Belize makes for an ideal location to host our Snorkeling & Shallow Freediving Workshop. Aside from the beautiful reefs and clear waters surrounding the islands, there are a number of protected areas to explore with varying depth levels – making it the perfect training area to develop your freediving skills.
Throughout the week there will be a variety of workshops and in-water practical sessions with the aim of giving you the time to improve your skills for exploring shallow coral reefs. For the duration of the tour you’ll be based at Turneffe Island resort where you’ll be accompanied by a freediving expert (Emma Farrell) and her assistant, who will both bring along a wealth of experience and training. All this is of course combined with plenty of time for snorkeling over the reefs.
The Turneffe atoll, which is just a few miles off of Belize’s coastline and runs for around thirty miles long and ten miles wide, plays host to an array of marine life large and small. While the majority of the week will be spent exploring the area around Turneffe Atoll in the south, there will be a day where you’ll venture out to snorkel and dive in the Blue Hole, Halfmoon Quay, and Long Quay.
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 you 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.
Trip Leader and Instructor
Emma Farrell is one of the world’s leading freediving instructors and the author of One Breath: A Reflection on Freediving. She has been teaching since 2003 and is a multi-agency freediving instructor trainer, having taught programs through RAID, SSI, and AIDA. As a founding member of the AIDA Education Commission, Emma has written courses that are taught internationally, as well as her own specialty freediving and breathing courses.
Her work with gold medal-winning Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the last decade has resulted in her unique Breathing Optimisation program, which has helped people across the globe improve their breathing, lung function, and health, no matter their age, physical condition, or ability.
An accomplished educator and public speaker, Emma has appeared many times on television and in print media, as well as acting as a consultant on short and feature films and documentaries.
Is this trip right for me?
Whilst there are no formal requirements, the trip would appeal most to experienced snorkelers with 25hrs + in-water time and being of good health and fitness.
The maximum depth for the free diving sessions will be 8 meters (26 feet) so this is also not about achieving depth, generally, training sessions will be geared towards exploring the 5-meter depth range and achieving a good body position.
Marine Life Guide
21st February 2025 - Arrival
Upon arrival to Belize City, meet your driver and transfer to the Radisson Fort George for check-in. You can spend the day relaxing and enjoying the hotel facilities before meeting your tour leader, Emma, and fellow tour members for dinner in the hotel restaurant.
22nd February 2025 - Altun Ha tour and transfer to Turneffe Island Resort
After a hotel buffet breakfast, you check out and store your luggage at the hotel and depart for a guided tour to Altun Ha- one of the most sacred Mayan ruins in the country.
Upon return to the hotel, the group will have lunch and then walk across the road to the marina where you board a speed boat for the 2-hour journey to Turneffe Island Resort. Once everyone had settled in, there’ll be a group dinner and an orientation.
23rd February - 28th February - Snorkeling from Turneffe Island Resort
Each day will start with tea or coffee delivered to your bungalows, followed by breakfast in the dining room.
Around 9 am you board your private boats and head to one of the many snorkel sites in the area, most within 5 – 10 minute boat ride. You’ll spend 60 – 90 minutes in the water for each snorkel session/in-water freediving lessons. The group will be accompanied by local snorkel guides, as well as Emma & her assistant who will give site briefings before we enter the water. They will be available to help with anything you may need with regards to diving down, as well as pointing out interesting creatures and fish.
After the morning session, return to the resort for a delicious hot lunch, before heading out around 2.30 pm for the second session of the day. Upon return to the resort, one has plenty of time to relax and enjoy the facilities before meeting poolside at around 6 pm for h’ors d’oeuvres, followed by a chef-prepared 3-course dinner in the dining room.
One day will be spent on a full-day snorkeling trip, with packed lunch, to the Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye, and Long Caye.
If you are worried about food, please, don’t be. Besides the three mouthwatering hot meals served daily, there are all-day snacks available in the dining room and hors d’oeuvres served poolside every evening. One evening is a beach BBQ, another a traditional Belizean affair. Dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice.
The resort has a gym, pool, paddleboards, kayaks, and Hobie Cat, all of which are available for guest use at our leisure.
1st March 2025 - Tour ends
After an early breakfast, the group leaves this little island paradise and return to the mainland. Here you can wait at the Radisson until it is time to be transferred back to the airport for your departing flight.
Freediving Lessons
Freediving Instruction Outline
Emma Farrell will be running snorkel skills and freediving sessions throughout the week. Guests will be split into groups of four and will have the opportunity to learn in-water skills over sessions as below:
For the first session, the focus will be on correct breathing, weighting, and safety for freediving and for taking photos underwater and exploring the reefs. Emma will look at each individual’s equalization, body positioning, finning, duck diving, and technique. Correct breathing both before and after the dive will be taught as well as techniques for relaxation in the water. The main focus for the first session is relaxation, safety, and discovering what each participant would like to work on improving throughout the week. All sessions will take place in shallow waters of up to 6 meters.
Everyone who is interested in learning more can have at least 2 additional sessions with Emma to work on achieving their goals as set out in the first session above. In addition, throughout the week, Emma will offer masterclasses on breathing optimization and stretching, equalization, and sinus massage, and will also do a talk on freediving for interested parties.
Turneffe Island Resort in Belize is located on a private island in the south of Turneffe Atol. There are 22 guest rooms (including 10 private villas), each with a porch looking out on the water. In front of your accommodation is a wide stretch of beach which overlooks the beautiful Caribbean Sea.
There’s a pool, bar for sun-downers, and relaxed dining area for tasty meals with all dietary requirements taken care of. The resort has fish ID books to consult and you’ll spend evenings sharing photos and stories of the days snorkeling.
Deluxe accommodations include the following:
- Beach level with direct beach access
- King bed or two twin beds
- Air conditioning and ceiling fan
- Mini bar/refrigerator
- Safe for valuables
- Hair dryer and toiletries
- Private, screened outdoor shower
- Private screened porch
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- 110-volt AC power (same as USA)
Resort Guide
On this page you will find our tour dates, a contact 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 24hrs.
Make an enquiry or Book this Tour
2025 Tour Dates
21 February – 1 March
Tour Price:
$5,950 USD Per Person | Deluxe Room (Twin/Double Share)
$6,150 USD Per Person | Superior Room
$6,650 USD Per Person | Private Villa
Single Person Supplement: On Request
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:
- 1 night at Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina with full board (all meals)
- Belize Mainland Mayan Tour
- 7 nights accommodation at Turneffe Island Resort Deluxe Room with full board
- 12 Snorkel Sessions at Turneffe Atoll including 1 x Snorkel Session at the Blue Hole
- Round-trip transfers and connections
- Complimentary activities include kayaks, paddleboards, a pool, and Hobby Cat
- Complimentary Wifi (satellite-based, slow, depends on the weather)
- Escorted by a Snorkel Venture tour leader
- Mask, snorkel and fin rental
- Services of freediving instructors and snorkel guides
Excludes:
- International/Domestic flights & visas
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, laundry, and general sundries
- Spa services
*Note: Fees and surcharges are subject to change
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
