Barrier Reef Snorkel & Fishing Combo

Posted By : V7310UWah
This is a locally owned tour company that hire locals who are professional, well trained, and know the local area and culture well. I like that if others join your tour they give you a discount, which is very fair. We went on 3 of their tours and all were great: the Jaguar sanctuary hike, the all day snorkel and fresh-caught lunch, and the ATM tour. I wish we could afford to do them all. It feels good to support the local businesses.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-28

Posted By : dianecX3782ZL
My only other deep sea fishing experience was a captain that stopped the boat, put live bait on the line, taught us how to cast and reel in fish. This experience was VERY different. The boat was constantly moving. The crew used lures. They cast four lines, making sure they didn't cross, and as soon as we saw a line tug, we all yelled "FISH!!" and one person would jump to the fishing pole that was sitting in one of four holders and they'd start reeling in the fish. The crew handled removing the fish. It was basically a one-at-a-time kind of fishing experience. All six of us took turns, waiting for the next line to tug. Everyone got 3-5 opportunities to reel in a fish over the ~2 hours of fishing. We were lucky and caught/kept about 15 fish - mainly barracuda and yellow-tail snapper. The small ones were tossed back into the water and we had a few really good battles where the fish won. All in all, a ton of fun and a lucky day of fishing (some guests mentioned that they'd done similar trips elsewhere and caught only 1 fish the whole day). The snorkeling was great. We saw more variety of fish, sea cucumber, coral, and sting rays snorkeling than when we did a scuba dive a few days earlier. Our snorkel instructor was a true local guide, stopping to point out and name different varieties of ocean life. Learning while viewing real-time made it a much more enjoyable experience. Lunch was rice, beans, salad, grilled chicken and soda/water. Traditional local fare. Tasty. There are basic bathrooms on the island, none on the boat, (toilets didn't reliably flush). A few recommendations: - If you feel you have faulty equipment, speak up. I was initially given flippers that had a tear in the heal that would have likely fallen off in the water. I said something on land and they immediately replaced them. I had (what I believe to be) a leaky snorkel, which I didn't know until I tried to use it. I should have said something because it really detracted from my snorkeling experience, but there were no extras on the boat, so I sucked it up (literally sucking in ocean water every 3 breaths). Everyone else's equipment was fine. Maybe it was user error. - Always ask for soap in your mask to prevent fogging before you go into the water. The crew didn't always remember to offer. It makes a huge difference. - Take motion sickness medicine if you think you might get seasick. Better safe than sorry. They didn't offer any on the day we went, which was windy and rough waters. It took over an hour of slamming surf boating to get to our first fishing destination. I'm so glad I took some 20 min before left. - Don't forget to put sunscreen on the back of your legs! The boat had some covering and you could switch sides to find shade most of the time were were moving. - If you have sensitive feet, wear water shoes for transferring from the boat to the island shore where you have lunch and downtime. There's a short span of crushed shells that can be a bit uncomfortable for those without leathered foot soles. - No need to bring water. They provided a cooler of bottled water and served cold watermelon on the boat. I would definitely recommend this tour. I gave 4 out of 5 stars because I felt the crew could have been a bit more engaging. The snorkel instructor was GREAT, but otherwise, the crew generally kept to themselves unless actively engaged by a guest. They were all nice and polite, but quiet. If it wasn't for a few talkative guests, it would have been a very quiet day on the boat. A little more excitement by the crew and it would have been a 5-star experience.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-03-01

Posted By : Jodi K
Great day fishing & snorkeling! Theodore and Lennox were excellent guides—knowledgeable, friendly and fun. Highly recommend.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-02-28

Posted By : AGTW
Snorkeling with Jamar and Jeff was a highlight of my time in Belize. Jamar was very knowledgable and took the time to identify each fish or type of coral. The water was crystal clear and warm, lunch was good, and the boat ride was fun. I highly recommend this company and this tour.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-01-23

