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Far From the Bubblin' Crowd: Caribbean Scuba Diving
Destinations
Experienced divers exploring such popular
all inclusive Caribbean
vacation spots as Little Cayman's Bloody Bay Wall or the Wreck of the Rhone in the
British Virgin Islands have become well acquainted with the telltale sign
of underwater traffic jams: circles of dive boats moored at the busiest
destinations.
Avoiding the crowds may require making an extra plane
connection, but the compensations for the added travel are less crowded,
more tranquil wonders above and below water.
Here are four adventure travel
tours that should guarantee more fish life than fellow divers.
GLOVERS REEF ATOLL, BELIZE It's tough to go far wrong diving the atolls beyond
the world's second largest barrier reef, off the coast of Belize, the happy
result of eons of coral growth along giant geological fault lines, which have
produced sheer, 2,000-foot drop-offs. This is one of the best
adventure vacations we have found. Belize's
two northerly major atolls, Turneffe Islands and Lighthouse Reef, have renowned
dive sites - notably, the 412-foot-deep Blue Hole. But farther south, Glovers is
out of reach for day trippers and so, often all yours to explore.
Diving: Recreational Scuba Sites
If you stay on 13-acre Long Caye,
you are surrounded by the reef's 54 miles of wall diving. Clear turquoise water
reveals a gaudy display of delicate sea fans and pillar coral. While you nose
around to find the indigenous celebrity - the white-lined toad fish - nurse
sharks, sea turtles and dolphins will check you out.
Between dives, the atoll's
82-square-mile shallow lagoon is ideal for snorkeling from a sea kayak. Paddlers
startle spotted eagle rays and bonefish on the way to the 700-plus patch reefs.
On the mainland, you can explore
Belize Mayan ruins and take a boat up the Monkey River from a base in the sleepy fishing
village of Placencia, which is also a day-trip diving center.
Diving: Slick Rock Adventures and
Long Caye Dive Shop, (800) 390-5715 and
www.slickrock.com, are right
on Long Caye and personalize trips to divers' skill levels.
Free diving is also available. For further
information on this eco tour or more information on
Mayan resorts, visit their website.
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