Join us on a liveaboard snorkel safari around Belize’s incredible barrier reef accompanied by a Snorkel Venture Photo Pro who will be your personal underwater photography coach for the duration of this amazing tour.
With up to 4 snorkel sessions offered per day and underwater photography seminars being offered on most days, you’re sure to seriously step up your underwater photography game and walk away with a collection of stunning images.
Belize is the ideal training ground for those wanting to improve their underwater photography skills, no matter how experienced you may be with a camera. The Belize Barrier reef starts just a few hundred yards off Belize’s coastline and runs for over five hundred miles and plays host to an array of marine life large and small. The reefs themselves are truly fantastic with a mixture of hard corals and layers of sea fans that actually break the surface at times. The visibility can be crystal clear allowing us to see all the way down to where the reef slopes into a vertical wall dropping into the blue abyss. Marine life is in abundance with everything from lobster colonies, schools of tangs and grunts, to groups of spotted eagle rays and even the occasional nurse shark can be seen cruising over the reefs.
We’ve selected Glovers Reef, Turneffe Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef where the Blue Hole is located as the areas where we will concentrate our time as we think these are the best parts of the expansive reef system for snorkelers, particularly those keen to take underwater photos.
The tour starts in Belize City where we will meet the Belize Aggressor IV, our private yacht for the entire week – chartered exclusively for snorkelers. The ship has large indoor and outdoor dining areas, a full entertainment center including a computer for you to edit your photos on, and a shaded wet bar featuring local beer on tap, a selection of sodas, and wine. On the main deck there’s a huge area for gearing up and plenty of space for storing and maintaining underwater camera gear as well as private snorkel lockers.
Also included is a half day land tour to the Altun Ha Mayan Ruins, an ancient town once a major trading center and home to impressive monuments.
Is this Tour Right for Me?
This trip is designed for snorkelers looking to improve their photography skills, no matter how experienced you may be or what type of camera you may have.
There will be daily discussions about the principles of underwater photography as well as plenty of time for one-on-one critiques and tutorials.
Marine Life Guide
This tour is partnered with The Reef-World Foundation. Find out how we support The Reef-World Foundation via this tour here.
Day 1 - Board the Aggressor Livaboard
Upon arrival in Belize City, transfer to the Radisson Fort George Hotel and wait until 3pm, when we can board the Aggressor- our home for the coming week. We will have a boat orientation and safety briefing before setting off from shore.
Day 2 - 6 - Snorkeling from The Aggressor
Each morning we start the day with a continental breakfast (for the early risers- available from 6am), and then a hot breakfast made to order from 7am.
We then have a snorkel site briefing followed by a snorkeling session. Each session will last 60 – 90 minutes and be accompanied by in-water local guides and your tour leader/photo pro. The small tender boat will also be around. If you would like to exit the water sooner or just take a break, you can let your guide know and hop onto the small boat.
Upon exiting the water, you can use the on-deck hot shower, and your own designated towel, before enjoying a freshly baked treat and beverage. The boat’s large gear-up area also features plenty of camera rinse tanks and a camera table with ample space to fiddle with your camera equipment.
After a hot snack and a bit of free time to sort through your recent photos we’ll have another briefing and enter the water for the second snorkel session of the morning. These surface intervals are a great time to get some solid feedback on your photos from the photo pro so you can correct any mistakes you may have made during the previous snorkel session.
After the second-morning snorkel session, we dry off and go inside for lunch- which is usually buffet style and features various classic dishes from all over the world.
Again we have a little relaxation time before being briefed for snorkel 3 of the day. Once again, the photo pro is always available for some photography discussions and this is a great time to get some one-on-one time with them.
Upon exiting the water and drying off, hot snacks are served along with beverages.
Some days we will have a second-afternoon snorkel, other days night snorkeling will be offered. Occasionally both!
On one day, it may be possible to visit Half-moon Quay where we’ll have lunch prepared for us under the tall palms and then we can enjoy a little walk along the beach to the nesting grounds for the red-footed boobie birds and magnificent frigate birds.
Dinner is a three-course affair, usually plated and served at the table. Sodas, beers, and wines are included and served with the evening meal.
Each day may vary a little but this is what one can generally expect.
Depending on the day and what that afternoon/evening schedule is the Snorkel Venture photo pro will regularly host a photo workshop either before or after dinner. These workshops will take place in the large saloon with full presentations displayed on the vessel’s entertainment center. The presentations will cover a whole array of topics and are usually tailored to the trip with regard to what people seem to be struggling with the most and what to expect on the upcoming snorkels.
