Belize:Days 6 & 7 -- Octopus!

We're on our last day in Belize.  We head out tomorrow.  Yesterday was the last day of diving.  We dove at Hol Chan Marine Reserve both in the morning and during our night dive.

We made the decision as a group to go to Hol Chan for our last day.  Hol Chan is a marine reserve on the south end of Ambergris Caye.  It was a different sort of dive.  Instead of the deep canyons of coral that we had seen the other days, we were in a sort of bowl that was protected and was a sort of nursery in a way.  We saw some smaller turtles, still about 3 foot size.  There were a number of smaller angelfish and butterfly fish; ones that were maybe 2" in size with juvenile markings.

Hermit crab with a huge shell!

We followed up our trip to Hol Chan with one out to Shark Ray Alley.  That was just a snorkling sort of thing where they chummed the water.  We had nurse sharks and sting rays come and swim with us.  It was a neat experience.

In the evening we headed out for a night dive at Hol Chan.  We saw a couple of octopuses and a number of moray eels out feeding.  There was a HUGE snapper that was eating.  I actually saw it eating a fish.  There were lots of lobsters and shrimp and rays out as well.  Video will come after I get home.

Today I slept in and went souvenier shopping.  I went out on a kayak and that was enjoyable as well.  All I have left is to put things together for heading out tomorrow.  We'll spend most of tomorrow at airports, so so long Belize.  It was an unBelizable vacation. :)