Belize Study Abroad
Adventures
Snorkeling
South Water Caye
Belize is well known for having the second largest living barrier reef in the world with 185 miles of coral formations of marine life. The area around South Water Caye offers unique snorkeling opportunities for both beginners and the experienced. With visibility ranging from 60 to 100ft, spotting eagle rays, sea turtles, exotic fish, and even dolphins can frequently be seen! Below is a sampling of a few of the adventures that await you.
Fore Reef - A leisurely drift snorkel adventure along Belize’s Great Barrier Reef. Colorful, healthy spur and groove coral formations, spotted eagle rays, turtles, tarpon & grouper may join you as you drift along taking in this spectacular reef.
Carrie Bow Caye - A guided tour around the Smithsonian’s research station. Visits to Carrie Bow Caye include a shallow depth snorkel around the islands reef where wrasses, octopus, and angelfish can regularly be found.
Third Cut of the Reef - This narrow channel location is where local deep water fish migrations funnel into the lagoon. Large groupers, schools of horse eyed jacks, and more can be regularly spotted.
Twin Cayes - A mangrove snorkel! A great opportunity to see seahorses, upside-down photosynthesizing jellyfish and possibly, the gentle giant Manatee!
Whale Shoal - Whale Shoal is a picture perfect patch reef where you’re sure to see triggerfish, rock beauties, Creole wrasses, parrotfish and an assortment of angelfish. The coral gardens are also teeming with sea fans, large brain coral formations to stag horn coral!
The Aquarium – The name says it all! This shallow snorkel is delightfully abundant with colorful tropical fish and soft coral gardens.
Tobacco Cut – In this deep channel cut through the great barrier reef, you will have the opportunity to swim with stingrays, spotted eagle rays and sometimes even manta rays!
Grand Channel – Aptly named, this is the largest and deepest channel of all 8 in southern Belize and is truly grand. It features a long sandy bottom rife with basking rays; both southern and Caribbean. A drift snorkel allows you to explore the site where the sand greets the coral at about 20 feet then rises out of the sea to dramatically puncture the surface along the northern rim.
Grand Channel – Aptly named, this is the largest and deepest channel of all 8 in southern Belize and is truly grand. It features a long sandy bottom rife with basking rays; both southern and Caribbean. A drift snorkel allows you to explore the site where the sand greets the coral at about 20 feet then rises out of the sea to dramatically puncture the surface along the northern rim.
Coral Gardens – A great snorkel spot for beginners or families with younger children as there are shallow areas of soft white sand where you can safely stop to rest or adjust your gear without damaging the corals. It features numerous coral heads and a bountiful array of marine life to discover. Visibility is usually always good at this site due to its protected location in front of the barrier reef.
Curlew – A beautiful white sandy bottom area surrounded by reef where an island, Curlew Caye, once stood. There is wonderful coral life and a multitude of fish varieties at this very special and nearby site.
Bread and Butter Caye – A mangrove island surrounded by an abundance of both hard and soft corals and home to many fish varieties. A truly diverse and spectacular site where in some areas the corals are shallow enough to be exposed in low tide and in other spots 8 foot corals tower in depths of 12 to 15 feet! The fish schools are large and amazingly rich in this corner of paradise.
Bread and Butter Caye – A mangrove island surrounded by an abundance of both hard and soft corals and home to many fish varieties. A truly diverse and spectacular site where in some areas the corals are shallow enough to be exposed in low tide and in other spots 8 foot corals tower in depths of 12 to 15 feet! The fish schools are large and amazingly rich in this corner of paradise.
Angel Reef – A relaxing drift snorkel that follows 3 patches or sections of reef, separated by small cuts. The coral runs along a sandy bottom that the eagle and Caribbean rays like to burrow into amid schools of colorful fish
Night Snorkeling - The thrill and excitement of night snorkeling make for a great adventure! Octopus, shrimp, and many forms of coral, that most of the time are closed up during the day, are all magnificent during the night!
Diving
Our marine field station on South Water Caye is a popular destination for scuba divers and watersport enthusiasts. We've partnered with some of the best certified PADI dive shops in Belize offering all levels of PADI courses from Discover Scuba to Dive Master! Our unique approach to adventure travel allows guests the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the marine ecology of this pristine environment.
Additionally, you can explore the atolls of Belize, all accessible as a day trip from the island. You will find 150 miles of magnificent coral walls exploring Lighthouse, The Blue Hole, Turneffe and Glovers Atolls.
Out at Glover's you will have the opportunity to experience wall diving with gentle drift currents and coral heads some as big as 60 feet high. Turneffe Island Atoll offers up more than 30 miles of mangrove covered islands waiting to be explored. And of course, there is Belize’s most famous dive site, The Blue Hole, a sheer-sided 430-foot deep hole with stalactites & stalagmites. Breathtaking adventures await!
Sports Fishing
Grab your fishing gear and get ready to enjoy some of the most abundant angling opportunities in all of Belize! South Water Caye is truly a fishing mecca with diverse angling opportunities; from fly fishing the flats, to the beautiful blue water atolls surrounding our island. The guides we work with are considered to be the most knowledgeable in the area, honing their craft through years spent living and fishing in these waters. With their help you too will learn local fishing secrets!
Relax before and after your fishing adventures while staying in one of our 6 charming cabanas with private baths and decks. These cabanas are nestled within the mangroves on the eastern side of the island and take in the cool tropical breezes. Our warm and friendly staff are up early to make sure you enjoy a hearty breakfast and are sent off on your adventure with a delicious packed lunch. What more could you ask for on a dream fishing trip?
Reef and Flats Fishing at South Water Caye: Anglers of all skill levels will enjoy the excellent saltwater fishing opportunities at South Water Caye. Wadable coral flats to miles and miles of pristine flats teeming with permit and bonefish just a short boat ride away. Recording a fly fishing “Grand Slam” can truly become a reality as you land a bonefish, permit and tarpon all in one day. Bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook can be caught year round in the flats. On the reef, anglers are likely to catch yellowtail, snapper, black grouper, jack crevelle, and barracuda.
Deep Water Fishing: Because of our remote location, you will have access to incredible blue water atolls. Fishing for snapper and trophy fish such as sailfish, giant groupers, tuna, kingfish, wahoo and the elusive blue marlin are within minutes of South Water Caye. It is truly a paradise here.
The Belize Government has set aside the area surrounding our tropical paradise as a Marine Reserve for “catch and release” ensuring that Belize remains an anglers dream for many generations to come. Conservation of our reefs and environment has been IZE’s mission. Please help us with our efforts and adhere to our policy of “catch and release”.
Complementary Activities
Guests at IZE enjoy complimentary use of kayaks and stand up paddleboards.
Additionally guests can enjoy a casual game of beach volleyball or catch one of the many movies playing at our Theatre Under the Stars, complete with a fire pit for roasting marshmallows!