【Traveler’s Journal】Explore the World’s Seven Underwater Wonders: Stroll Through Belize’s Marine Garden

By TRAVELER Luxe Traveler’s Journal Wei
 
Who says winter must be all about snow? Follow the sun’s trail across the ocean for a reverse-season escape. Nestled in Central America, Belize is a hidden natural paradise tucked away in the Caribbean, boasting both mountain and sea beauty—relaxing Caribbean luxury getaways, Mayan culture explorations in inland rainforests, and wellness experiences in rural countryside. Enjoy the mountains and the sea, embracing a dazzlingly sunny winter in nature’s playground.

Swim with the fish in an underwater garden
A must-visit for ocean and water sports enthusiasts, Belize is located in the southeastern corner of the Yucatán Peninsula in Central America, embracing the western Caribbean Sea with a prime geographical position that combines the natural beauty of blue skies, seas, mountains, and rainforests. Its coastal coral reef system is the world’s second largest, one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the World, and features three atolls, the UNESCO-listed Great Blue Hole, and marine conservation areas. With its pristine marine ecosystems, spectacular natural landscapes, and warm, stable climate, it is a favorite winter holiday destination for Europeans and Americans and a mecca for ocean and water sports lovers.

● Eye of the Ocean, the Great Blue Hole
For advanced divers, snorkeling at Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley is just an appetizer—the real goal is a scuba dive into the “Great Blue Hole.” After being ranked among the world’s top ten diving spots by legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau in 1991, the Great Blue Hole quickly became one of the must-dive destinations for divers worldwide. It was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1996 and named one of the world’s top ten natural wonders by the Discovery Channel in 2012.

The “Great Blue Hole” is located on Lighthouse Reef, one of the three atolls off the coast of Belize, and is the world’s largest underwater limestone sinkhole. The porous limestone geology formed underground caves during the Quaternary Ice Age. As sea levels rose, the cave ceiling collapsed and was flooded by the ocean, creating the Great Blue Hole we see today. With a diameter of about 300 meters, it forms a perfectly round, deep blue void amid the vibrant turquoise waters of the shallow reef lagoon. Viewed from a helicopter overhead, it appears as a profound, mysterious “eye” gazing up at the sky—concealing nature’s secrets. A narrow channel through the surrounding reef islands allows dive boats to access the hole.

Embrace the sea breeze and savor the island’s slow pace of life
There are countless island resorts around the world, so why choose Belize? Belize boasts the world’s second-largest barrier reef and three atolls, with numerous small islands scattered like stars across the deep blue sea—too many to count. With a wide variety of water sports, rare and spectacular geological wonders, pristine and rich natural ecosystems, and a laid-back island lifestyle, this small patch of ocean miraculously encompasses everything people imagine when dreaming of an island vacation.