Snorkelling in Belize Species Guide

Belize is home to the Belize Barrier Reef. It’s the second largest reef after the Great Barrier Reef. The Reef lines the entire length of the Belizean coastline. It’s one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world, with more than 500 different species of marine life. Snorkelling in Belize is your chance to get a glimpse of a good number of them.

Here’s a guide to just some of the species you can see when snorkelling in Belize.

Coral

There’s a variety of types of coral. While snorkelling in Belize, you can see Tube Sponge Coral, Brain Coral, Elkhorn Coral, Staghorn Coral, and others.

Tube Coral

Brain Coral

Rays

Manta Rays

Manta rays are common in Belize. The average Manta ray is about 4.5 metres (15 ft) and is easily identifiable due to its black back and white belly. Spot them lazily gliding through the water feeding on plankton.

Eagle Rays

Eagle rays are also very common in Belize. In fact, there’s an oceanic wall where they congregate that is named after them: Eagle Ray Wall. They look very similar to Manta rays but they have shiny, polka-dotted backs. Find them in shallow waters near coral reefs.

Southern Stingray

The most common ray that people encounter in Belize is the Southern Stingray. It’s a bit smaller than Eagle and Manta rays, spanning about 1.5 metres (5 ft). You can recognize the Southern Stingray by its rigid and textured spine and barbed tail.

Reef Fish

Groupers

There are about 159 species of Groupers around the world. Several of them inhabit the waters of Belize.

Nassau Grouper

Nassau Groupers were the most common Grouper in Belize. However, invasive species and hunters threaten their population. Identify a Nassau Grouper by its tan body which has four or five irregular dark brown lines.

Black Grouper

Despite their name, Black Groupers have various colourations which change as they age. Juvenile Black Groupers have blotches of reddish brown and black, while adults are white and a dark blackish colour.

Red Grouper

The Red Grouper is easy to recognize with its bright red or brownish colour.

Lionfish

Look for the striped fish with the venomous spikes that line its back.

Angelfish

The three most-commonly seen Angelfish in Belize are: Queen Angelfish, French Angelfish, and Gray Angelfish. You can see them while snorkelling because they often swim in shallow water.

Queen Angelfish

Look for vibrant blue and yellow that’s iridescent. You might also be able to identify them by the rainbow-coloured tips of their fins.

French Angelfish

You can identify French Angelfish by their black body, yellow scales, and the yellow ring around their eyes.

Gray Angelfish

Gray Angelfish are the least colourful of the three. Mature Gray Angelfish are gray and white.

Sharks

Nurse Sharks

There are a variety of sharks that lurk in the waters around Belize. Nurse sharks have flat heads and can be seen lounging on the ocean floor much of the time.

Reef Sharks

You might confuse a Reef shark for its cousin, the Great White shark. However, Reef sharks like to swim in the shallow waters around Belize, particularly at night. They can be anywhere from 1.5-3 meters in length (5-10 ft).

Hammerhead Sharks

Most people know how to identify a Hammerhead shark based on the unique shape of its head. You might get to see one while snorkelling in Belize because they frequent the shallow waters.

Sea Turtles

Hawksbill Turtle

You can identify a Hawksbill turtle by its four overlapping scutes (the boney external plates) on the side of its shell and its hawk-like beak that it uses for fishing and eating.

Green Sea Turtle

Another turtle you might encounter while snorkelling or diving in Belize is the Green Sea Turtle. It’s the most common turtle and it’s the easiest to identify – look for its many colours from green to black and gray and brown, and its yellow underside. They’re also very big – 99cm (39 inches) – and can weigh up to 330 lbs (150 kg).

Manatees

It’s hard to mistake a Manatee for anything else. Since these gentle giants like to swim slowly through the warm, shallow waters of Belize’s coast, you might catch a glimpse of a West Indian Manatee. Look for the round ocean cow that can weigh up to 3,300 lbs and reach lengths of 4 metres (13 ft).