placencia, belize

I'm going to placencia, belize in April to look for whale sharks. Does
anyone recommend a dive organization and/or hotel to stay?
diane

here's some help from the last issue of Undercurrent

Ben Davison
PublisherNew Whale Shark Preserve in Belize


While we know Utila in Honduras is famous for whale shark citing, Belize is
now getting into the game.

Washington-based Conservation International and Friends of Nature, a Belizean
non-profit, organization, have created a new marine protected area in Southern
Belize to safeguard what's called the world's only predictable gathering site
of whale sharks. The 3,360-acre sanctuary surrounds Little Water Caye, a
five-acre island 18 miles off Belize's southeastern coast. Friends of Nature
will own and manage the majority of Little Water Caye while the minority share
of the island will remain in the hands of a private owner who has agreed to
prevent development there.

"The local communities that founded Friends of Nature were the first to
discover the rare whale sharks that congregate in the area and became
determined to do something to protect them," said Costas Christ, Senior
Director of Conservation International's Ecotourism Program.

The Oceanic Society (www.oceanic-society.org) offers a seven-day excursion
from Belize City to Placencia (close to the preserve) with three days of
dolphin and whale shark encounters for $1,790 plus air fare to Belize.
Destinations Belize (www.destinationsbelize.com or 011-501-523-4018) will take
out groups of four or more for $70 per person, $90 each for three people and
$175 apiece for parties of two. Placencia operations such as Rum Point Inn
(www.rumpoint.com or 1-888-235-4031), The Inn At Roberts Grove (501 523 3565 or
www.robertsgrove.com) and Sea Horse Dive Shop (www.belizescuba.com or
1-800-991-1969) offer two-tank whale shark dives for around $150 plus tax and
entrance fee to the preserve (still to be set for 2004, but probably $10-$15).
Snorkeling runs about $65. (Undercurrent reviewed a Placencia whale shark trip
in June 2000, but our writer saw none.

Boats and guides conducting whale shark interaction tours must obtain a special
license. Divers and snorkelers are required to stay at least 10 feet away from
any whale shark. Maximum depth for divers of any certification is 80 feet (to
avoid disturbing fish as well as for safety considerations). Boats should
remain at least 50 feet from any whale shark and no less than 200 feet from
each other.

From March 1 through July 31, dive and snorkel tours are limited to two hours,
allocated on a first-come, first-served basis by the ranger on duty. No more
than six dive and snorkel boats will be allowed into the Whale Shark Zone at
one time. All foreign tourists must pay a $15 fee and may contribute more to
assist conservation efforts.