Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures

Sand Piper at Sunset

2011-09-29T23:43:00.000-07:00

Sand pipers are common at Spanish Look Out Caye and make difficult photo subjects because they hardly stay still. I shot this at sunset after many spoils. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge is excellent for bird watchers and nature lovers in general.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures Group.

Night Diving

2011-09-29T23:31:00.000-07:00

Night dives are a different way of experiencing a dive site. Different creatures come out in the dark and you pay more attention to detail since your vision is concentrated on the beam of your dive light.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures.

Encouraging words

2011-09-29T23:19:00.001-07:00

Many times beginner divers realize SCUBA diving is not what they expected. They experience anxiety and want to quit. Encouraging words by instructors go a long way in helping students overcome their fears of the sport.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures Group.

Welcome to HPBAL

2011-09-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

Guests receive a welcome drink on arrival at Hugh Parkey's Adventure Lodge.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures Group.

Tools of the Trade

2011-09-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

The right tools for the work at hand are required to provide effective service. At Hugh Parkey's Belize Dive Connection we rely on Scubapro dive Equipment to get the job done along with certified technicians to keep everything up to running. Scubapro rental and retail dive gear are available at our retail center on location at Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge on Spanish Look Out Caye.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures Group.

Hot Chocolate

2011-09-29T22:09:00.001-07:00

Nothing like hot chocolate to keep you warm after a night dive. Anytime of year, regardless of the weather guests at Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge have always enjoyed a cup or two of hot chocolate after their night dive.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures Group.

SCUBA Instructor with student

2011-09-29T21:51:00.000-07:00

Patience is a virtue when teaching SCUBA to first-timers. Communication between student and instructor is necessary to understand strengths and weaknesses and make the best out of every situation. This will lead to a memorable experience and the students desire to continue practicing the sport.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures Group.

Great Blue Heron

2011-09-29T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Great Blue Heron is one of the many birds you will encounter at Spanish Look Out Caye, home of Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge. Wildlife is common at our island with pristing mangrove forests and wetlands.

Photo by Aldo Perez. Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventures.

Dive Site: Chasbo's Corner

2010-05-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

Named by Hugh Parkey after his son, Chuck Parkey, also known as Chasbo. This dive site on the Northwest side of the atoll is located at a point on the reef and is a fine example of wall diving on the Northwest side. Top of the wall is 45 feet and drops down to a ledge at 180 feet. Top of the wall consists of mostly scattered corals with defined sand patches in between covered in a forest of gorgonians. This point on the reef creates a slight current when the tide is changing bringing in plankton streams that nourish the corals. The wall consists mostly of plate coral and covered in soft corals with huge specimens of deep water sea fans and various other gorgonians as well as a variety of sponges. The current also attracts plankton feeders like huge schools of creole wrasse and smaller schools of scad and herring. They get so excited in the feeding frenzy that they attract predators of all sizes. Schools of black grouper, tiger grouper, dog snapper, cubera snapper, king fish, and cero stalk the water column. Solitary barracuda can be seen hovering close to the coral and sponges stalking prey. Schools of black durgon and yellow tail snapper are also in abundance here. Chasbo’s Corner is unique because we are occasionally treated with a pleasant surprise of unusual and strange sightings. Hammerhead, silky sharks, reef sharks, sailfish, pods of dolphin, pods of false orcas and even manatee have all been seen here before. This site is also excellent for a variety macro life. Various types of pipefish, slender file fish, decorator crabs, blennies, gobies, shrimp, cowries, and colonies of yellow head jawfish as well as the elusive sea horse are all present throughout this site. This unique site has been featured in international dive magazines before and is sometimes called the “Mini Elbow” by some dive operators.

Photo by Tony Rath

May Madness

2010-04-20T13:54:00.000-07:00

It's time for May Madness once again and as usual you benefit by having absolutely no limit on arrival dates throughout May 1 - 15. That is right, you can arrive on any day at Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge and we'll get you started. Take advantage of last minute airline deals to Belize in May and choose your package. The 8 Day/7 Night Dive Package includes 3 Days Barrier Reef Diving and 3 Days Turneffe Diving for only USD$1399.00. The 5 Day/4 Night Dive Package includes 2 days Barrier Reef Diving and 1 Day Turneffe Diving for only USD$799.00. Non-divers can choose the 8 Day/7 Night Island Adventure Package which includes 3 full-days Barrier reef snorkeling, 1 day Barrier Reef Snorkel/Wildlife Encounter Combo, and 1 day Altun Ha Mayan Site/Belize Zoo combo for only USD$1099.00. We also have a 5 Day/4 Night Island Adventure Package that includes 2 full days Barrier reef Snorkeling, 1 day Wildlife Encounter/Mangrove Kayak Combo, and 1 Day Altun Ha/Belize Zoo Combo for only USD$599.00. All packages include transfers, meals, purified drinking water, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages and Park Fees. Dive Packages also include tanks and weights while Adventure Packages include snorkel equipment as required. Prices do not include tax.

