| Destination: | Ambergris Caye, Belize | | Depth (ft): | 50 to 109 | Water: | Salt | Current: | None | | Access: | Boat, Less Than 30min | | Difficulty: | Beginner | | Latitude: | | Longitude: | | | | Address: | Belize | | Typical Apparel: | | | Best Feature: | Critters |
| | | Cypress is a spur-and-groove reef with deep and narrow canyons running perpendicular to the reef line. Coral spurs crest at 50-70 ft whereas the sand-floored cuts fall off rapidly to depths of 100 fl. The mooring line attaches to coral at 48 ft. You enter the water near the midpoint of the coral spurs. Here, the reef takes on a rugged relief. South of the mooring pin, vertical spurs rise 14 ft above the brilliant white sand floor of the adjacent channel.
Burgeoning coral growth on the spurs mushrooms next to the mooring pin to form undercuts. Just a little bit farther seaward, the pronounced lateral coral accretion of two ridges has created a low swim-through, which is straight and floored by coarse rippled sand. Like so many other places along the barrier, there is a dazzling variety of shapes and colors present. Elkhorn, staghorn, lettuce and boulder coral create an abundance of branching, platy and mound shapes right around the mooring line. Huge overlapping sheets of coral shingle the reef top farther seaward. Striking iridescent vase sponges, red boring sponges, orange crinoids, green cornflake algae and a wide variety of tropical fish accent the reef with color.
Photographers will delight in the macro opportunities this site offers. A forest of waving soft coral greets you at the base of the mooring line and is worth exploring for tiny invertebrates hiding among the branches. Here you will also find a variety of juvenile fish among the dense stands of lettuce coral. Dusky damselfish, rock beauties, french angelfish, hogfish, spiny lobster and hermit crabs wait to have their portraits taken.
Excellent visibility. All species of fish including jacks, groupers, snappers. parrot fish, angel fish, barracuda, eels, spider crabs, lobster, and nurse sharks. Canyon formations and close to Hot Chan Marine Reserve. Unique to this site is the concentration of impressive orange and white elk horn coral. Schools of yellowtail, gray, black and red snappers swim among these beautiful coral formations. Because they are accustomed to being fed, they will come up very close to you. Cypress is a great spot for photographers who want to fill their wide angle lens with colorful schools of fish. | | |
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