Posted By : Pattie452
This was just what we wanted. A bit of fishing, a lot of catching and a bit of snorkeling. Oh, and don’t let me forget about the eating!! I’ll get back to that in a minute. We were 2 couples and were joined by another couple from NC. They were definitely more experienced snorkels than us, but that didn’t bother us or them. We met at the Mangrove Resort and Marina. At the moment, I would not call it a resort but it is a marina. We took off around 0800 and went to Bread and Butter Caye where there are bathrooms. This is just FYI This is a nice, very small Caye with limited offerings in the way of drinks. Beer and Sprite. Medz and Theo, our fabulous guides, had plenty of water on the boat. Bring your own beer, wine or soft drinks if you want more than water. After they caught some bait with cast nets, we took off fishing. We probably fished in 3 spots and constantly caught fish. Definitely not going to catch any of the Big 4(?), but fun for us. From our last fishing stop, we got fitted for fins and masks and snorkeled along the reef. We say lobster, Sargent Majors, all kinds of snappers, and of course, all sorts of coral. Theo was an excellent guide pointing out all the different corals and fish. After about 30-40 minutes snorkeling, we got back into the boat and headed back to Bread and Butter Caye. We had some salsa and chips while Medz and Theo prepared lunch. Theo cleaned the fish right at the end of the Caye while a HUGE ray and 2 smaller ones swam around. Also, about 5-6 pelicans floated nearby waiting for scraps from Theo’s fish cleaning. Then, Lunch was served. They made the best fresh cerviche I have ever tasted, and I have tasted a lot. Also we had curried fresh fish which my husband ate 2 separate This is just FYI., and he claims to HATE curry😂. They also brought grilled chicken quarters, coleslaw, rice and beans. It was a glorious lunch sitting in the shade on a tropical Caye with a lovely breeze. What could be better? I’ll tell you. While the cleanup was being done, some of us napped in the hammocks gently being rocked by the breeze. Unfortunately, our idyllic time on this small Caye came to an end and we headed back to the marina. For us, it was the perfect day. I will say that the water was a bit murky due to a number of things, but I was happy with what I saw. Don’t forget sun screen. Reef Approved Sun Screen can be bought on Amazon. Also, if you need to eat something between 0800 and noon, bring a little snack. Bring a towel and change of clothes if you need to. We went home in our snorkeling clothes.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-01-13

Posted By : pams55
This is my second time doing a tour with Medz and Jeffrey. We booked private for the six of us. Hands down one of the best trips ever. We fished, snorkeled, and went to Bread and Butter Island. These guys are so knowledgeable and funny. Try them out you won't regret it.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-10-25

Posted By : 949cindyf
We went on the 'private snorkel/fishing and cook your catch' excursion with Medz and Jeff. I had never fished before but the idea sounded fun and would help to break up the day with the snorkeling on the amazing barrier reef. Medz and Jeff took such great care of us, and we got to participate as much as we cared to with catching and prepping bait, fishing, and the cleaning and cooking (we watched that part)! The snorkeling was some of the best I've done in Belize, and the fresh-made ceviche (conch and lion fish), and grilled snapper were sooooo good! I would pay just to have Medz make ceviche for me!! I highly recommend Get To Know Belize Adventures and we plan to make them one of our 'regular' tour guides!
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-10-17

Posted By : Nathan_L
Metz was a great guide. If adventure is calling this is a must do. Trust Metz, and enjoy the journey.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-09-16

Posted By : shL9266PF
If I could leave 6 stars I would. Belize is amazing and these to upped it on a great day of fishing and snorkeling. Medz has a personality that is chill and he is master of his craft. Has a million stories and seems to know facts about everything you could ask him. One of those guys that has been doing something he loves for decades and has been paying attention the whole time. If you are chill and let him do his thing, the day will be like a movie. Cruising around microbursts to keep us dry, catching bait, pointing out sea cows and other wildlife, on and on. Of course we caught a cooler of fish, all different kinds, that we ate. Let me tell you, these guys can fish and they also know how to cook! Jeffery led us on our snorkeling and the guy had eyes to find everything. A turtle, sting ray, sharks, barracuda, and hundreds of tropical fish. I don’t even think I can tell my friends anything that would come close to describing it. I’m not sure what else is offered in Hopkins but I doubt it would be a safe and worth it.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-09-15

Posted By : D996JRjenniferw
The Snorkel and Fishing Combo went way above and beyond our expectations. We were picked up by boat on the dock at Hopkins Bay resort by our excellent guides Medz and Jeffery. We listened to some chill music and went out and fished, stopped by a private beach, fished some more, and then did some snorkeling. Medz lived up to his promise of showing us "Fifty Shades of Blue" water. The water was gorgeous! It was my husband and I's first time snorkeling so we were a little nervous. Jeffery was so patient and kind with me, making sure I was comfortable every bit of the way and I can't wait to do it again. The reef was beautiful. After snorkeling we went to another private island called Bread and Butter where Medz and Jeffrey prepared and barbecued our fish that we caught. We also had some good Beans and Rice that Medz made that morning and prepared with love. This all day adventure is completely WORTH it and one we'll never forget.
Rating :
Posted On : 2023-06-05