Snorkeling in Belize
 

Have 8 hours to kill at the airport so thought I would share.

On the bus ride here, I realized this trip was the first time I have ever swam in the ocean. I've only ever gone in to my waist in the past.

I was really excited to go, then very scared, especially when we got to shark ray alley. The fish freaked me out a bit, especially when I looked right below me and a massive grouper was swimming right under me and going my way. I settled in and enjoyed the entire experience. We forgot our camera, but a lady who was with us generously shared her pictures.

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Thanks for sharing the photos! The conches ( may be queen conch ) scattered on the seabed are alive or just empty shells from 1st to 3rd pictures? There are numerous of them!

Very cool! That guy had some balls handling that shark. Even though they don't have razor sharp teeth, they do have crushing and grinding power that can really mess up human hands! lol.

Somebody should have slapped him upside the head. Number one rule when diving or snorkeling. Don't touch the fishies or the coral!

It was the guide who grabbed the shark and was holding it. One person asked about touching the sea turtles grazing on the sea grass and he said absolutely no. The loggerhead turtles would come right up to us, from all directions and we could touch them as they swam by, same with the rays if they came close enough. The guide would grab my hand to touch as I wouldn't have dared tried on my own. No touching corals!

The seabed was completely covered, have no clue how deep the shells were. I don't know whether they were dead or alive. There were fishermen in the area and I think they were cleaning out conch shells. Didn't think to ask.

I had a bit of conch for dinner last night and did not like it at all!

Thanks for the pics. Looks like you had a good time. :biggrin:

those are great pics.

I used to tell students not to ride turtles or they'll drop their eggs. :lol:

wow, love those pics! jealous much!! :biggrin:

Great pics.

Thanks everyone!

One thing I forgot to mention was after we got back to the dock, Jason went back to our room to grab something, I waited on the dock. I was watching the fish and noticed a "stick" that seemed to be moving. Finally figured out what it was, a fairly large orange seahorse. He was grazing for food and just chillin out! That was not something I expected to see at all. I watched him as long as I could, he moved under the dock and out of sight. As we didn't have a camera, I couldn't take a pic. Pretty cool though!

Thanks for sharing the great pics! Where abouts in Belize were you staying?

The "guide" handling the nurse shark should be showing an example and NOT holding the shark, this just is wrong, look but don't touch anything!!!!!!

Awesome pictures and looks like you had fun!!

We were all over. On Ambregris Caye we stayed at Coco Beach - nice resort but 3 miles out of San Pedro, would find a place in town next time. In San Ignacio, we stayed at Rolson's (didn't care for but was only 1 night), then we spent 3 days at Better in Belize - an Eco Village just outside Benque. Back to San Ignacio we stayed at the San Ignacio International Hotel - very nice hotel next to the casino. I adored these places very much, the towns and people are friendly.

I did not like Belize City at all. It may have been due to the fact we were there on Sunday and everything was closed, no tourists or locals out, just those who were looking for trouble. I heard things yelled at me (and others) that I have never heard in my life and was not comfortable there.

I know for next time this isn't acceptable and will speak up.

Yes, the snorkeling was by far my favorite experience and didn't want it to end. Took me a while to get comfortable with it though.