Anchorage· Half Moon Caye· Other Caribbean
Half Moon Caye Anchorage
17° 12.3′ N · 87° 32.5′ W · approximate
Anchor in clear sand in the lee of Half Moon Caye at Lighthouse Reef's southeast corner, then dinghy to the ranger pier for the booby colony and snorkel the wall at the doorstep.
Practical
Position approximate: placed off the west end of the caye, inside the reef, using Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap island positions; anchor only on sand clear of coral and follow the marked access route. Noforeignland reviewers rate it 5 stars for holding, clear water and protection from swell; another cruiser blog called it very rolly - expect surge in strong SE winds. Lighthouse Reef's lagoon is 2-6 m deep (Wikipedia). Night approach is dangerous: in 2007 a 38 ft catamaran hit the reef trying to reach Half Moon in the dark, and Belize Audubon advises against night navigation. Call the Half Moon Caye rangers on VHF 16 before anchoring or mooring (Belize Audubon Society). Moorings exist at the dive sites; BAS works with the Port Authority on channel marker buoys. The Moorings requires a local skipper for Lighthouse Reef. No services: bring everything.
Best for
Overnight base for Half Moon Caye and the Blue Hole
Season
Settled trades only; exposed in northers
Nearby
- Half Moon Caye Natural Monument0.3 NM away
- Half Moon Caye Wall0.4 NM away
- Sea Turtle Nesting Season0.4 NM away
- Ermlund Wreck (Lighthouse Reef)0.9 NM away
- Long Caye Anchorage (Lighthouse Reef)3.5 NM away
- Long Caye Aquarium (Lighthouse Reef)3.6 NM away
- Lighthouse Reef West-Side Dives (Silver Caves, Tres Cocos, West Point)3.9 NM away
- Great Blue Hole (Lighthouse Reef)6.6 NM away