Snorkelling and diving from a charter boat in Belize
Belize: snorkel and dive sites by boat, park fees, anchoring rules, sea temperature by month (NOAA) and wetsuit advice. Sourced.
Sea temperature
26.6–29.8 °C
January to September, NOAA 1991–2020
Source: NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1), checked
Warm water (≥24 °C)
All year
Our threshold on NOAA means
Park fee
US$15 per person
Hol Chan entrance fee (secondary)
Source: The San Pedro Sun (newspaper), checked
Checked
28 Oct 2026
2 official, 1 secondary
Yes: Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley off Ambergris Caye are the classic stop, but boats must use the reserve's mooring buoys (one hour at most), groups are limited to 8 per guide, and scuba is banned in Shark Ray Alley's recreational area. The sea averages between 26.6 °C (January) and 29.8 °C (September) by NOAA's 1991–2020 means at our reference point, so it stays at 24 °C or more all year and by our rule of thumb a rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty is enough even in the coolest month.
Checked 28 Oct 2026 against 2 official and 1 secondary source; sea temperature from NOAA (sources). Anything we could not confirm is labelled (how to read the labels). Park rules change: check before you go.
Snorkel and dive sites you can reach by charter boat in Belize
| Site | Type | Where | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley | marine reserve | Off Ambergris Caye | Scuba diving is prohibited in the exclusive recreational area of Shark Ray Alley (Zone D); tour guides may feed sharks there from inside the boat. (Belize Fisheries Department) A scuba or snorkel tour has at most 8 divers or snorkellers per dive master or tour guide; scuba is only for certified divers or students with a certified instructor. (Belize Fisheries Department) |
These are the sites we could document from official or labelled sources, not a full list. Fishing is a separate question: fishing rules in Belize.
Sea temperature in Belize by month
The sea is warmest in September (29.8 °C) and coolest in January (26.6 °C). ● marks our warm-water months (24 °C or more): all year.
| Month | Sea surface (NOAA) | Air (NASA POWER) | Our wetsuit rule of thumb | Catamaran, avg per week (12 Knots) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.6 °C ● | 25.7 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty | €10,722 |
| February | 26.6 °C ● | 26.0 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty | €11,310 |
| March | 27.1 °C ● | 26.7 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty | €11,454 |
| April | 28.0 °C ● | 27.6 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €10,869 |
| May | 28.8 °C ● | 28.5 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €8,767 |
| June | 29.3 °C ● | 28.7 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €7,566 |
| July | 29.1 °C ● | 28.6 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €7,335 |
| August | 29.5 °C ● | 28.9 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €6,771 |
| September | 29.8 °C ● | 29.0 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €6,787 |
| October | 29.2 °C ● | 28.4 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €6,343 |
| November | 28.1 °C ● | 27.1 °C | swimsuit or rash vest | €8,404 |
| December | 27.2 °C ● | 26.3 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty | €9,760 |
Of the twelve months (all at 24 °C or more), the cheapest on 12 Knots' average weekly catamaran price is October at €6,343 per week (12 Knots, checked 27 Oct 2026), with the sea at 29.2 °C (our comparison). It falls in the Atlantic hurricane season (1 June–30 November) (NOAA National Hurricane Center, checked 27 Oct 2026): see the best time to charter in Belize.
Sea surface: NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly mean for the 1/4° cell centred on 16.375° N, 88.125° W (Off Placencia) (NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1), checked 28 Oct 2026); the sites above may be warmer or cooler, and shallow bays warm up faster. Air: our 10-year NASA POWER mean at Placencia (NASA POWER, checked 28 Oct 2026). Prices are asking prices that mix bareboat and crewed listings.
Mooring, anchoring and park rules for your boat
- Hol Chan: vessels must use the mooring buoys provided and may use the exclusive recreational area only when a buoy is free, for at most one hour; anchors may not be cast or dragged in any way that damages coral or other sensitive habitat. (Belize Fisheries Department)
Can I scuba dive from the boat? Permits and dive centres
- Hol Chan: groups of at most 8 per dive master or guide; scuba only for certified divers or students with a certified instructor; no scuba in Shark Ray Alley's recreational area. (Belize Fisheries Department)
- [Not verified] Whether a charter yacht's guests may snorkel Hol Chan without a licensed tour guide: not verified.
