Belize's Best Padi Certification Spots

Belize is a world-class scuba diving destination, with more than 400 islands, white sandy beaches, the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, and 298 kilometres (185 miles) of coastline. The best place to get your PADI in Belize is the Scuba School and Family Dive Centre in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It is a PADI 5-star Resort Facility and has been rated PADI's #1 training centre in its region for eight years in a row. The centre offers all the latest teaching methods, from Discover Scuba Diving for beginners to the Divemaster Course for those looking to enhance their skills. The Belize Reef is just a five-minute boat ride away, with over 100 dive sites to choose from.

PADI dive courses in San Pedro, Belize

San Pedro in Belize is a great place to take a PADI dive course. There are several PADI-certified schools in the area offering a range of courses for beginners and more advanced divers.

Scuba School and Family Dive Center Belize

This PADI 5-Star Resort Facility is located on 1788 Sea Grape Dr, Front Street at Holiday Hotel, San Pedro, Ambergris, Belize. They offer a range of PADI courses, including the Open Water Diver course, the Scuba Diver course, and the Advanced Open Water course. They also provide free introductory dives for beginners and specialty courses such as underwater photography and night diving. Scuba School and Family Dive Center Belize is the only dive center accepted by the government of Belize as an educational training facility, and their instructors are registered as teachers and are drug-tested annually.

Belize Pro Dive Center

This Authorized 5-Star PADI Dive Resort is located on Beach Front Mar de Tumbo Area, San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, Belize. They offer various PADI courses, catering to beginners and more advanced divers. Their team consists of certified PADI SCUBA instructors and Divemasters, some of whom are recipients of the PADI Elite Instructor Award. Belize Pro Dive Center provides a full range of boats and equipment to cater to your needs.

Course Prices

The prices of the courses vary depending on the level and duration. For example, at Scuba School and Family Dive Center Belize, the Open Water Diver course costs $413 plus a $202 PADI e-learning fee (paid directly to PADI). Meanwhile, the Scuba Diver course is $330 plus the $202 PADI e-learning fee.

So, whether you're a beginner or an experienced diver, San Pedro, Belize, has PADI dive courses to suit your needs and help you explore the beautiful underwater world of Belize.

PADI dive resorts in Belize

Belize is a world-class scuba diving destination, renowned globally for its Great Barrier Reef—the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. The country offers a mix of budget, mid-range, and luxury resorts, with many resorts offering jungle tours, bird and nature walks, and adventure activities like cave tubing and waterfall rappelling.

Turneffe Island Resort

Located in the heart of diving action in Belize, the resort is just 30 kilometres (19 miles) away from the Great Blue Hole. It features an on-site 5-star PADI dive centre, à la carte activities, and massage therapists.

Steve and Becky’s Cute Little Hotel

A secluded, quiet, and colourful hotel in San Pedro, loved by solo travellers and couples. Ramon’s Village Diving dive centre is a short walk away, providing access to dives at Shark Ray Alley and the Great Blue Hole.

Isla Marisol Resort

Located in Glover Reef Atoll, a diving and snorkelling paradise, the resort features an on-site 5-star PADI Dive centre. Divers can explore the 80-square-mile (207-square-km) tropical lagoon by kayak or paddle board, and go conservation diving in the protected Marine Park.

Blackbird Caye Resort

This resort, recognised as one of the world's best dive resorts by Sport Diver magazine in 2020, features an on-site 5-star PADI dive centre. It offers tranquil accommodation and an oceanside infinity pool, making it a luxurious getaway for higher budgets.

Alaia

Nestled in San Pedro Town, Alaia pairs contemporary studios with beachfront villas. It boasts an on-site 5-star PADI dive centre, a wine bar, spa treatments, six restaurants, and four bars. It offers fantastic mid-range prices with an ultra-luxurious feel.

Ramon's Village Resort

Ramon's Village Resort is a highly-rated beachfront resort that offers a combination of aquatic adventures and family-friendly amenities. It is well-maintained and provides access to beautiful reefs and a variety of unique fish and other marine life.

Pelican Reef Villas Resort

This resort offers all-inclusive options and is known for its amazing staff, who can assist with various activities such as fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, and more. It has a swim-up bar and provides a free breakfast.

PADI scuba diving in Belize

Belize is a world-class scuba diving destination, with more than 400 islands, white sandy beaches, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, and 298 kilometres (185 miles) of coastline. The country's best-known dive site is the Blue Hole, but there's much more to discover. The waters are rich, clear, and warm, offering great conditions for beginners and some exciting diving for the more advanced diver.

There are currently 9 dive sites listed around Belize, of which 7 are ocean dives, 7 are reef dives, and 4 are wall dives. The best time to dive in Belize is from March to December when the weather is dry and visibility and surface conditions are at their best. Visibility in Belize is excellent, ranging from 65-130 feet (20-40 metres). The temperature doesn't vary too much over the year, dropping to around 79° F (26° C) in the winter and rising to 86° F (30° C) in the summer.

