Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Hol Chan in CNN Travel’s Top 10

Underwater photographer and adventurer Tanya Burnett-Palmer of Coastal Living shares her favorite places to sightsee beneath the waves with CNN Travel. She puts San Pedro, Belize’s Hol Chan Marine Reserve in the 10 Top Spots to Snorkel. Here is her description of the marine reserve:

Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Belize
One of the western Caribbean's great delights resides roughly 20 minutes by boat from Ambergris Cay. On my first visit, I was mesmerized by dozens of nurse sharks, jacks, stingrays and grunts cavorting with snorkelers over turtle grass and reefs. Here, I have swum with the most substantial wild fish -- normally only seen by scuba divers -- in only 6 to 10 feet of water.
On-site secret: Float from the feeding area to the shallow reefs and discover a dreamlike setting of sun-dappled coral and tiny reef denizens. Keep an eye out for: eagle rays. On more than one occasion I've been thrilled to see a majestic spotted eagle ray soaring through the reefs.

Other top spots to snorkel include Dean's Blue Hole, Long Island, Bahamas; Crystal River, Florida; Rockhouse, Negril, Jamaica; Pigeon Cay, Honduras and Papalaua Wayside Park, Maui, Hawaii. (Click on image above to view entire article)

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