Park and mooring fees
| Fee | Amount | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hol Chan entrance fee | US$15 per person (From 1 August 2024, per The San Pedro Sun; the same article mentions US$20 once. Belizeans pay a local rate.) | secondary | The San Pedro Sun (newspaper) |
Underwater visibility
[Not verified] We found no official or survey source for underwater visibility, so we give no figure. Ask the local dive centre on the day.
What wetsuit do I need in Belize?
From September's 29.8 °C our rule of thumb gives a swimsuit or rash vest; in January (26.6 °C) a rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty. The month-by-month column is in the table above.
Our rule of thumb for snorkelling, applied to the monthly mean: 28 °C or more: swimsuit or rash vest; 26–28 °C: rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty; 24–26 °C: 3 mm shorty; 21–24 °C: 3 mm full wetsuit; 18–21 °C: 5 mm full wetsuit; below 18 °C: 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving. Divers lose heat faster and meet cooler water at depth: go one band thicker. People feel cold differently; this is a guide, not a source's advice.
| Mean sea temperature | Our rule of thumb for snorkelling |
|---|---|
| 28 °C or more | swimsuit or rash vest |
| 26–28 °C | rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty |
| 24–26 °C | 3 mm shorty |
| 21–24 °C | 3 mm full wetsuit |
| 18–21 °C | 5 mm full wetsuit |
| Below 18 °C | 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving |
See boats in Belize
See boats for rent in Belize on SamBoat
Check the park rules above and the boat's own kit (snorkel gear, dinghy, dive-ladder) with the operator before you book; listings and prices on SamBoat are SamBoat's own. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you (disclosure).
What we could not verify
- The current Hol Chan fee on the reserve's own site, and whether it differs for divers.
- Rules at Glover's Reef, Lighthouse Reef and the Blue Hole, and near Placencia where our sea-temperature point is.
- Underwater visibility.
How to read the labels
- [Secondary source]: From a newspaper, NGO, guide or tour operator; not official.
- [Not verified]: We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess.
- No label: Read in an official text: government, park authority, ministry or official tourism board.
Sea temperatures are NOAA's; the wetsuit column, the 24 °C warm-water mark and any sum or comparison are ours and say so. Park rules change and some are seasonal: check with the park, your charter base or a local dive centre before you go.
Sources
- Belize Fisheries Department: Fisheries Dept – Hol Chan (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- The San Pedro Sun (newspaper): New park fee goes into effect at Hol Chan Marine Reserve (secondary, not official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1): NOAA High-resolution Blended Analysis: OISST v2.1 long-term mean monthly sea surface temperature, 1991–2020 (sst.mon.ltm.1991-2020.nc) (official), checked 28 Oct 2026.
- NASA POWER: Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources: Monthly API (T2M, WS10M) (official), air temperature, pulled 28 Oct 2026.
- 12 Knots: Catamaran charter in Belize (secondary, prices), checked 27 Oct 2026.
Method: methodology. Data: JSON.
More on Belize
Frequently asked questions
Can you snorkel and dive from a charter boat in Belize?
Yes: Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley off Ambergris Caye are the classic stop, but boats must use the reserve's mooring buoys (one hour at most), groups are limited to 8 per guide, and scuba is banned in Shark Ray Alley's recreational area. The sea averages between 26.6 °C (January) and 29.8 °C (September) by NOAA's 1991–2020 means at our reference point, so it stays at 24 °C or more all year and by our rule of thumb a rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty is enough even in the coolest month.
How warm is the sea in Belize?
By NOAA's 1991–2020 averages at our reference point (Off Placencia), the sea surface is warmest in September at 29.8 °C and coolest in January at 26.6 °C. Months at 24 °C or more: all year.
Do I need a wetsuit to snorkel in Belize?
By our rule of thumb (not a source's advice): a swimsuit or rash vest in September and a rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty in January; divers should go one band thicker.
Do I need a dive centre to scuba dive in Belize?
Hol Chan: groups of at most 8 per dive master or guide; scuba only for certified divers or students with a certified instructor; no scuba in Shark Ray Alley's recreational area. Not verified: Whether a charter yacht's guests may snorkel Hol Chan without a licensed tour guide: not verified.
Are there park fees or mooring rules for boats in Belize?
Hol Chan: vessels must use the mooring buoys provided and may use the exclusive recreational area only when a buoy is free, for at most one hour; anchors may not be cast or dragged in any way that damages coral or other sensitive habitat. Fees: Hol Chan entrance fee: US$15 per person (secondary source).