Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) · Belize · Reef
Paradise Canyons
Finger canyons off San Pedro working from 18 m down to 40 m
Area photo: Subhashish Panigrahi · CC BY-SA 4.0
Paradise Canyons sits just off San Pedro, a set of finger-canyon formations in the barrier reef with coral growth along the spurs and plenty of fish between them. The main terrain works at 18–21 m, but the grooves reach a maximum of 40 m, and the site carries a CMAS two-star / Advanced Open Water rating.
Also known as Paradise Canyon.
Where it is and how deep
17.9036° N, 87.9555° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat drops you just off San Pedro onto the tops of the finger canyons, where the coral formations and most of the marine life are concentrated at depths of 18–21 m. The formations run seaward in parallel fingers, and the natural route is to work along one groove, cross over a spur and return along the next, keeping the reef structure as your handrail.
There is no current recorded at the site, so the only things demanding attention are depth and traffic overhead. The grooves bottom out far below the coral tops — the listed maximum is 40 m — and boats move through this stretch of water, so ascend on the line or under a surface marker rather than in open water.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Ambergris Caye (San Pedro): Dry season December–May with the least rain in February–March; wet-season storms, peaking September–October, can suspend diving for two or three days. Thimble jellyfish spawn in May.
Know before you go
- Boat traffic passes over the site — make your ascent on the line or under a surface marker, not in open water.
Sources
- Paradise Canyons — Scubago
- Paradise Canyon — wannadive.net
More dive sites in Ambergris Caye (San Pedro)
Wreck
A small unnamed wreck at 15–22 m, home to morays and coneys
Reef
Narrow sand-floored cuts dropping fast between coral spurs
Reef
Spur-and-groove formations in the 18–24 m band
Reef
A no-current reef that works for snorkellers and divers alike
About 100 shallow patch reefs of boulder coral in 2.5–5 m
Nurse sharks and southern stingrays at arm's length in 3 m
Reef
Canyons, caverns and tunnels under ten minutes from the pier
Spur furrows plowing from a 15 m reef down to 35 m
Similar dives elsewhere
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