Pompion Wall A Diving Adventure | Placencia Outer Reef Site

Pompion Wall Dive Site is a secluded diving area that gets its name from a privately own island named Pompion Caye, located just 50 minutes from Placencia, Belize. I often hear that the best dive sites are those “unknown” and after diving at the Pompion Wall I have to agree.

This dive leaves Splash Dive Center in Placencia at 9:00 am and is a two tank multilevel dive. Although Pompion Wall is not within the protected Barrier Reef Reserve System it is one of the most pristine reef in the area.

Full speed ahead we headed out in the mystical blue: Our Dive Master, Kingsley gave us the dive briefing. As he eagerly spoke about the unique formation of the Pompion area, it wasn’t a surprise to know it was one of his personal favorites.  The entire group was intrigued carefully listening as he spoke:

“It is a multilevel dive starting with a slow descend. The wall begins at around 30 feet and drops down to the deep blue. Once at 80 feet we will have a slow steady dive at that depth for 5 minutes before we start ascending slowly. Look out for moray eels, lobsters, spider crabs, and feeding Hawksbill turtles to name a few.”

He said, as he formed the hand gestures for each of the marine species.

As we arrived in the area my dive buddy Max and I were ready to start our underwater diving adventure. Max, having dived in the area was a bit more familiar with the dive, which only helped me to focus on the abundance of marine life I was about to see.

I entered the water "giant stride style" there was no stopping at this point. Visibility at this dive was amazing. The top of the wall is loaded with colorful schools of fish. Any wall combined with the reef is the perfect ecosystem for most marine life and we were all in for a treat the further down we went.

Our Dive Master made a clicking sound to gather our attention as he pointed ahead. Max and I nodded and move swiftly. We immediately caught glimpse of the giant moray eel moving in and out of its tiny crevice, as it restlessly tried to snap on a school of yellow tail Snapper. This was the first of many more surprises to come. We glided ahead as the surge moved us north of the wall. By now we were nearing 55 feet and I felt the water temperature getting warmer.

35 Minutes into the dive and at 40 feet, Max and I noticed a couple of medium sized Angelfish following our dive. It was my first time leading a school of fish and it felt pretty amazing. We approached a large Spiny lobster and by the looks of its demeanor it seemed very friendly, if I may say so. Spiny lobsters can easily be distinguished from true lobsters by their very long, thick, spiny antenna. This type of lobster is very common in Belize waters and can be easily spotted in the reef.

As our dive neared the end we drifted forward along the reef where we were able to spot many more species of fish.

We headed back to “home base” at Splash Dive Center and were greeted with Splash’s very own “jungle juice” (fruit punch) and cookies. I was still in a pleasant shock as the colorful, vivid images of the diverse marine life I had experienced just 50 minutes ago lingered in my mind.

I can't wait to dive into my next adventure!

Plan your Belize diving adventure with Splash Dive Center, a 5 Star PADI resort. Visit www.splashbelize.com or email Patty at patricia@splashbelize.com for more information.

The perfect Caribbean escape| A Day Well-Spent At Laughing Bird Caye National Park

The boat ride out to Laughing Bird Caye was not only short-lived but also exceptionally exciting. We departed from Placencia village and took a boat ride out to the island. I knew I was not only visiting an island but a protected one. I have visited other cayes in Belize such as the popular San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and the laid-back Caye Caulker but I had never visited an island that is also a National Park and a World Heritage Site, protected for its natural beauty.  

Laughing Bird Caye National Park is distinct from the other islands as it is a part of the famous Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System and it is a snorkeler's paradise. The natural beauty surrounding this island is sumptuous. In order to visit this paradise you must book a day tour with a licensed tour operator: our recommended choice is Splash Dive Center. Not only are the licensed guides friendly and informative, but also the BBQ grilled fresh on the island is a delightful lunch!

So, if you are still asking: what is so special about this island?  Well, let me describe to you the beauty.  Snorkel around the island and you will encounter a diverse and abundant marine life living below. The area is covered with a variety of coral reef habitats that sparkle and give life to other marine species. The island has a distinct elongate shape that forms a faro. A faro can be best explained as an angular atoll that is situated on a reef. The faro is elevated and encloses a central lagoon, which gives Laughing Bird Caye National Park its shallow waters surrounding the island.

If you are visiting the southern coast of Belize, there is much to experience on this beautiful island. The perfect Caribbean escape! The beach is formed by powdery unspoiled white sand, a heavenly and perfect texture. While on the day-trip we were told that the island earned its name due to the Laughing Gills that once populated the island. Today, Laughing Bird Caye is known as a nesting place for a variety of birds including

Brown Pelican, Green Heron, Melodious Blackbird amongst others that call Belize their home.

The northern end of the caye is a very busy rookery and for that reason it is off limits to the public.  The northern end of the caye is opened up one day each year for the annual cleanup by 100 or more school kids and volunteers organized by Splash Dive Center.

If you are visiting Placencia a day-trip out to Laughing Bird National Park will complete your visit to Belize!

Email Patty at patricia@splashbelize.com to find out more about this beautiful Gem!

Visit Placencia, Belize My Top Five Must Do!

The Placencia Peninsula is easily accessible either by road or a short flight from the Phillip Goldson International Airport in Belize City. When you first arrive at Placencia you will find it to be a small, secluded, friendly village. My first impression was that Placencia is certainly a laid back area to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and to have my dream Belizean Getaway enjoying the sandy Caribbean beach! The longer I stayed in Placencia the more I learned. 

