Belize Barrier Reef · Belize · Drift · Wall
The Elbow (Turneffe)
Snapper and jacks stacked over Turneffe's southern corner
Area photo: Axelspace Corporation · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Elbow is the corner of Turneffe Atoll, off Caye Bokel at its southern tip, where the main reef changes direction and V-shaped cuts drop into a steep slope. Moderate current can push over the reef flat, and it holds large congregations of snapper and jacks in the water above the point, with eagle rays working the edge.
Also known as Turneffe Elbow.
Where it is and how deep
17.1713° N, 87.9047° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts over a reef flat at about 18 metres and works out towards the point, where the main reef changes direction and V-shaped cuts drop into a steep slope that falls away into deep water. Current over the reef can run moderate, and it is the current that makes the site: it pushes along the corner and holds the fish that gather there, so the dive is run with it rather than against it.
What you come for is the congregation. Cubera and dog snapper stack up along the point, with gray and mahogany snapper alongside them, and horse-eye, yellow and bar jacks, permits and rainbow runners work above the reef. Eagle rays pass along the edge and sharks turn up now and then. The site is rated for experienced divers only, not for novices, and the boat briefing will set the depth and the direction before you go in.
Background
Turneffe Atoll was officially declared a marine reserve on 22 November 2012 and is managed by the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association. The reserve is documented as home to more than 500 species of fish and 65 species of stony coral, along with sea turtles, manatees, dolphins and seabirds, and at least three known important fish spawning aggregation sites have been identified on the atoll.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Eagle rays
- Reef fish swarms
| 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.
Know before you go
- Current over the reef can run moderate and pushes along the corner — enter up-current with the group rather than trying to swim back along the edge at the end of the dive.
- The cuts at the point drop into a steep slope with no bottom in view, and it is easy to follow fish deeper than planned. Set a maximum depth before you drop.
Dive videos
Belize Day 4 Dive 1 The Elbow, Turneffe Atoll, Belize · John Loomis on YouTube
Loggerhead turtle attacks camera. April 26 2024. The Elbow, Turneffe atoll, Belize · Ocean Diver on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is The Elbow suitable for new divers?+
No. The site is rated for experienced divers only: current over the reef can run moderate, and the cuts at the corner drop into a steep slope that falls into deep water. The reef flat itself sits at about 18 metres.
What do you see at The Elbow?+
Large congregations of fish. Cubera and dog snapper gather along the point with gray and mahogany snapper, and horse-eye, yellow and bar jacks, permits and rainbow runners work the water above the reef. Eagle rays pass along the edge and sharks turn up occasionally.
Sources
- Turneffe Atoll — Wikipedia
- Turneffe Reef dive sites — Dive The World
- Big Caye Bokel — OpenStreetMap
- Caye Caulker — Wikivoyage
In The Logbook
- When does coral spawn? The moon's calendarBig animals · 10 min read
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