Anyway, as someone who has been a bit sceptical of the Blue Hole's worthiness-- it may just be that I am of the "not-so-sure- what-there-is-to-see that's such a big deal" school for the few minutes I'm down there. Hope those are not incendiary words. But, IMHO, I might just elect to do a regular dive day instead...in any case this overview is a big help in how to think about our dive days, etc. so thanks again. You rock!
Susiq
There are perhaps three generic areas usually dived from San Pedro - the 10 mile stretch of the Meso-American barrier reef that is just offshore from the town and its environs, stretching northwards from Hol Chan Marine Reserve; the Blue Hole (inside Lighthouse Atoll) and the associated dives on southern parts of that atoll; and the Elbow and nearby sites at the southern end of Turneffe Atoll.
All other available sites are little dived, including the barrier reef further than say 5 miles north of town, all parts of Turneffe other than the Elbow area, and all parts of Lighthouse Reef on the west side north of the two southern cayes (Half Moon and Long). I have never heard of any diving on the eastern side of Lighthouse (too rough), and the eastern side of Turneffe is rarely dived (also rough).
I have only once dived north Turneffe and it was a fairly forgettable day. I have dived a few spots on the mid-west of Lighthouse and they were excellent.
Despite the reputation you may read in some places, IMO the Elbow is not a particularly great dive area, and doesn't begin to compare with the regular sites on Lighthouse Reef.
I have never heard of anyone diving the southern tip of Lighthouse, though I want to do it as I believe the diving should be superb.
Areas "north" of San Pedro on the barrier reef are a mixed bag. As Kamala said, there's a mixture of absolutely superb sites and areas of endless sand, and as nothing is marked and I don't know anyone who has useful GPS coordinates (or is prepared to release them) it really is pot luck.
You're all going to have five or six days of diving, and I imagine people will want to spend one of those days on the Blue Hole day trip, which includes dives in the Hole itself and on the reef at each of the two southern cayes. That leaves four or five days to fill, and depending on who on the trip has been here before I suggest two of those days be at familiar sites offshore from town. Maybe an afternoon can be spent at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, but I don't think you'll want to give up a day's diving to go there.
At least two more days can be spent "way up north", exploring virtually undived areas. These will probably be three dive days, to maximise efficiency of use of boat fuel. These may be fairly intensively moderately deep (down to say 80ft for much of the dive), so this is where nitrox will really come into its own. Most people with more than say 20 dives would find that if they use air they run out of allowable bottom time on these dives long before their tanks are empty. Nitrox removes that problem.
I strongly suggest anyone not already nitrox certified to PM me and we can do most of the necessary work on-line. The course is almost entirely theory, and I'll do it for you for free (OK, for a beer or two!). You'll have to pay for the cert, and you'll need to buy a manual and some "slates" at a PADI shop near home. Assuming you study what and how I tell you, we'll need to spend maybe an afternoon once you're here doing what remains - it won't interfere with your diving.
