The Barrier Reef is the largest in the western hemisphere. Two of the favorite sites to dive or snorkel are Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Here is some information on Shark Ray Alley and some photos taken from these areas.
The animals at Shark Ray Alley have a great tolerance for divers and seem to enjoy the human interaction. The rays, which have a 'wing-span' of two to four feet, swim directly towards the divers, inviting them to reach out and stroke their wings (although it's best not to touch them). Some would also swim in circles around us, like a cat rubbing against our legs. The gentle Nurse Sharks average four to six feet in length, and the dive masters often feed them small fish.
This is a truly unforgettable adventure. Snorkelers can also enjoy this encounter with nature. Be sure to visit Shark-Ray Alley during your stay at Ambergris Caye.
Even amateur photographers can take great underwater photos here with disposable marine camera. They work in depths of up to nine feet, which is perfect for the shallow waters inside the reef at Shark-Ray Alley.
The world's largest diving magazine, Skin Diver, has given Belize's Shark-Ray Alley a feature in two issues. This dive site has been selected as one of the seven best "animal dives" in the Caribbean. For several years, local fishermen often cleaned their catch in this area, located just inside the reef, to the south of Ambergris Caye. When fishermen noticed that their activity had attracted Nurse Sharks and several Southern Sting Rays, they reported this information to the dive operations in San Pedro, who then dispatched some divers to investigate. What they found was a bonanza, and "Shark-Ray Alley" quickly became a very popular dive site.
These creatures have a great tolerance for divers and seem to enjoy the human interaction. The rays, which have a 'wing-span' of two to four feet, swim directly towards the divers, inviting them to reach out and stroke their wings (although it's best not to touch them). Some would also swim in circles around us, like a cat rubbing against our legs. The gentle Nurse Sharks average four to six feet in length, and the dive masters often feed them small fish.
Shark Ray Alley, located five miles southeast of San Pedro Town, is a major tourist attraction featuring a chance to swim with Nurse sharks and Southern stingrays. These mainly docile creatures are attracted to the area by local tour guides who feed them during their tours. Mr. Miguel Alamilla, Hol Chan Manager quoted an estimated 30,000 people visit Hol Chan every year; ninety percent of those being foreigners. It has become a protected area after approximately five years of scientific study and community consultation. Formerly an open area for all visitors, it will now be monitored in the same fashion as Hol Chan to minimize the negative effects of human impact. It will be managed by an advisory committee composed of representatives of: the Caribeña Cooperative Society Ltd., the San Pedro chapter of the Belize Tourism Industry Association, the San Pedro Mayor's office, Hol Chan office, the San Pedro Tour Guide Association (SPTGA) and the Fisheries Department, who will be the coordinating agency. In a press release from Fisheries Dept., Zone "D" is described as "a multiple use zone comprising a general use area where fishing and other extractive uses will be allowed and two core non-extractive areas (Shark Ray Alley and Amigos del Mar Wreck)."
