Wildlife· Cayos Limones (East & West Lemmons)· Other Caribbean

Rays, Nurse Sharks & Turtles (Lemmon & Chichime Cays)

9° 34.4′ N · 78° 51.2′ W · approximate

The western cays have the San Blas's best variety of reef fish, and the shallow sand and turtle-grass flats around the Lemmons and Chichime are where snorkellers meet spotted eagle rays, southern stingrays, nurse sharks dozing under ledges and the occasional sea turtle.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Coordinate approximate: set at the East Lemmon Cays anchorage; sightings range across the Lemmons, Dog Island and Chichime reefs. Spirit of Argo (2016) rated the East Lemmons the best snorkelling in the San Blas for variety of fish, with 'great snorkelling opportunities all around you'. Toucan Discovery lists rays, barracuda, parrotfish and sometimes lemon sharks on San Blas snorkels (lemon sharks Dec–Apr on the outer keys), Atlantic spotted dolphins year-round in the deep passes, and green turtles nesting on deserted beaches Mar–Oct. Cruisers report spotted eagle rays several feet across drifting past anchored boats and small 4 to 5 ft sharks circling (Lowcool 2024), nurse sharks under coral shelves (Cruising World), and nine eagle rays on one outer-cay swim (2010). No published source pins turtles to a particular Lemmon or Chichime reef, so treat turtle sightings as luck: look over the turtle-grass flats inside the reefs. Rules: no touching or chasing; turtle fishing is banned and you must not buy turtle meat or shell; spearfishing needs Guna permission. Swim into the current so you drift back; currents run hard through the reef cuts.

Best for

Snorkelling with rays and sharks off the western cays

Season

Year-round; turtles nest Mar–Oct; lemon sharks Dec–Apr

Nearby