My top “Five Must Do Activities” in Placencia includes a little bit of everything for families, friends, or couples:

1.     Visit the Great Belize Barrier Reef

You simply cannot visit Placencia and not take the fun boat ride out the Belize Barrier Reef to snorkel or dive. The waters of Belize are truly spectacular it opens your mind to a whole new world.  Belize is the home of true natural resources. Much of Belize’s marine environment is heavily protected in order to preserve an authentic diving experience. Book your dive trip with Splash Dive Center, a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center! Explore the Barrier Reef and choose to dive Placencia’s Outer Reef, Placencia’s Inner reef, Glovers Reef, Gladden Spit, Turneffe, Lighthouse Atolls, or the famous Belize Blue Hole.

2.     Monkey River Tour

One of the most relaxing ways to go back in time and see the authentic Belize before “civilization” is to take the boat ride up the Monkey River and revel in the natural jungle-life of this Caribbean country. The Monkey River Village is located 12 miles south west of Placencia Village where you will meet and greet the “ambassadors of the jungle”: the Black Howler Monkeys, commonly known in Belize as the “baboons”.  The Black Howler Monkeys are not only the largest monkeys in Belize’s rainforest but they are also the “loudest”.

3.     Bunches of Fun Banana Farm Tour

Spending some worthwhile time on land learning all about how to plant and care for and harvest bananas!  You pick up an amazing understanding of this complex plant and get to taste the product including fresh banana cake and banana chips.  We visited the Sagitun Farm located in Riversdale, Placencia only a short drive from our resort and had “bunches” of fun. We even participated in preparing the bananas for exportation by sticking on the Fyffes stickers on the “bunches”.  The best part was meeting the people and learning the process of having bananas in our kitchen fruit basket.

4.     Enjoy Diverse Dishes

Placencia town is populated with great restaurants serving diverse and unique Belizean flavors. Whether you are looking for an upscale five star restaurants or looking to kickback under a palapa hut by the beach your meal is a guarantee satisfaction. One of my favorite restaurants is Wendy’s Creole Cuisine.  A trip to Placencia is always a trip to the ice cream/gelato shop, Tutti Frutti. Tutti Frutti uses local ingredients to make authentic fruity gelato.

5.     Sunset Cruise

Enjoy a romantic moment with your special someone cruising the Caribbean Sea past Placencia Village and explore Placencia’s picturesque canals before watching the sun go down with a glass of wine and some tasty hors d’oeuvres at anchor secluded by the mangroves on serene Placencia Lagoon. The view is breathtaking as you take a magical moment as the sun slowly sinks behind the Maya Mountains.

Start planning your visit to Placencia, Belize contact me at patricia@splashbelize.com or visit our website at www.splashbelize.com 

Splash Dive Center: Exceptional Professional Service Year in Review 2013

The year 2013 has been a successful year for Splash Dive Center and we are grateful to each and everyone that continues to support us. As we approach the end of the year we look back on our accomplishments as a professional dive center located in Placencia, Belize. Splash Dive Center is more than just a regular scuba diving & snorkeling operator. We aim for excellence! Each year we continue to develop and grow and this is evident in the work we do daily and through our accomplishments.

Splash Dive Center continues to actively participate in Tourism Travel Shows across the world promoting the natural beauty of Belize. This year alone we attended 9 travel shows including The Canada Road Show jointly with the Belize Tourism Board. In May Splash Dive Center was presented by the Belize Tourism Board with the Tour Operator of the Year award 2012. Patricia Ramirez known to everyone as Patty started Splash Dive Center as a small but safe professional centered licensed tour operator in 2000. Today Patty continues to work alongside co-owner Ralph Capeling to offer only the best to its customers incorporating quality, creativity, and personalized tours.

We are enthused to reveal that Splash Dive Center is now a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Resort. Patty a certified PADI Course Director and SCUBA Instructor will continue to develop and grow the scuba diving industry in Belize. We are particularly pleased that two “graduates” of our Splash Kids Club are currently attending our first Instructor Development Course - every year we teach some local kids to dive free of charge as part of our commitment to the community.

PADI Five Star Instructor Development Dive Resorts meet all PADI Five Star Dive Resort standards and offer PADI Instructor-level training as well as Instructor Specialty courses. Splash Dive Center values highly the quality of PADI teaching materials and the rigorous standard of safety set by PADI.

Splash Dive Center has now exceeded our PADI targets for diver education for the fourth year in a row and recently received the PADI Green Star Award!

Join us as we continue in maintaining and developing highly professional scuba diving tours in 2014.

Splash Dive Center: Expanding with our Second Location

We are expanding our reach just for you. Stop by and visit us at our downtown Placencia office. Splash Dive Center downtown office is conveniently located at Placencia’s most famous restaurant: Wendy’s Creole Restaurant & Bar.  Wendy’s Creole Restaurant & Bar is certainly a local treat and a must “try” for all!

Wendy’s Creole Restaurant specializes in local authentic Creole and Spanish cuisine. Come in and try a Belizean Breakfast Fry Jack, or stop in for lunch and try one of their authentic cow foot soup served with white rice. A true Belizean experience! After a satisfying breakfast, lunch or dinner stop in and visit our trained personnel and find out about our daily tours, and our many scuba diving packages.

A few of our scuba diving packages include the BIG 6:

·        The Grand Slam

·        Barrier Reef Package

·       Glovers & Barrier Reef Diving Package

·       Blue Hole & Barrier Reef Diving Package

·       Whale Shark Scuba Diving Packages

·       Blue Hole & Whale Shark Diving Package

    Come dive with us! Our friendly professional staff awaits you at Splash Dive Center, Placencia, Belize. Contact Patty at patricia@splashbelize.com and find out more about our second location!