In the 1970s, underwater pioneer Jacques Cousteau explored the sinkhole and declared the dive site one of the world’s best. Since then the Blue Hole’s image – a deep azure pupil with an aquamarine border surrounded by the lighter shades of the reef – has become a logo for tourist publicity and a symbol of Belize. The hole forms a perfect 305metre -diameter circle on the surface and is said to be 131m deep, but as much as 61m of this may now be filled with silt and other natural debris.

At the center of Lighthouse Reef is the world-famous Blue Hole Natural Monument, an incomparable natural wonder and unique diving experience. It may not involve a lot of undersea life, but it remains a recreational diver’s best opportunity for a heart-pounding descent into a majestic submarine sinkhole. The chance of spotting circling reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead further sweeten the deal.

Since my wife can’t dive, so we decided to take a sightseeing flight with Tropic Air instead. This was the best way to view the Blue Hole from above. The company has chartered sightseeing flights from Belize City, Caye Caulker and San Pedro which have to be reserved in advance. We arrived 15 minutes ahead of time and checked in to the counter to get the boarding pass. The airport office is small and had limited seats for about eight people, so we had to sit at one of the staff officer’s desk. The boarding passes are made of plastic and are reusable.

Around 11am, our flight had just come in from San Pedro. We walked along the tarmac to board the plane. The small ladder was pushed to the plane to allow us to climb onboard the plane. The plane is small and can fit a maximum of 11 people. The flight time takes about one hour.

Fly to Lighthouse Reef Atoll, and make several fly-bys of this natural wonder of the world. While en route, you will see the Belize Barrier Reef (the longest in the Western Hemisphere), and Turneffe Atoll. Be sure to keep watch on the water below for Manatees, Rays, Sharks, Dolphins, and other wildlife. So before you dive it, see it.

After speaking to some friends, I realised diving may not be the best thing to see the Blue Hole even though it is a good experience. Being under the water, you can’t get the immense scale of the Blue Hole compared to flying over it. While it is nice to dive alongside with several marine animals, the flight is more feasible for those who cannot dive.

There are two sides to the small plane, with an aisle in the middle. The pilot cleverly steers to the right side of the plane first and circles around the Blue Hole for people to take as many pictures as they want. However, those seated on the left need not fret because afterwards, the pilot then steers to the left and makes a loop. This is ensure a fair chance to passengers on both sides of the plane to have a good look of this amazing natural beauty. Once it came to the left side, I was so elated and snapped away happily.

The blueness of the Blue Hole and being on this sightseeing flight with my wife was just beyond words. Both of us were super thrilled. We had the whole back row to ourselves as we were the last ones to board. One lucky passenger even got to sit at the front, beside the pilot so he could look out of the front and side windows.

The plane took off from the small airport at Caye Caulker, then flew over the island towards the atoll. There was one small uninhabited island in the middle of the ocean.

After 55 minutes, the pilot slowly made his way back to Caye Caulker. It was a memorable sightseeing tour and we were indeed contented to have seen this world-famous moment from the skies. Caye Caulker airport is really small, you could walk from your accommodation to the airport in under 15 minutes. If you are carrying bulky items or a luggage, you can also hop onto a buggy cart which is their official taxis on the island for a fee of BZ$10 (US$5). Prices are fixed and it is more convenient to walk along the whole island to explore its beautiful quarters as well.

Practical information

San Pedro & Caye Caulker Blue Hole (Sunday Tour )
Tour includes: Blue hole flyover on Tropic Air from San Pedro & Caye Caulker, rider fee. Runs ONLY at 1:00PM and returns at 2:00PM. Open booking. Minimum of two persons.: $269.00 USD per person

San Pedro & Caye Caulker Blue Hole (Tuesday & Wednesday Tour )
Tour includes: Blue hole flyover on Tropic Air from San Pedro & Caye Caulker, rider fee. Runs Tuesday & Wednesday ONLY at 11:00AM and returns at 12:00PM. Open booking. Minimum of two persons.
: $269.00 USD per person

Belize City Blue Hole (Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday Tour) includes: Blue hole flyover on Tropic Air from Belize City Municipal and rider fee. Runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday ONLY at 10:00AM and returns at 11:00AM. Open booking. Minimum of two persons.$272.25 USD per person

Email to reservations@tropicair.com or visit their website for more details.