Belize Barrier Reef · Belize · Reef
Alfredo's
Gullies cut across a submerged spur-and-groove reef
Area photo: Axelspace Corporation · CC BY-SA 4.0
Alfredo's sits in the Lindsey's area at the north-east end of Turneffe Atoll, a submerged spur-and-groove reef lying between 15 and 25 metres. Several distinct gullies cut across the coral fingers, and much of the dive is spent following them; it is also a reliable spot for Caribbean reef squid and for nudibranchs.
Where it is and how deep
17.4800° N, 87.7750° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The reef here is submerged rather than rising towards the surface, lying between 50 and 80 feet, 15 to 25 metres, and running as spur and groove: coral fingers separated by channels. What makes Alfredo's unusual is that several distinct gullies cut across the reef, so rather than swimming one groove out and another back you can work across the structure and find your way through it.
It rewards a slow pace. Caribbean reef squid are a regular sighting over the reef, and the coral carries several types of nudibranch, among them the blackspotted white nudibranch and the yellowlined sea goddess. With 15 to 25 metres of depth and structure to explore rather than a wall to run along, this is a dive to spend on small subjects rather than on distance covered.
Marine life and season
- Squid
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Belize Barrier Reef: March to May is the dry season, when visibility at Turneffe can pass 30 m (100 ft); rain and northerly winds take the shine off the other months.
Sources
- Turneffe Atoll dive sites — Dive The World
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