time and hassle taking a water taxi and the cost of the cab ride to and from Goldson to the water taxi terminal, your best bet is to take a commuter flight.
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Where in San Pedro is Ecologic Divers?
We are located toward the north end of downtown San Pedro just south of The Phoenix Resort. If you are going north on Barrier Reef Drive, walk to the beach at the Belize Bank, and once you reach the beach, you will see our dive shop on your left.
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Is your dive gear any good?
Our dive gear is the best we have ever seen in any dive center! We offer Sherwood, Cressi and Mares BCDs with integrated weights. Our regulators are made by Sherwood and Cressi. All our gear is in excellent condition!
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Is a recompression chamber available in Belize?
Yes, the only recompression chamber in Belize is located in San Pedro here on Ambergris Caye just a few minutes from our dive shop. Your safety is of paramount importance to us!
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What is the official language of Belize?
Belize is the only country in Central America whose official language is English. Because of the British influence when Belize was called British Honduras, most Belizeans speak excellent English, much easier to understand than the English spoken in the Eastern Caribbean. Spanish and creole are the next most frequently spoken languages, and many Belizeans are bilingual. We have found Belizeans to be friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand.
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What about using cash and credit cards?
Your credit cards will be accepted at most establishments, and you will be able to get cash through ATM's, although they do dispense in Belizian dollars.
Belize has its own currency, and one U.S. dollar is roughly equivalent to two Belizian dollars. Establishments in San Pedro will accept either Belize or U.S. currency, but not U.S. coinage.
Recently the banks in Belize have gotten very picky about the U.S. bills they will accept. They do not like bills to be torn, written on or otherwise marred in any way. Bring only new, crisp bills, especially larger denomination bills, as vendors such as restaurants and other shops have also become picky as to what they will accept.
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Can I safely drink the water?
The tap water is produced in a desalinization plant on the island, and is safe to drink. We have heard of no one one suffering from "Montezuma's Revenge" as is common in Mexico. The water, however, does have a slight chlorine taste, and as such, many visitors prefer to drink readily available bottled water.
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