23 replies to this topic

[fairfield59]

Just got here and too tired to go anywhere. Belize is still in another time so far. Airport in Belize City was closed up tight except for the 3 of us waiting for the 10 seat puddle jumper to take us to San Pedro at 5 pm when I arrived BZE . It left on time.

San Pedro so far is muddy potholed streets, hot, humid, and mosquito laden.

Staying at Mayan Princess. All the units here are independently owned. No one picked me up at airport, even though it was included with my package, and when I called hotel they didn't know anything about it. and didn't offer to send anyone to get me. Not too far a walk with 1 suitcase.

Had to ask for safe deposit box key. Old window type AC is cranking, but the balcony doors were wide open when I got here, so I'm sure the mosquitos have found a home.

Too dark to see much during my walk.

On a bright note, I arranged to have food and drink in my room when I arrived by a local provisioner, and it was all there, in the fridge, ready.

Continental breakfast is provided, I'll see what its like in the morning.

Belikin beer needs to be REAL cold before it tastes like beer instead of swamp water.


So far I'm underwhelmed.

Diving starts tomorrow am, I'm sure that will bring my spirits up!

Gerry

[ScubaPunk]

Just got here and too tired to go anywhere. Belize is still in another time so far. Airport in Belize City was closed up tight except for the 3 of us waiting for the 10 seat puddle jumper to take us to San Pedro at 5 pm when I arrived BZE . It left on time.

San Pedro so far is muddy potholed streets, hot, humid, and mosquito laden.

Staying at Mayan Princess. All the units here are independently owned. No one picked me up at airport, even though it was included with my package, and when I called hotel they didn't know anything about it. and didn't offer to send anyone to get me. Not too far a walk with 1 suitcase.

Had to ask for safe deposit box key. Old window type AC is cranking, but the balcony doors were wide open when I got here, so I'm sure the mosquitos have found a home.

Too dark to see much during my walk.

On a bright note, I arranged to have food and drink in my room when I arrived by a local provisioner, and it was all there, in the fridge, ready.

Continental breakfast is provided, I'll see what its like in the morning.

Belikin beer needs to be REAL cold before it tastes like beer instead of swamp water.


So far I'm underwhelmed.

Diving starts tomorrow am, I'm sure that will bring my spirits up!

Gerry

Good Luck Gerry. Hopefully the diving will be good.

[dustbowl diver]

Gerry,

Sorry to here of your beginings, hope things improve dramatically!!

[fairfield59]

What a difference a day makes! (Plus a few Belikin's)

2 dives this morning. Left pier at 8:45 am. First was at Hol Chan Marine Park. $10 extra fee. Worth it. The reef here is not just one long reef, it has all these cuts through it, they look like sand roads. 83' for 47 minutes, and I was the weak sister of the 7 divers on the boat. The dive brief was very short, and no one said anything about me being buddyless. The Wench would have had a conniption! I stayed near thge dive master.

The grouper here rival the one in the tank at the WW wedding. They are huge, and they are everywhere! The reefs are mostly colorless, but there are tons of fish. I'm diving with Amigos del Mar, and we went out in a ~30 twin 200 hp skiff. Backroll off, and take off all your gear before climbing up portable ladder. Seas were dead calm. Water was 81 degrees, and the other divers looked at me funny as I was putting on my 3mil wetsuit.

A few lobster, and we saw aturtle on the surface as we were going in for our surface interval. Ther DM kept pointing out big or schooling fish, not much for him to show us, but he was trying.

Surface interval back at the dive shop, 30 minutes after arriving. Fresh coconut, watermelon and oranges, plus a big pot of coffee.

They hook up your BC and regs for you here.

Second dive better than first. Can't remember name, might have been Eagle ray alley, they were trying to find rays for us. We found one huge one sleeping, or dead, cause he didn't move at all when we were taking his picture!

This dive we had a 4 nurse shark escort, the entire dive. One of the divers grabbed one, flipped him upside down, and rubbed his belly like a dog. The shark just laid there. Never seen that before.

50 feet for 50 minutes. Come up for safety stop at 650 psi.

