Turneffe Island Atoll

Turneffe Atoll is the closest to the mainland of the three atolls in Belize. Located 15 miles east of Belize City the Turneffe Islands surround the largest atoll. Unlike the outer atolls, Turneffe is unique . It is not a ringlet of sandy islets like Lighthouse and Glover's Reef but is, instead nearly covered with thick green mangrove and a shallow lagoon.

The huge juvenile nursery in the lagoon mangroves, shallows and mangrove lined coastal mainland provides a continuous flow of marine species in sizable numbers. Turneffe features world class dives such as the Elbow, off the extreme southern tip of the atoll. The Elbow is a series of deep pinnacles adjacent to the drop-off. Usually bathed in current, the area is a mixingbowl of mature marine life, including many large groupers and schools of jacks, snappers and Spadefish. The area is considered an advanced dive. The many dive sites at Turneffe now number more than 70 named sites.

Turneffe is also conveniently located to Lighthouse Reef Atoll, making it easy to get to sites such as the Blue Hole. Turneffe Atoll is accessible from Ambergris Caye on a full day or overnight side trips, however, for those who are more interested in experiencing all that this spectacular atoll has to offer an "All Inclusive Package" at one of the three resorts located on the islands there is recommended