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The Coral Garden is one of the very best snorkeling spots around Caye Caulker. Visibility is excellent in its shallow waters and you will love its photogenic coral maze teeming with fish. Even if you can only access it with a boat, unlike other neighboring spots you will be free to wander wherever you like once in the water.

Coral reef at the Coral Garden, Belize
The reef at the Coral Garden.

How to get to Coral Gardens snorkeling spot?

Coral Garden is located in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve and the only way to visit it is to book a guided tour. Most tours leave from Caye Caulker pier and include several stops in neighboring spots (such as Caye Caulker Shark Ray Alley and South Channel).

To reach Caye Caulker you have to take a boat from San Pedro (30mn) or Belize City (70mn). It is an easy trip: two companies run about 15 rides a day in each direction.

The Coral Gardens snorkeling map, Belize

Water entrance for snorkeling the Coral Gardens

Water entrance is from the boat ladders. Your guide will show you the snorkeling area.

Coral Gardens snorkeling exploration

The snorkeling area covers the inner side of the reef. Depth is constant throughout the area (↕6-9ft/2-3m).

School of grunt at the Coral Garden, Belize
A school of French grunts and smallmouth grunts in the Coral Garden.

Snorkel between the different coral patches, enjoying the diversity of corals and sea fans species.

Large schools of grunt shelter in the shade of the coral heads, as well as groups of Bermuda chub. Many common species of Caribbean reefs can be seen here, such as sergeant majors, wrasse, damselfish… If you’re lucky you will also spot some large parrotfish.

Fire coral at the Coral Garden, Belize
Fire coral in the Coral Garden. You can clearly see the small hairs, which possess clusters of stinging cells.

Since it is perfectly sheltered from currents and waves by the coral reef, this spot is ideal for beginners. Visibility is also generally excellent here: expect crystal-clear water.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

The snorkeling area is located in the lagoon, approximately 1 km off Caye Caulker. You won’t find any restaurants here, but most tours include water and fruit cuts.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Protected areaCaye Caulker Marine Reserve
  • Maximum depth10ft/3m
  • Water entranceEasy, from a boat
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsMarine reserve entrance fee ($10pp.) + tour price (approx. $25pp.)
  • Restaurants nearbyNo
  • Public toilets & showersNo

MAP Spot

These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.