Snorkeling with Manatees in Belize

Location: Belize

Recommended by Sally of Sally Sees

How do we know it’s ethical?

Snorkeling is a low-impact, ethical activity. The manatees are in the wild, and they dictate any encounter. They are free to swim away if they don’t want to interact.

The best way to ensure snorkeling with manatees in Belize is ethical is to choose a quality operator who adheres to high standards.

A good company will enforce strict rules about touching, chasing, or scaring manatees. The experience underwater will be led by a local guide, who will monitor tourist’s behavior.

They won’t bait or feed the manatee and will have broader eco-policies in place, like no single-use plastics or sunscreen that can pollute the manatees’ habitat.

Description of the Experience

Manatees are found in the Caribbean Sea all over Belize. But one of the most popular and easiest places to snorkel with them is in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve off the coast of Caye Caulker.

Manatees can be quite elusive, so there aren’t specific tours that focus only on snorkeling with them. Rather, you’ll have a pretty high chance of seeing one on a broader Caye Caulker snorkeling tour.

Tours typically depart from the island in the morning, and due to the location of the seagrass beds, the manatees hang around in, looking for manatees will usually be your first stop of the day.

Captains from different tour companies communicate with each other via radio, sharing information about any recent sightings. 

Being wild animals, there’s always a chance you won’t see one, so you need to be prepared for that. (Don’t worry, there is so much other marine life in the reserve, you’re guaranteed to see rays, sharks, turtles and more!).

If your captain finds a manatee, your guide will get everyone geared up and ready to jump in. They’ll instruct you to enter the water gently without making a splash, to avoid scaring the manatee.

Once you’re under the water, you’ll get a glimpse of this strange-looking creature. Manatees are gentle giants, and honestly, they look like funny floating blobs! Despite seeming quite chilled and blissed out, their size means they can move pretty fast.

You should never swim on top of a manatee, as this can interrupt them surfacing to breathe. Never swim directly in front of them, they have right of way and you should always watch from a safe distance.

The encounter will last as long as the manatee decides to hang around. It might not be very long. Once they swim away, you shouldn’t chase after them. Appreciate the experience of witnessing one of the ocean’s most unique mammals, and hopefully look back on some great photos!

Company/ Cost: 

Salt Life Eco Tours is a reputable and ethical local tour company in Caye Caulker.

They don’t bait or feed the manatees or any other marine life, and they educate guests on how to safely interact with them, with a strict no touching and no chasing policy.

Their full-day snorkeling tour that includes a stop where manatees usually hang out is $90 USD per person, including lunch on board.

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This is one post on a series of ethical animal tourism posts by travel content creators. The experiences cover all seven continents and a variety of animals. Ensure that your animal experience is an ethical one.

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