Location: Map
Belize Barrier Reef is a large coral reef situated 300 meters (980 ft) off the shores of the eastern beaches of Belize. Belize Barrier Reef is one of the richest marine biospheres in the World. It contains over 500 species of fishes, 70 hard coral species and 36 soft corals. Additionally hundreds of invertebrates live in these corals. However this is only 10% of discovered species of animals. Belize Barrier Reef draws thousands of scuba divers to explore its rich underwater jungle. The most famous site is the Great Blue Hole. It is a large submarine sinkhole in the centre of the Lighthouse Reef.
In addition to its barrier reef, it also boasts three distinct Caribbean atolls: Turneffe Atoll, Glover's Reef and Lighthouse Reef. Lighthouse Reef is the most easterly diving area in Belize, it is home to the Great Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1970; Turneffe Atoll lies directly to the east of Belize City and is the nearest of the atolls to the capital. These different reefs provide diverse scuba diving opportunities that include walls, pinnacles and reef flats that are located throughout an enormous area of sea.
Species
The Belize Barrier Reef is home to a
large diversity of plants and animals :
70 hard coral species
36 soft coral species
500 species of fish
hundreds of
invertebrate species
With 90% of the reef still needing to be
researched, it is estimated that only 10% of all species have been
discovered.