After lunch, took a long walk to southern end of island. If you are staying at Banana Beach, you will need a taxi or rent a golf cart to get to town, it is walkable but probably not at night. They are tearing up the road right in front of BB, they started 3 days ago to pave it. Had a beer at Roadkill Bar, tiny dive on side of the road across from Crazy Canucks. Had several beers at Crazy Canucks, and getting ready to go back for live music at 7 after dinner. Will try to get them to stick a Singledivers sticker on the wall. Think I'll try Fido's tonight for dinner.

Everthing is better the second day, after diving and getting the lay of the land.

No problems, mon!

Beers are $5 BZ or $2.50 US, for those who are wondering.

[ScubaPunk]

Glad that things are looking better today Gerry. Have a great time, and next time don't leave home without your SD buddies!

[pir8]

Sounds great. Gives me a little to look forward to next month.

[dustbowl diver]

That's the spirit!! Sounds like the second site was shark/wray alley. Fido's is a good place and crazy canucks is a great bar! Have a Belikin for me!!!

[shadragon]

They hook up your BC and regs for you here.

The diving sounds great, but I think this is a little too much customer service... I would prefer to setup anything my life depends on myself.

Have fun and keep the reports coming. Cheers.

[divzac]

Gerry, Great to hear the update!! Keep-em-comin' Zach

[fairfield59]

The reg and BC hookup are just a courtesy, I'm sure you could double check everything.

1st dive today, Tacklebox. 88' 48 minutes. Got my breathing back under control, cam up with DM at dives end both dives today with plenty of air. Nurse sharks everywhere. Plenty of belly rubbing again today, that seems to be a big thing. More of the biggest grouper I've ever seen. They almost looked like a school, there were so many.

Surface interval back at the dive shop, where they were getting ready for a barbeque, one of their DM's birthday is today. Coconut, oranges, and watermelon.

Second dive not sure of name, might have been Dardenelles. Tough accent to follow. 61' 57 minutes. The reefs here are incredible, its not one long reff, its like many parallel reefs, with a sand floor between each of them. Lots of cuts and swim throughs on first dive. Several LARGE green eels. Divemaster said to put your finger in its mouth, then draw back to get the eel out of his hole to see how big it was. Think he was just kidding.

Water temp 81 deg. Overcast with occasional very light drizzle. Maybe 1-2 ft seas, still pretty calm inside the reef. Same boat, the Gillian Michelle.

Ate last night at Elvi's. Great food. When I left around 7 all the tables were full. Shrimp cocktail $18 BZ, , stuffed jalpenos (really good) $16BZ, and Lobster and Shrimp Chardonnay, $56 BZ. Most entrees were in the $25-40 range BZ. Exchange rate is straight 2 to 1 BZ to US. Lots of funny drinks, from 10-20 BZ. Never looked at dessert. Went back to hotel and was asleep by 9. Getting lots of sleep since there are no SD happy hours and such!

There is a swarm of dragonflies outside my balcony every morning, and the skeeters seem to stay away. Only have 2 or 3 bites, and it's the rainy season.

It's good to be me.

Oh, Sandy, I tried to get some sd'ers to come, but after I said I was going the Wench said she had this great subsidized trip to , you, guessed it, Belize! Funny how no one wanted to go with me!

[FLStarfish]

Gerry,

Thanks for posting. I'm on the SD trip to Belize next month, your reports have been very informative. Can you please confirm some of the information I've read about Belize?

1. ATMs are few and far between.

2. US Dollars are accepted virtually everywhere.

3. Electricity is the same as the US. (Please don't confuse me by talking volts and cycles I just need to know if my camera charger will work

Thanks and I hope you continue to have a good time!

Lynette

[fairfield59]

Hi Lynette,

1. ATMs are few and far between. I've seen a half dozen or so, a couple are even 24 hr, they are all inside.

2. US Dollars are accepted virtually everywhere. Yes, they take US everywhere.

3. Electricity is the same as the US. (Please don't confuse me by talking volts and cycles I just need to know if my camera charger will work [color=#990000]Yes the electricity is the same

Gerry

[fairfield59]

Life is good.

