7 nights
Duration
Feb
Month
20 people
Max Group Size

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. On board the Belize Aggressor IV liveaboard you’ll be accompanied by a freediving expert (Emma Farrell) and her assistant who will bring along a wealth of experience and training. All this is combined with plenty of time for free time snorkeling over the reefs.

Belize Aggressor IV

We’ll be on board the Belize Aggressor IV Liveaboard which we have exclusively chartered for the purpose of this trip.

The reef, which starts just a few hundred yards off Belize’s coastline and runs for over five hundred miles along it plays host to an array of marine life large and small. Weather permitting, we plan to snorkel around Glovers Reef, Turneffe Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef-which is home to the famous blue hole. We think these are the best parts of the country to snorkel.

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.

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.

Guests laughing in the sunset

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 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 Guidemarine life guide wakatobi

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 6 am), and then a hot breakfast made to order from 7 am.

There will be 3 – 4 snorkel sessions a day. Many of these will be freediving specific, but all guests are welcome to simply snorkel if they so choose with one of the local snorkel guides.

In the interest of safety, everyone will be required to participate in the initial theory and in-water session “introduction to freediving”   The group will be split into smaller groups of 4 so that everyone can get the support and instruction they deserve.

Each session will last 60 – 90 minutes and be accompanied by in-water local guides and your Snorkel Venture Leaders/Freedive Instructors. 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.

After a short break, we have another briefing and enter the water for the second snorkel session of the morning.

After this session, we dry off and go inside for lunch- which is usually a hot soup and main course- often buffet style.

Again we have a little relaxation time before being briefed for snorkel 3 of the day.

snorkelers snorkeling around Belize aggresor Iv

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.

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 1 pm.Mayan Ruins in Belize

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.


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 4 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.

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.

Master Stateroom
Deluxe Stateroom Main Deck- Twin Bed Option
Deluxe Stateroom Lower Deck – King Bed Option

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, 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

    Select your preferred dates of travel (if any)

    2024 Tour Dates

    17 – 24 February

    Tour Price:

    $4,645 USD (Twin/Double Share)

    Master Cabin Upgrade: $200 per person

    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 tour leader
    • Guided tour to Altun Ha Mayan Ruins
    • Services of freediving instructors and snorkel guides

    Excludes:

    • International/Domestic flights & visas
    • Snorkel equipment rental
    • Tips
    • $150 USD fuel surcharge
    • Travel and health insurance
    • Port and Park Fees (US$130 per person)

    *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

    Initial deposit to secure your booking $400 per person

    12 Months before departure interim payment of $600 per person

    6 Months before departure interim payment of $1000 per person

    Balance due 3 months before departure

    *Note: Fees and surcharges are subject to change

    Click Here to Book this Tour

    Snorkeler diving down on Caribbean reef
    Aerial view of Belize Aggressor IV
    Orange sea sponge in coral reef
    Cow fish swimming right up to the camera with snorkeler behind
    Guests watching dolphins below the boat
    Colorful sponges covering the reef
    people standing in a mayan ruin
    Snorkeler diving down on Caribbean reef
    Snorkeler duck diving
    belize aggressor IV salon
    red barrel sponge in belize
    Schooling fish swimming over reef with snorkelers above
    Guests laughing in the sunset
    roughtail stingray in belize
    nurse shark in Belize
    happy snorkelers in Belize
    Snorkeler diving down on Caribbean reef
    Snorkeler diving down on Caribbean reef
    belize aggressor IV top deck