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With some of the world’s best diving sites on offer in Latin America, we thought we’d round up our top 5 diving sites.

1. The Great Blue Hole, Belize

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Experienced divers can explore the Blue Hole, a perfectly circular cave plunging vertically into the sea bed. Seen from above this cavernous sinkhole is a dark disk in a bright aquamarine ocean, seemingly swallowing the light into its underwater reaches. There are extraordinary underwater stalactites to be seen on the sheer walls, which descend to a depth of 125m, while a number of shark species roam around inside.

Go Caribbean diving in Belize

2. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

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The only populated island in a protected volcanic archipelago way out in the Atlantic Ocean, Fernando de Noronha is almost off the map. But those who go there (and numbers are restricted), especially divers and surfers, are well rewarded. Craggy cliffs jacketed in close garrigue-like vegetation (the original forests were destroyed) close in on gorgeous little bays of sugary sand, and the waters here, warm year-round, are sapphire-clear. Much of the area is designated a marine park, for good reason: sharks, dolphins, turtles and stingrays and a multitude of fish species thrive here.

Go scuba diving in Brazil
Active Brazil: Remote Bahia and Fernando de Noronha (15 days from £2,185pp)

3. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

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The Galápagos Islands shelter some of the world’s best dive sites, offering the chance to gape at an astounding aquatic panorama where penguins dart through equatorial waters and vast shoals of hammerheads patrol the ocean.The convergence of cold currents from Antarctica and warm tropical waters has created microclimates which sustain an incredible spectrum of marine species, many of which would not normally be neighbours.

Diving in the Galápagos

4. Yucatán Peninsula's cenotes, Mexico

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How many of us can say we have dived in one of the world’s largest freshwater cave systems? This truly is an experience like no other. The Yucatán Peninsula is a huge porous limestone shelf where fresh water flows into underground river and cave systems. Parts of the shelf have collapsed over thousands of years creating sinkholes or cenotes. These underwater caves and caverns popular among divers today were believed by the ancient Mayans to be entrances to the mystical underworld. Each cenote is different – some are completely underground, others semi-underground – in many the roof allows sunlight to penetrate, creating a magical feeling and intense aquamarine colour.

Explore freshwater cenotes

5. Roatán, Honduras

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With their typically Caribbean feel, relaxed pace of life and warm waters awash with marine life, the Bay Islands are a popular place to learn to scuba dive. Even if you have never dived before, PADI courses and shorter ‘fun dives’ offering a taster of the scuba experience are both easily arranged to suit your schedule.

Go Caribbean scuba diving
Guatemala and Honduras uncovered (14 days from £2,959pp)

 

Why not take a look at a selection of all the diving opportunities we offer in Latin America?
We hope to run our Diving Group Tour in 2017 – for more information you can get in touch by emailing groups@journeylatinamerica.co.uk or calling our experts on 020 8747 8355.

 

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Charlotte
    Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

    Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

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