Hamanasi Dive Resort Belize
We rarely return to the same destination a second time, and this is the third stay at Hamanasi. First it is easy to get to and it is in the same time zone as the Midwest U.S. You can get to Belize City by noon from most departure spots in the U.S. You can fly a small commuter plane or you can drive a vehicle which we have done on our second and third visits to the resort. It is about a three hour drive and it is a lovely drive on very good roads (except for the last couple of miles).
The resort has an incredible number of activities for travelers. We have visited ruins, gone bird watching, tubing and visited the very lovely Belize Zoo. The rooms are large enough for 2 adults and 2 children, but are more pleasant for just two adults. The one thing that stands out is that everyone will learn your name by the second name. Everyone from the manager to the gardener knows who you are. It's better than Cheers.
The food is very good, but short of spectacular. Of course the setting with the Caribbean in the background is lovely, especially at night. If you have flexibility, head there when the moon is full and you will be treated to an especially nice view at night.
The diving is very good, but short of South Pacific standards. We saw nurse sharks, big turtles, eagle rays and a lot of pretty small things. The dive operation is wonderful whether you are a beginner or expert. I would suggest that you check their daily schedule ahead of time to make sure that your trip will let you go to the outer atolls which have the best diving.
The diving is a bit of a trek away from the resort. The barrier reef sites are about a 50 to 60 minute ride from shore (beautiful). The atolls are 2 to 2.5 hours away and the ride can be quite rough, especially in the winter months. They have planned trips there 2 days a week, so you can miss them if you are not there on the right days. The resort kind of works on a Sunday to Sunday schedule, so if you do something mid week like we did to get cheaper air fare, it may cause you to be out of synch.
The resort has a reputation for whale shark sitings in the late spring months, but I have heard that it is a real tedious trip to find them. If you don't see them, it is a long day of bobbing around in the ocean.
