Chaa Creek Calls Belize’s Ranking in Top Ten Dive Spots “Timely”
San Ignacio, Belize (PRWEB) March 28, 2014 -- Just in time for Spring, when Belize comes alive with migratory birds, the amazing annual whale shark migration, a plethora of tropical flowers in bloom and rich natural variety, Belize has been named as number one of North Americas’ top ten dive spots in a major publication, according to Chaa Creek's Natural History Centre manager Brion Young.
Mr Young was quoting from the March 23 2014 edition of the Jacksonville Business Journal.
“It’s pretty timely to have that sort of mention just as Spring is at its height and so much is going on,” Mr Young said. “Our Rainforest-to-Reef” all-inclusive Belize vacations Have been growing for a variety of reasons, and this new accolade is important not only to Chaa Creek, but the Belize eco-tourism industry as a whole,” he said.
The Jacksonville Business Journal’s article, “Top Ten Dive spots in North America” put Belize’s Half Moon Caye as number one on the list of the ten best dive spots on the continent.
Mr Young said that Belize’s Half Moon Caye coming in at number one is not surprising, although the nearby “Blue Hole” made famous by the Jacques Cousteau Calypso documentary and often seen as an Iconic diving photograph, is more well known.
“Don’t get me wrong, the Half Moon Caye wall is stunning, obviously, but most people, when they think of diving Belize, immediately think the nearby Blue Hole, Mr Young said, “It is nice that they are so close to each other, and surrounded by other awesome sites,” he added.
Here’s what the Jacksonville Business Journal had to say about Half Moon Caye:
1. Dive: Half Moon Caye, Belize
Half Moon Caye in Belize offers divers the chance to go on a wall dive–a dive in which the vertical facades of the earth’s landmasses are explored. The depths at Half Moon Caye (and really at any wall dive) are tremendous, giving you the very correct feeling that you are staring into an abyss. The waters at Half Moon Caye are particularly clear, despite the depth, so you will be able to see all manner of wildlife, including loggerhead turtles, rays, barracuda, and eels.
According to the Journal, other noteworthy spots were Point Lobos, Carmel, California, Keahole Point, Hawaii the submerged wrecks of the RMS Rhone in the British Virgin Islands and the ironically named Ray of Hope ship in the Bahamas. The Blue Heron Bridge, Riviera Beach, Florida, Mexico’s Gran Cenote, the Maya Riviera, Isla Mujeres and Cancun and Cocos Island, Costa Rica also made the list.
”The fact that Belize came in number one on a list of such incredible dives spots really is something for us to feel good about,” Mr Young said,
Although Chaa Creek is a rainforest eco resort offering easy access to the ancient Maya’s most important archaeological sites, such as the huge cities of Caracol and Tikal, as well as river canoe excursions, horseback riding and a wide range of activities within its sprawling 365 acre private nature reserve, the poplar eco resort has been arranging trips to Belize’s Caribbean Coast, Great Barrier Reef and cayes for over 30years, Mr Young said.
“In a country only some 180 miles long by 70 miles wide, everything is close at hand, and now that Tropic Air, the local air service has opened their airstrip at Maya Flats, right at our front door, our guests have direct, regularly scheduled flights to Ambergris Caye on the Reef, Placencia on the Caribbean Coast and Belize City.
“It means that all of Belize, from unspoiled jungle, ancient Maya metropolises to the best diving in the world is literally accessible from your own room,” Mr Young said.
Mr Young said that he is confident that Belize is the only country in the world where the sparkling waters and white sands of the Caribbean are so close to huge tracts of pristine rainforest and well preserved ancient Maya cities and artefacts,
“We’ve certainly been blessed by mother nature in that regard, and with having a warm, friendly multicultural population with English as the official language. All of this really comes alive in Spring and now, with an influential North American journal making us number one on the list of top ten diving spots… well, it certainly shows that we're finally becoming known as a premier destination,” he said.
Mr Young said that Chaa Creek has become known for “bespoke” packages and tours, where staff work with guests to create personalised vacations catering to specific interests, and urged potential guests to contact the eco-resort though its website, the Chaa Creek “Belize Travel Blog” or travel agents to speak with staff about specific interests, including diving excursions.
“Due to the infrastructure of our 365 acre private resort and the close relationship with colleagues we’ve developed over the years we can do things no one else can, and in a surprisingly affordable manner,” he said. “It’s how we earned the title of Belize’s complete ‘Destination within a Destination,’” he added.
The Lodge at Chaa Creek is Belize’s first eco-resort and is located in the midst of a secure 365 acre private nature reserve in western Belize,
ENDS
Mark Langan, The Lodge at Chaa Creek, http://www.chaacreek.com, +1 (877) 709-8708, [email protected]
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