Belize 2024 - Half Moon Caye Bird Santuary

Every Tuesday there is Blue Hole day trip from Turneffe Island Resort. We dove the Blue Hole when we were in Belize a few years ago so decided not to do it again. (It's a deep dive and a bit underwhelming after all the hype. Most divers agree you have to do it once and that's enough.) However, we knew the other two dives in the area would be very good.

It was a windy day though so it was quite the 1 1/2 hour boat ride to get there. Amazingly, only one person got sick on the boat. We went with the snorkelling group while the divers did their Blue Hole dive. It was nice but with how rough the water was, we decided snorkelling was harder work than diving! 

One of the highlights of the day was the lunch stop at Half Moon Caye which, since 1924, has been designated a bird sanctuary to protect habitat of the red footed booby birds. Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of their red feet. When we saw them on the ground and could see their feet, I didn't have my camera with me. But I love the bright blue and pink of their beaks. 

They like "the orange-flowered Ziricote trees for nest building and raising chicks. In return, the booby colony supports the forest's stability by providing guano as fertilizer."  (From a sign along the path to the viewing tower.) 

It's also a nesting area for frigate birds. "The males proudly display their bright red gular sac to attract females; it may take them a full twenty minutes to inflate." (From a sign along the path to the viewing tower.) 

The seemingly uninterested females. :-)

There were also a lot hermit crabs on the island! So many that you had to be careful not to step on them. 

Gumbo limbo trees are often called the "tourist tree" because its red shaggy bark is always peeling. The bark is used as a remedy for sunburn and sunstroke. 

There are also lots of little iguanas slithering around and birds soaring the ridge line of the trees. 

Belize 2024 - Turneffe Island 1

It feels great to be back in Belize and on another scuba diving trip. It's been a while for both! 

We flew from Victoria to Calgary where we stayed overnight and I got to visit my Auntie Doreen. She's an amazing 96 years old and so sharp! I sure hope my brain is that healthy if I make it to that age. 

Early the next morning we had a 5 1/2 hour flight to Belize City. Similar to our last trip, we stayed at the Fort George Hotel, just around the corner from the lighthouse and the colourful "BELIZE" sign. 

The hotel is in a brand new building that just opened in February. The old hotel where we stayed before was torn down and, in its place, they are starting work on a massive new hotel and conference centre. 

I was thrilled so see how awesome the hotel gym is and had my first workout of the trip. I'm determined not to lose too much strength during this holiday! It's actually a membership gym called "Burn Box". 

I really liked this sign on the end wall. From a distance you see "Just do it." but up close it's "Just don't quit." 

We had some time to wander a bit more in the morning. There's not a huge amount to see around the hotel but I thought this rock wall design was pretty and I liked the silhouette of people walking off one of the boats that just arrived at the dock. 

It was a 1 1/2 hour boat ride out to Turneffe Island Resort. There were about 20 new guests and about the same number of staff making their weekly switch on/off duty. 

When shown to our cabin, we were surprised to learn we'd been upgraded to the "Honeymoon Villa". Very nice!!! 

Our first sunset and first sunrise at Turneffe Island. 

 

Lot of hibiscus bushes and flowers. Puts our little hibiscus plant at home to shame!  :-) 

The cormorant hangout dock.

And getting ready for our first dive of the trip! 

Note: We organized this trip through Michelle at Faces of the Sea.  She's organized a few of our dive trips now and always has great knowledge and recommendations!