The barrier reef runs within a mile of Caye Caulker and offers many excellent nearby dives including the five-square-mile Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark-Sting Ray Alley. Day trips from Caye Caulker include the Turneffe Islands and Lighthouse Reef.
Find hard corals, sea fans, tunicates, gorgonians and several varieties of shellfish in the waters off Caye Caulker. Divers often spot sea turtles, manta rays, spotted eagle rays and sharks as well, including the occasional whale shark and hammerhead.
The four-mile long Caye Caulker is the second largest of Belize's barrier islands behind Ambergris Caye. Located 21 miles northeast of Belize City, the island sits above underwater limestone caves and features a shallow lagoon near the main village.
As of 2010, Caye Caulker had around 25 hotels, several restaurants and a handful of dive shops, which, in addition to world-class diving, offer certifications as well. Most of the dozens of dive operators on Ambergris Caye, located 11 miles to the north, offer excursions to Caye Caulker.
Tropic and Maya Island Air offer daily flights to and from the Belize City Municipal and International Airports. Divers on a budget can travel to Caye Caulker by boat from Belize City for around $10 USD.
