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Even if it is not as popular as the « real » Shark Ray Alley, located in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve a few miles north of Caye Caulker, this spot allows you to get up close and personal with nurse sharks and southern stingrays in quite the same way. Located only 5 minutes by boat from Caye Caulker piers, Shark Ray Alley is a not-to-be-missed spot if you stay on this tiny island.

Snorkeling with nurse sharks at Caye Caulker, Belize
Nurse sharks and stingrays next to a boat in Caye Caulker Shark Ray Alley.

How to get to Caye Caulker Shark Ray Alley?

Shark Ray Alley can only be reached by boat tours. Most tours include snorkeling in nearby locations, such as South Channel and The Coral Garden, and depart from Caye Caulker pier.

It is easy to reach Caye Caulker from San Pedro (30min) or Belize City (70min), as several water taxi companies run trips every day in each direction. If you stay in San Pedro, then Ambergris Caye Shark Ray Alley is much nearer.

Caye Caulker Shark Ray Alley snorkeling map, Belize

Water entrance for snorkeling in Shark Ray Alley

Water entrance is from the boat ladders. You won’t have to look for the sharks and the stingrays for long since they will come up to see you!

Caye Caulker Shark Ray Alley snorkeling tips

The area has a constant depth (↕4-8ft/1.5-3m) and features sandy and grassy beds.

Nurse sharks and stingrays are the main attractions of the spot. Shark feeding has been common for many years (and some excursion organizers still do so), and has made the sharks familiar with humans.

Snorkeling with nurse sharks at Caye Caulker, Belize
At this location, nurse sharks are easy to approach.

As soon as the boat arrives, the stingrays and sharks are attracted by the noise of the engine and swim toward the boat. Get into the water as soon as possible to make the most of the sight.

You only need to put your head under the water to see the sharks and stingrays coming and going between the boats. You can easily get close to them, but they will swim away if you make any sudden movement. Some stingrays are quite inquisitive but don’t forget they can be harmful if they feel threatened.

Here and there, you will also spot horse-eye jack, Bermuda chub, smooth trunkfish and small barracudas swimming above the seagrass beds.

Queen conch at Caye Caulker, Belize
Queen conch is a common sighting in Caye Caulker seagrass beds.

This location can be very crowded, so watch out for boat traffic and other snorkelers. The water is shallow and generally calm and clear.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

This spot is on a coral reef facing Caye Caulker, about 1km from the shore. Most tours include water and fruits.

 

  • Level required Intermediate
  • Protected areaCaye Caulker Marine Reserve
  • Maximum depth8ft/3m
  • Water entranceFrom a boat
  • Potential DangersStingrays
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersMedium
  • Access costsMarine reserve entrance fee (10$ pp.) + snorkeling tour price (approx. 25$ pp.)
  • 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.