First dive today was Tortugas. 79' 52 minutes. First bright sunshiney day since I got here. Hot, but not humid as much. This dive was just row after row of like 40' high walls, with small cuts through them. They almost sent us out with 10 divers to 1 DM, but we picked up another couple, and we went back to shop and split into 2 groups. Saw a 5' green eel swimming at top of reef. One barracuda laying in wait in one of the cuts.

I'm getting spoiled by the 5 minute boats rides and surface intervals at the dive shop.

2nd dive Esmerelda. 55' 52 minutes. A lot of second dive are done on the top part of reefs, but they are still in 90-100' of water . Many sharks again. Saw the biggest eel I've ever seen, his open mouth could have taken my arm in easy! Schools of about 6' blue colored fish, didn't know what they were.

Ate at Sunset Grill last night, on the mainland side of island, north of town. They had to bring a can of OFF to my table when they saw how the mosquitos were killing me. Its open air, and when I had been in there earlier in afternoon there was a breeze and no bugs. Dinner at dusk, no breeze and bugs. They had the most awesome conch fritters I've ever had, big, very moist and came with aan apple dipping sauce. Shrimp Santa Fe, shrimp with fried Chorizo sausage. Mango Tango snapper for entree. grilled fillet, with sort of a mango salsa on top. Very good. Prices were about the same as other restaurant, 10-25 entrees US, Appetizers, 4-8 US. Had room for about 50-60m people or so.

Walked to the bridge going to north side of island. It s a toll bridge for vehicles like cars and golf carts. Pedestrians and bikes free. Didn't look like there was anything in walking distance, so didn't go any farther. I know there are some restauants up north that will pick you up at Fidos dock and bring you there for free, just to get you to their restaurants.

nothing like taking a shower, then being soaked with sweat 5 minutes later siiting at the keyboard in the lobby.

Dove with some people from Arizona, they are staying at Mata Roks, small place south of town, they like it. Another couple staying at Ramons Village, it's nice too.

For those so inclined, I passed a couple of small places with slot machines in them. Only sign outside said "Entertainment" They are building a casino south of town but it is not open yet.

Off for souveneirs, and swamp water.

Gerry

[fairfield59]

Last post for this trip, leaving in am.

Last dive this morning, passed on 2nd dive to off gas a little more. Stiff offshore breeze gave us some nice rollers after we went out of the reef opening. 4-5 feet seas. Very murky at surface down to 15-20 feet. Waited on bottom at 60' where vis picked up to about 40-50'. Still murky from all the rain/storms of last few weeks. Tailing the group, I came upon a sea turtle at 60 feet, covered with barnacles. Only could get 1 other divers attention as he swam off into the silt. More of the same fish life as in other posts.

Ate last night at Mango's. You enter off the beach, smallish place, room for 35-40. Trevor is the bartender, and yesterday was the 1st day they were open after 6 weeks off. Nice guy, former volleyball player. Food was fantastic. Bouillabaise that wasn't really, but a nice tomato based soup with seafood. Having trouble remembering what else I had, but I DO remember it was great. Can anyone say Belikin?

Had lunch at Lily's today, right off the pier from Amigos del Mar Dive shop. Thought I should try it because I've been using their bathroom all week. Uninspired fish fajitas soaked in what tasted like KRAFT barbeque sauce. Conch fritters that were like big hushpuppies. I'm sure there was some conch in there, but I didn't see it! Service wasn't very pleasant. Only place I wouldn't recommend so far this trip.

Thinking about trying Bluewater Grill tonight, going to walk around and see where I end up.

You all coming here in November are going to have fun. Fido's is a big place to party in town, there just wasn't anybody here to party with! Hopefully there will be more people in Nov. Typical touristy gift shops carry mostly the same stuff in town, prices are a little better when the air conditioning isn't as cold.

People of the island are polite and pleasant. The street vendors do not seek you out, they wait for you to approach. Some of the people I dove with said they had some great food from the vendors in town, they said it was chicken but I've only seen one cat the whole time I have been here! You put two and two together....


I will definately come back, maybe at a different time of year to have more people to interact with. Maybe SD will come back next year.

Adieu, adieu, .....

Gerry