UNBELIZEABLE VACATION DAY 10 :: BELIZE BARRIER REEF, BELIZE :: Hol Chan means "little channel" in Mayan. It describes a unique and relatively narrow cut in the Belize Barrier Reef where the creatures of the open Caribbean Sea are able to cross into the calmer, protected seagrass beds behind the reef. Large coral formations and an incredible variety of wildlife are concentrated at this intersection. The water is also clear and shallow, making it the perfect snorkeling destination.
We swam alongside sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, nurse sharks, stingrays, barracudas, and moray eels, to name just a few of the dozens of species we saw. The sun was out so the visibility was great. Kristie did not want our group to scare away all of "her" fish, so we swam in front of the group and along the periphery. The guides would clap underwater to alert us to something interesting they had found and we would swim back.
We were led quite a ways across the seagrass beds and into the cut, which is approximately 25 yards wide and 10 yards deep. Coral lined the walls and if you just stopped to stare at any random spot, you would gradually notice layer upon layer of life - tiny fish, snails, urchins, eels, squid and the intricate, fractal structure of the coral itself.
Unfortunately, we only got to swim around for an hour before being called back to the boat. After Hol Chan, we also stopped to snorkel at Shark-Ray Alley, an area where fishermen have traditionally emptied their unused bait and cleaned their nets, attracting a population of nurse sharks and stingrays. It was a little unsettling swimming near these guys, as they are quite capable of causing harm, but apparently they are accustomed and "friendly" to the people swimming here daily.
After snorkeling, we asked our guides to drop us off in
San Pedro town. They took our gear back to the
Belize Legacy and we caught a water taxi later in the afternoon after enjoying some lunch and shopping.
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