Diving and Visiting Half Moon Caye

Posted byMichael CookPosted in2. International, Belize, Central AmericaTags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Red-footed booby perched on a tree branch at Half Moon Caye.

This is a “from above and from below” post. We took a diving trip to the Blue Hole with Frenchies Diving. The blue hole was a great dive but that isn’t really the focus of this blog as not much wildlife more about the rock formations. But on this trip we also had lunch at Half Moon Caye and dived on reefs either side of lunch and that is the focus of this post.

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1 From Above
2 From Below
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From Above

So our visit to Half Moon Caye was only for an hour and a quarter but we managed to have a quick tour of the bird tower and a look around the coast. The setting itself is beautiful

  • Sandy path through the lush forest on Half Moon Caye, Belize.
    The forest walk
  • Tropical beach scene with palm trees, turquoise water, and a distant sailboat at Half Moon Caye.
    The beach and palms

There was lots of wildlife to see too. Loads of Hermit Crabs of various sizes, large Iguanas and a tiny Gecko (Belize Atoll Gecko) a subspecies found here and two other islands.

  • Hermit crab in its shell on Half Moon Caye. Diving and visiting this island reveals unique wildlife.
    Hermit Crab
  • Heron wading on the sandy beach of Half Moon Caye, Belize.
    Little Blue Heron
  • Camouflaged lizard on a log, blending into the green and brown environment.
    Gecko – unique subspecies
  • Brown anole lizard on a log, Half Moon Caye
    Belize Atoll Gecko
  • Iguana basking in the sun on Half Moon Caye, Belize.
    Iguana
  • Large iguana basking in sun-dappled sand. Possible wildlife seen while diving and visiting Half Moon Caye.
    Iguana

But before long we climbed the Bird Tower (about 10 minutes from landing site) and were surrounded by hundreds of Magnificent Frigate Birds (some in full breeding display) and several Red-Footed Boobies. A new lifer for me. The boobies appeared to be moulting. It took me a while to get a photo of the red feet.

  • Frigatebird perched on a branch at Half Moon Caye, Belize.
    Frigate Bird
  • Magnificent Frigatebird soars in the sky near Half Moon Caye.
    Male in flight
  • Magnificent Frigatebird with inflated red throat pouch on Half Moon Caye, Belize.
    Displaying
  • Magnificent Frigatebird with inflated red throat pouch.
  • Magnificent frigatebird displaying its vibrant red throat pouch on Half Moon Caye.
  • Magnificent frigatebird soars over Half Moon Caye, Belize. Two other birds perch in the tree below.
  • Frigatebird soars over Half Moon Caye, Belize, with nesting birds below.
  • Magnificent frigatebird soars over Half Moon Caye, Belize.
  • Frigatebird soars against blue sky, Half Moon Caye wildlife.
  • Red-footed Booby nesting on Half Moon Caye, Belize. White bird with blue beak resting in a tree.
    Red-Footed Boobie removing feathers
  • Red-footed Booby nesting on Half Moon Caye, Belize
  • Red-footed booby in flight over Half Moon Caye.
    Red Footed Boobie in flight
  • Red-footed Booby soars over Half Moon Caye.
  • Red-footed booby perched in tree on Half Moon Caye
    And finally a photo of the red feet
  • Red-footed booby perched in a tree on Half Moon Caye.

When I had landed I had heard an Osprey calling and on the way back I searched out the nest. Two adults in attendance with two chicks. A nice connection to the Scottish Highlands. The subspecies here has more white but these appeared more like the regular Osprey to me.

  • Osprey in flight against a clear blue sky, near Half Moon Caye.
    Osprey
  • Osprey in flight against a clear blue sky, Half Moon Caye wildlife.

From Below

We had two excellent dives by Half Moon Caye and being so far from the mainland the reef was in great condition.

  • Underwater view of vibrant coral reef at Half Moon Caye, Belize.
  • Vibrant coral reef teeming with fish at Half Moon Caye.
  • Underwater view of coral reef and tube sponges at Half Moon Caye.
  • Blue chromis fish swimming around coral reef at Half Moon Caye

In terms of marine life we must have seen about 10 turtles on the two dives, a similar number of Caribbean Reef Sharks, some Sting Rays and Spotted Eagle Rays and a couple of Nurse Sharks.

  • Sea turtle swimming over seagrass in Half Moon Caye's clear blue waters.
    Turtle
  • Sea turtle swimming over seagrass at Half Moon Caye. Diving adventure!
  • Sea turtle swimming towards the bright sun in Half Moon Caye's clear waters.
    Surfacing Turtle
  • Grey reef shark swimming in the blue waters of Half Moon Caye, Belize.
    Caribbean Reef Shark
  • Shark swimming in the waters off Half Moon Caye during a dive trip.
  • Abstract watercolor texture with blue and green tones
    Can you see me yet?
  • Stingray swimming over sandy seabed in Half Moon Caye waters. Diving adventure.
    Sting Ray

On our last dive there were thousands of fish that took refuge under the boat which checked us out during our safety stop. That site was well named the Aquarium.

  • School of spadefish swimming in the clear waters of Half Moon Caye, Belize. Diving paradise.
  • School of fish underwater near Half Moon Caye while diving.
  • School of fish swimming underwater near Half Moon Caye.
  • Diving Half Moon Caye: School of fish swimming over a coral reef.
Black bird in flight, "Wild Scot" text. Scottish Wildlife Photos.

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Published by Michael Cook

Wildlife Photographer based in Scotland

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