Regarding the route, we plan to snorkel around the Glovers Reef, Turneffe Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef where the Blue Hole lives. As this is the open ocean, the itinerary is subject to weather and sea conditions.
Day 7 - Snorkeling and Land Tour
The Friday schedule is a little different from the previous days onboard.
We wake up a little earlier than normal for a light breakfast followed by 1 or 2 snorkeling sessions (time and site dependent) before drying off for lunch onboard.
The boat starts moving back towards Belize City while we eat, usually arriving at the pier around 1pm.
Upon arrival, we will be met by our local guide who will take us to the largest Mayan Ruin site in Belize- Altun Ha. The site is an hour northward of Belize City, along quaint country roads, secondary rainforest, Creole villages, and isolated farms. The ruins are surrounded by lush greenery, an inspiring site. Royal priests ruled this site for many centuries and traded with other Mayan centers in Meso America. Some 50+ years ago, Dr. David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada, along with his excavation team, discovered a tomb of a priest in the Temple of the Masonry Altars, and in it, a nine and three quarter pound jade carving of the Sun God, Kinich Ahau – a world-famous event!
We will return to the boat by 5 pm for a farewell cocktail party with the crew, before heading into town to a local restaurant for our final dinner together.
We return to the Aggressor to sleep.
Day 8 - Disembarkation, tour ends
After an early continental breakfast, we disembark and bid farewell to our new friends. We will arrange transfers to the airport or your hotel, if you are staying on in Belize.
The Belize Aggressor IV is a 138’ yacht with a wide 26’ beam. Built and powered for comfort, safety, and stability, she is diesel-powered, cruises at 12 knots and has 110-volt power onboard. Accommodations include 8 Deluxe staterooms with two twin beds or one king bed and 2 Master staterooms with one queen bed. All staterooms have climate controls.
The onboard menu features chef-prepared international and Creole-inspired cuisine catering to all dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc), as well as offering complimentary soft drinks, beer, and wine. All guests are welcome to bring a bottle of their favorite liquor if they chose to.
As well as a spacious lounge, the ship has a large sun deck, bar, grill, and internet service available through the satellite system. At night presentations will be hosted in the lounge, as well as the opportunity for night snorkeling, movies, and games. A small library of books for exchange is also maintained onboard.
Please note that the cabins are fairly small compared to a resort’s accommodation so please get in touch with us if you have claustrophobic tendencies, and we can discuss if this tour is appropriate for you and how guests with similar concerns have previously coped.
The ship comes complete with a crew of 6 on hand to ensure comfort and satisfaction for all guests. Most of our snorkel excursions are made from the deck at the rear of the yacht and equipped tender for easy pickups from snorkel sites when needed. The tour will also be fully escorted and hosted by a member of our team.
Mastercard and Visa are both accepted onboard.
Vessel Guide
On this page you will find our Tour Dates & Pricing (see below contact form), a Booking Form and Details of Payment schedule including deposit and final balance. If you have any further questions please complete the form and we will reply within 24-48hrs.
Make an Enquiry or Book this Tour
2023 Tour Dates
18 – 25 February 2023
$4345 per person (Twin/Double Share)- $150 surcharge for master cabin
How to book your place
Initial deposit to secure your booking is $400 per person
12 months before departure interim payment of $600 per person
6 months before departure interim payment of $1,000 per person
Balance due 3 months before departure
Includes:
- Return airport transfers
- 7 nights’ accommodation and full board (all meals and snacks)
- Complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks onboard the Belize Aggressor IV
- Services of snorkel guides and boat skiff for multiple snorkeling excursions each day
- Accompanied by a Snorkel Venture photo pro/ tour leader
- Presentations, Q&A sessions and personal advice from the photo pro
- Guided tour to Altun Ha Mayan Ruins
Excludes:
- International/Domestic flights & Visas
- Snorkel equipment rental
- $150 USD fuel surcharge
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
- Port and Park Fees (US$130 per person)
*Note: Fees and surcharges are subject to change, we are not responsible for these changes and these must be paid for by the guest.
Please note our cancelation policy:
- 1 year or more: 150 USD penalty per person to switch to a credit note for use within 2 years
- 12 months or less: Loss of deposit and interim payment
- 90 – 28 days: 25% Refund (includes your final balance payment)
- 28 – 0 days: No Refund