Most liveaboard diving in Belize is in the area to the east of Belize City, where Lighthouse Reef, The Blue Hole, and Turneffe Atoll can be found. These sites are several hours from the coast, and liveaboard itineraries are usually around 7-10 days. The Belize Aggressor III and Belize Aggressor IV are two luxurious diving boats with a hotel feel, offering spacious cabins and amenities like a wet bar and a hot tub on the sun deck.

Belize is also home to PADI dive resorts, which provide a great base for discovering the Blue Hole, as well as offering access to amazing coral reefs and whale shark adventures. For big thrills, try Shark Ray Alley or dive with turtles and the endemic whitespotted toadfish on the Belize barrier reef.

If you're looking for a scuba diving school, the Scuba School and Family Dive Center in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, is a PADI 5-Star Resort Facility and PADI's #1 training centre in the region for several years running. They offer ongoing educational experiences, even on recreational dives, with a focus on quality instruction and guest safety. Their dive centre is just a two-minute boat ride from over 100 dive sites along the Belize Reef.

PADI dive shops in Belize

Belize is a world-class scuba diving destination, with more than 400 islands, white sandy beaches, the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, and 298 kilometres (185 miles) of coastline. The Blue Hole is Belize's best-known dive site, but there are many other sites to explore, including the Belize Barrier Reef, Shark Ray Alley, and the southern coast, which is less crowded than the north.

There are several PADI dive shops in Belize that offer scuba diving courses and certifications. Here are some options:

Scuba School and Family Dive Center

Located in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, this PADI 5-star resort facility has been rated PADI's #1 training centre in the region for eight consecutive years. They offer various dive packages to suit different preferences and budgets, and provide free lifetime Nitrox certification with any package booked. They also limit their course sizes to four students per instructor to ensure personalized attention.

Belize Pro Dive Center

This PADI 5-star dive resort is located on-site at Marriot, Autograph Collection Alaia in Ambergris Caye. The Belize Pro Dive team consists of PADI SCUBA Instructors and Divemasters, some of whom have received the PADI Elite Instructor Award. They offer a full range of high-quality diving equipment, and their facilities include a small shop and a fleet of six boats.

Belize Underwater - Hopkins

This PADI 5-star dive resort offers scuba diving, snorkelling, private charters, and island experiences. They cater to divers of all levels, from beginners to experienced divers looking for exciting adventures. Their experienced PADI-certified dive masters will guide you to the best diving spots along Belize's Southern Barrier Reef.

Splash Dive Center

Located in Placencia, this dive shop offers first-class dive operations with excellent instructors. They provide a wide range of certifications and recreational dives. Placencia has a laid-back fishing village vibe and offers easy access to mainland activities like jungle hiking and Mayan ruins.

Island Divers

Based in San Pedro, this dive shop is recommended for training dives.

These are just a few examples of the many PADI dive shops in Belize. Each offers its own unique experience, catering to different levels of divers and providing diverse packages and amenities.

PADI liveaboard diving in Belize

Belize is a world-class scuba diving destination, with more than 400 islands, white sandy beaches, the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, and 298 kilometres (185 miles) of coastline. The country's best-known dive site is the Blue Hole, but there's much more to discover. The waters are rich, clear, and warm, offering great conditions for beginners and exciting opportunities for advanced divers.

Most liveaboard diving in Belize focuses on the area to the east of Belize City, where Lighthouse Reef, the Blue Hole, and Turneffe Atoll can be found. These sites are considered the best in the country and are located a couple of hours offshore. Liveaboard itineraries in Belize usually last from 7 to 10 days, and the best time to dive is from March to December.

The Belize Aggressor III and Belize Aggressor IV are two luxurious diving boats with a hotel feel, offering liveaboard diving experiences in the country. Both boats offer spacious cabins with ensuite facilities, as well as a wet bar and a hot tub on the sun deck. The boats emphasise service, with chef-cooked meals and warm towels provided after every dive.

In addition to the Blue Hole, Belize offers a variety of dive sites, including ocean dives, reef dives, and wall dives. The country's waters are home to an array of marine life, such as whale sharks, turtles, rays, sharks, and dolphins. The inside of atolls like Turneffe and Lighthouse Reef are perfect nurseries for breeding fish and nesting turtles, resulting in large shoals of snappers and groupers. The lagoons also host pods of dolphins and manatees in shallower areas, and Caribbean reef sharks can be spotted on the reefs.

With its stunning diving conditions, diverse marine life, and easily accessible location, Belize is an ideal destination for liveaboard diving adventures.

Frequently asked questions