From: tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
Newsgroups: rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Belize
Date: 1 Sep 92 16:43:13 CST
Organization: Monsanto Company, St. Louis, MO

In article <3481@master.CNA.TEK.COM>, danbe@tekred.CNA.TEK.COM (Dan Beougher ) writes:
> New certification.  New to newsgroup.  Enjoyed the 50 articles on
> "to whiz or not-to-whiz" in your wetsuit.  I thought I was in
> talk.bizarre for a moment!

*HEY*, watch it.  Being new to diving you have no idea how important
this stuff is!  You just might piss somebody off (in their wet suit
of course).     ;-)

> I saw a request for Belize info fly by but saw no posted replies.  I
> hate to repeat, but I need the same information.  I'm going in November
                                                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Me too.

> and would like suggestions.  There will be one diver and one
> snorkler.  I was thinking perhaps four days at Key Caulker 

Caye Caulker (pronounced the way you spelled it) is a shabby little
island with several small hotels (some with hot and cold running water
and a private bath!), a few small restaurants and bars, sand streets
and even 24 hour electricity!  They just built an air strip (air 
strip, not airport... as in "you're going to land where?!?!) with 
regular (single engine 3 passenger) air service.  It's more fun to take 
a cab into Belize City and take a boat from A&R Shell, (Used to be Jan's
Shell) dock though.  Talk to Frenchie's Dive Shop about scuba...  Anyone
(the boat guys will ask you on the street if you want to go snorkling)
can take you out to snorkle.  Bring your own mask fins and snorkle,
the rental stuff is expensive and not in particualarly good working
condition.  I bring all my own equipment (including pony bottle) but
Frenchie's stuff is ok.  Rastafarians on the street will offer
to sell you "good ganja".  All the restaurants are good.  Go by price
and menu offering.  Drink the rainwater provided free by the hotels 
and restaurants. The local water is safe to drink but is brackish and 
tastes like shit.  For the best deals on hotel and air packages,
call Tropical Travel or Ocean Connection (both in Houston, call 800
information for their numbers).  They can often get you air and hotel
for cheaper than you could get the airline tickets alone.  Go through
your local agent for connecting flights.  Fly TACA Airlines (I know,
I know, it's the airline of El Salvador) it's a first class operation
(even though the jets that they fly don't have a first class section).
Great food and free drinks the whole flight.       

> and four
> somewhere else.  We'd also like to take in some rainforest and Mayan
> ruins.  

The above travel wholesalers can set that up too.  You might want to 
stay out of Guatemala if you're not an experienced 3rd world traveler.
The same goes for Belize City.

>We have little interest in the "resorty" scene, preferring
>culture to class.

Good, you'll love Caulker!  The place has no class at all.  Very 
refreshing.  Ask a visitor what time it is and they will say
"Who cares"  Ask a visitor how long they've been there and they'll
give you a confused look and say "I don't know".  Congratulations,
you've announced that you just arrived that day.  Sit down at their
table and have a drink.

> Any tidbits would certainly be appreciated.

Sorry, no tidbits, it'll spoil your dinner.  Any more Q's, feel free
to email or post.

  TED FEUERBACH   Scientific Systems Consultant  Trilogy Consulting, Inc. 
  Lake St. Louis, MO        (314) 537-6603       tjfeue@bb1t.monsanto.com
  Disclaimer:  The opinions expressed herein are MY OWN and obviously not
  the opinions of Trilogy, Monsanto or either of my two ex-wives.