Glover's Reef

Glover's Reef lies about forty-five kilometres off the Belizean coast, the most remote of the three atolls, and it is part of the Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage inscription. Its lagoon holds something in the order of eight hundred separate coral patch reefs, which is an unusual density and makes the inside water as interesting as the outside wall. Six small cayes sit on the southeastern rim, most of them holding a single small lodge or research station each. The Wildlife Conservation Society has run a research station here since the 1990s, and the atoll has been used for long-term reef and shark monitoring.

What you actually see

• The lagoon patch reefs - hundreds of coral heads inside the atoll.
• The wall - the outer edge, with excellent visibility.
• The research station - long-term reef and shark monitoring.
• The cayes - six small islands, mostly one lodge each.

When to go

December to April is the dry season with the calmest crossings. The crossing takes two to three hours and is cancelled in wind, sometimes for days. Lodges run fixed transfer days rather than daily boats.

Honest expectations

Access is by lodge package with fixed transfer days, so this is a week rather than a night, and it is expensive. The crossing is long and often rough. Facilities on the cayes are simple, with generator power and limited water. Coral bleaching has affected the atoll, as it has the whole region.

Nearby

Dangriga and Hopkins are the mainland departure points.