Gap Year Diver - scuba trips for people taking time out, a career break and gap year

Destination Guide

Location

Tom Owen's Caye is part of the Sapodilla group of islands, located in the south of Belize. It is a World Heritage Site and a Marine Reserve. It is an extremely beautiful island where you can snorkel, dive, kayak, play volley ball or sunbath during the day and watch the stars or chill out on the veranda at night.

At the weekend your location is a traditional Belizean Mayan town called Punta Gorda. There are plenty of bars and restaurants. There are also internet cafes and a bank where cash can be accessed by switch or credit card.

The town is a pretty place with the sea on one side and the jungle on the other. Located in southern Belize near to the border of Guatemala. Perfect for land based trips to Guatemala, waterfalls or the jungle at weekends.

Our guests experience the ‘real’ Belize in Punta Gorda, affectionately know as PG by Belizeans. PG gives our customers the unique opportunity to integrate into a society that is not spoiled by tourism. People enjoy nights out dancing punta rock, playing pool with the locals, or going to the very colourful market on Saturday mornings. PG has a very social environment where everyone goes home with new friends! It has been stated on numerous occasions that ‘PG will forever hold a place in my heart’.

Programmes and Trips

• Belize Reef CI (Tom Owen's Caye, Belize)

  
  • The conservation work currently includes working with Whale Sharks, lobster and conch surveys, indicator fish surveys, water quality assessment, plankton studies, habitat studies, pollution assessments, turtle monitoring and much more!…
  • Trip Duration: 1 week +
  • Suitability: Beginners and qualified divers
  • From £750 per week. FREE Open Water course.
  FULL TRIP DETAILS REQUEST A QUOTE

Optional Tours / Excursions

The following tours are available to add-on to your gap year diving experience. Tours can generally be done either before or after a programme, but in some cases they can be done during the programme.

Sorry, but we do not appear to have any tours listed at present. Please check back again. Alternatively, please call us to learn more about tours / trip extensions and we can discuss possible options.

Climate / Weather

Diving Conditions

Belize offers all ranges of diving - from shore diving in shallow water to the Great Blue Hole at over 200 feet deep.

Climate

November to January are traditionally the coolest months and May to September are the warmest. Being on a Caye you really don't get the same climate as the mainland. Bring T-shirts and shorts and you'll be fine!

Photos for Belize

Travel Advice

Facts

Official Name: Belize
Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico
Population: c.305,000
Languages: Spanish, Creole, Mayan dialects, English (official)
Religion: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4%
Capital: Belize City
FCO Travel Advice Link: Belize Information

Visas / Entry Requirements

British nationals can normally visit Belize for up to 30 days without needing to obtain a visa. However, you must ensure that your passport is stamped on entry as failure to do so can result in either a fine and/or imprisonment when you come to leave the country. Visa extensions for another 30 days can be arranged for c.US $30.

Vaccinations

Please visit www.netdoctor.co.uk for more information or consult with your local GP for professional advice.

Flight times / routes

London to Belize City (via USA e.g. Miami), Belize City to Punta Gorda (internal flight) followed by a boat ride to Tom Owen's Caye.