Scuba Season
Underwater reef at Gladden Spit
Declining

Gladden Spit

Belize · Caribbean

Gladden Spit is one of the world's most dramatic large-pelagic encounters — whale sharks converge on the spawning aggregations of cubera and mutton snapper during full moons from March through June, creating a feeding spectacle unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean. Outside spawning season the offshore wall drops into spectacular blue water with healthy soft coral gardens and consistent shark action.

How this reef is doing

ⓘ How we measure this

Reef state

Declining

Live coral covers 7% of this reef. The water is warmer than usual right now, so expect some pale coral.

Coral cover

HEALTHY RANGE7%2015now
Declining

Fish life

healthy reef of its kind ▾
SparseRich

About what a healthy reef of its kind holds.

Moderate

Heat

SafeBleaching

Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.

Warming

Fishing

QuietBusy

Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.

Open

Sources · MERMAID and the survey teams · Reef Life Survey · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity

Coral cover over time

Live coral cover, by survey year

Across 9 survey years from 2015 to 2025, live coral cover here has fallen from 8% to 7%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.

Live coral cover, percent by year

40%0%region avg 16%201520172019202020212022202320242025
9 surveys, 2015 to 2025
Caribbean average (GCRMN)
MERMAID and the survey teams, within 56 km

What you will see

13 species across the dive sites here

Dive sites

Gear & getting wet

  • Basic kit

    • Mask and fins
    • BCD and regulator
    • 3mm full wetsuit · warm water
    • Dive computer