Swimming with Sharks in Belize

I realize Belize is not Guatemala. I know I typically write about my time spent in Guatemala but I did visit Belize to go swim with nurse sharks and it is an outdoor adventure I would highly recommend if you are traveling near Belize.

Belize is after all only a hop, skip, and jump away from Guatemala!

When I first thought of swimming with sharks I’ll admit I was a little hesitant but these aren’t your great white sharks out of Jaws. These guys are easygoing. I’ll just quote the guide”The friendliest sharks in Belize.” and they really are. Here is everything you need to know about swimming with nurse sharks in Belize!

Snorkeling Tour

This is the must-do activity in Caye Caulker! Swim with sea turtles, sting rays, nurse sharks, tropical fish, barracuda, and more!

Snorkeling in Belize is popular for a reason! It is one of the most fun things to do and an experience you’ll remember forever.

Remember when swimming with wildlife use respect and common sense. I didn’t approach any ocean life and kept a nice distance for observing. Most of the ocean life kept to the bottom and I was floating on top of the water so I was about 6 feet away.

We booked our tour with Tsunami Adventure Tours which was conveniently right in front of our hotel and they did an excellent job. The woman in the front, possibly the owner, was very friendly, very knowledgeable, and very accommodating. Some of the best customer service I’ve ever experienced in my lifetime was on Caye Caulker.

You can book your tour here! Tsunami Adventures Belize

Picture courtesy of Tsunami Adventures

We booked the full-day $90 per person snorkeling tour, Best of Belize Reef – Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which included our snorkel gear, lunch, and rum punch! Our tour was from 10am to 3pm. It had three stops. First at the HOH Chan Reserve. Then we swam at Shark and Stingray ally. Lastly, we swam at a place called Coral Gardens.

Our weather conditions were not the best but we still have a fantastic time and they could have been much worse. We didn’t encounter any rain but the day was windy which made the ocean waves a little more choppy than they would be on a calm day. The waves were still manageable and we still have an excellent time.

What Should You Bring?

Wear reef and coral-friendly sunscreen. I’d recommend SPF 100 and don’t forget to reapply it! I’d also bring some drinking water and wear your swimsuit with a swim cover to protect yourself from the sun.

Sunscreen
Water
Swim Cover

They will provide the rest. Snorkel gear, lunch if you book the full-day tour, and the rum punch which is probably the most important thing, not gonna lie.

Can Kids Go?

I was mixed on if we should bring our toddler 6-year-old on this trip because of this tour. It did say children were allowed but my son is just now learning to swim. I was hesitant and decided he should stay behind for this trip because I wasn’t sure if he would have fun on the snorkel tour. I absolutely made the right decision. Considering the weather conditions there was no way I would be comfortable with him swimming in the ocean and doing this tour.

At times I was even a tad worried about my teen. We all used life jackets as floating devices which was a great idea! My 6-year-old son wouldn’t have been able to get in the water. The boat ride was choppy considering the winds I don’t even think he would have enjoyed that. We all had a great time but I don’t recommend this trip for anyone under 12. however, it’s each parent’s decision to know what their kids will enjoy and what they can endure as far as swimming.

The Experience

Our first stop at HOH Chan Reserve was a guided tour where we swam behind our guide and he pointed out cool things in the water. It was a little hard to keep up but it was everyone’s favorite stop and the place where we saw the most ocean life. It did not disappoint it was amazing.

My husband on our Caye Caulker Belize Snorkel Tour

This is where we saw small stingrays on the ocean floor, we saw a sea turtle swimming from the bottom to the top to break the water for a breath of air. We saw an enormous barracuda, several schools of fish, some unique coral, and cliff edges under the water. My only complaint is that I wished it had lasted longer!

Swimming with Sharks

The Shark and Sting Ray Alley were also very cool. I didn’t feel scared and we all got into the water and swam with the sting rays and sharks. The guide will start by feeding the sharks and it’s really fun to see them come up onto the surface of the water. Then you jump into the water off the side of the boat opposite the side where they were being fed.

They scatter after the feeding stops and you can swim around seeing nothing for a bit then come across some small sting rays or a few nurse sharks along the bottom of the ocean floor. This area was dark under the water and the ocean life is scared of you so they do not come close. Everything here was very fun. You won’t see as much sea life here as the last stop.

I ordered a chicken sandwich for lunch. I will say the burgers looked a lot better.

The last stop was the coral gardens and it was our least favorite but still a lot of fun. You don’t see as much here but we did see some small nurse sharks and fish.