With the longest barrier reef and home to 3 of only 4 coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere (185 kilometers), over 460 species of fish, and diverse formations of coral, the Belize coastal zone is ranked as one of the seven underwater wonders of the world and the Belize Barrier Reef System was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Hugh Parkey's Belize Dive Connection boasts the most professional dive boat "fleet" in Belize with four custom designed dive boats, two custom designed snorkel boats and numerous locally built boats ranging in length from 23-40 feet. This ever-expanding selection of modern vessels makes it is easy for us to match our boats with the needs of our customers whether it be private snorkel excursions, research expeditions, educational excursions or wildlife encounters.

"Papa Joe" - the first custom built dive boat in our fleet is, a Pro 48 by Custom Dive Boats in the USA. This vessel is state of the art in terms of equipment and capabilities. The 48-foot length coupled with the 16-foot beam make the "Papa Joe" a completely stable platform from which to conduct diving activities. Powered by twin 420 hp Caterpillar diesel engines and cruising at 25 miles per hour, means speedy transport to your favorite dive sites.The amenities are all there for comfort: tanks racks, large benches, full stand up head, large dive platform with two in-water ladders for ease of entering and exiting the water, large console table for cameras, covered cabin area, and a carpeted upper station area capable of seating twelve are just a few of those amenities. The size of the "Papa Joe" makes it ideal for those large groups and for days when the weather is somewhat questionable.

"The Captain HoHo" and "JR's Boys" - two identical custom designed Newton 46' Dive Boats. With twin CAT engines, 385 hp each, and all of the amenities of our Pro 48-Papa Joe including tanks racks, large benches, full stand up head, large dive platform with two in-water ladders for ease of entering and exiting the water, large console table for cameras, covered cabin area, and an upper station area capable of seating twelve are just a few of those amenities. These boats are Coast Guard certified for more passengers but we limit our scuba excursions to 24 divers maximum.

Pro 51 Island Hopper powered by twin Yamaha four-stroke engines. These four-stroke engines are extremely quiet and kinder to the environment as they have dramatically reduced emissions and they do not use the gasoline and lube mixture of other outboards. This boat is an ingenious tri-hull flat deck boat with a 16 foot beam designed specifically for our Cruise Market snorkel excursions. The stable platform (meaning "no tippiness") and two large heavy duty in-water ladders make this a perfect design for snorkeling as well as viewing wildlife for larger groups.

With over 800 square feet of deck space, stand-up head and fresh water shower this boat can comfortably accommodate groups of up to 65 guests. We prefer to limit our excursions to a maximum of 50 guests. Because this boat has worked so well for this type of excursion we added a second Pro 51 in the spring of 2006.

"Susie Q" is a Wayward 40, locally made and diesel powered with twin 200 hp Caterpillar engines. Its 40-foot length and 12-foot beam provide a great length to width ratio for a comfortable ride in nearly all conditions. Cruising at 23 miles per hour makes the "Susie Q" ideal for all types of diving and snorkeling activities to the Barrier Reef and Turneffe Atoll. It is perfectly suited for smaller groups of divers and our instruction program in particular. Amenities include extra large padded seats, large dive platform, marine head and a half cabin for shade.

The "Miss T", "Frigate" and "Osprey" are all locally built 25' and 26' Pelican and Wayward boats powered by four-stroke outboard engines. They are perfect for activities such as small, intimate snorkeling groups to the Barrier Reef islands, wildlife encounters, research activities and island hopping tours. The quiet engines allow for close approaches to local wildlife and definitely enhance the excitement. Features include bimini top, bench seating, shallow draft for step ashore excursions to the Barrier Reef islands, ladder for ease of exiting the water.

All boats also have the full complement of navigational and safety equipment including compass, cell phone, GPS, marine radio, first-aid kit, life jackets, and oxygen on board.

Most importantly, our boats are all captained and crewed by staff that has a tremendous amount of local knowledge. This knowledge enables them to select areas for diving and snorkeling based upon the weather conditions that will ensure the connection to just the right place.

Come see us and we'll take you on state-of-the-art dive boats for diving, snorkeling, kayaking and exploring experiences of a lifetime.

To help pique your interest, check out some of our more memorable dive locations by clicking on any of the links at left or below.