Upcoming Trade and Dive Shows

2010-02-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Stop by our booths and get the opportunity to win a prize or simply take advantage of our specials!!!!!

Beneath the Sea Dive Travel Show in New Jersey

Join Hugh Parkey’s Belize Adventures at “Beneath The Sea Dive Travel Show” in Secaucus New Jersey, March 26, 27, and 28, 2010. We will be set up at Booth 743, at the Meadowlands Expo Center, waiting for you to stop by and get detailed information on all the packages we have available and custom packages we can create to fit your specialized itinerary. We will also have specials to launch our dive shop at the Sunbreeze Hotel in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.

London International Dive Show 2010 in London

27th - 28th March 2010
Excel London, Royal Victoria Dock, Newham, London, E16 1XL
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8943 4288

Discover the aquatic world that is the International Dive Show in London Excel. The expansive and renowned Excel exhibition centre in London will transform into a water wonderland as Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge joins the Belize Hotel Association along with hundreds of diving companies from all over the globe to showcase their products.
London International Dive Show 2010 will attract thousands of visitors into Excel London, all eager to sample the latest in the diving industry. We will have packages and giveaways to launch our dive shop at the Sunbreeze Hotel in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and our continued dedication to dive consumers at Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge on Spanish Lookout Caye, Belize City.
London International Dive Show 2010 in Excel London is London's premier scuba diving show and shouldn't be missed by anyone with an envy of gills.

One Reason to visit us at Trade Shows

2009-12-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

Edit and Zsolt attended the London International Dive Show and like many adventurers looking for something new they stopped by our booth for information and even entered their details for the opportunity to win a package being given away. They were blown away when they received the news that they had won an 8 Day/7Night Dive Package at Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge. The news and their photo was even printed on Divers magazine. Edit said they immediately started making preparations but it took a few months before they could actually realize their dream vacation. At the end of their package which included Barrier Reef, Turneffe Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef/Blue Hole, they could not get over the excitement. They want to return in the future and will make every effort to make it possible. Recently Edit posted the review below on TripAdvisor.

"We took part in a 7-day diving package. We were transported from the airport to a marina and from there to the island. We did not have to care about anything.
We were greeted with a cocktail on the island.
I was a bit afraid of diving at the beginning but we were looked after so well that I felt completely safe.
The service was excellent. Everyone was very friendly and additionally to the service we were shown around in the mangroves on kayak several times and told about the history of the country and the local wildlife.
There is a shop and a restaurant on the island. And also there is a boat from and to the island every day if something extra needed. Although we did not need anything everything was available there. There are 2 beaches, a museum and mangroves walk giving description about the mangroves and manatees.
The house we stayed in is located on the water. It was amazing to watch the sunrise, and the pelicans fishing in front of us. Sitting on the terrace at night and staring the stars.
The food was very good freshly made. The breakfast was served with lots of fruit. We had 2 choices for the 2 course lunch as well as for the 3 course dinner.
What I liked the most was the hospitality and colour of the water. It is amazing being so close to the nature and still getting full service."

Good morning from HP Belize Adventure Lodge

2009-09-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

I got out of bed this morning after a much needed rest. Before stepping into the office I walked along the dock (yes, I live at work) and immediately noticed literally millions of sardines in the shadow of the dock. Crevalle jacks were darting in and out of the bait ball while a huge barracuda lay motionless a couple feet away getting cleaned by a juvenile Spanish grunt about 2 inches in size. About 5 large bonefish silted up the bottom of the shallow end irritating several upside down jellies. As I walked in front of the dive shop I carefully examined the bottom through the unusually crystal clear water and noticed 3 juvenile yellow stingrays. The largest was about 3 inches across. Yes, that's right, inches not feet. They seemed to be hatch lings in their settling stage. The sun was slowly rising over the horizon and I felt like I had just discovered something new for today. I remember working with Richard Foster filming fish migrations for National Geographic last year and I know he would have loved to be here with millions of fish just under the dock. We searched Turneffe Atoll for schooling fish and after a week, including 2 days at the Elbow during the full moon, he probably got 15 minutes of usable video but he got plenty of stock footage and was happy. If I had only known then.

How many people can say that they look forward to an exciting morning on the way to the office?
Photo Credit: Sunrise at Belize Adventure Lodge by Tony Rath.

Crazy 8s Special extended thru the Fall

2009-08-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

We have extended our Crazy 8's Special thru November 15, 2009. That's 6 days of 2 tank diving for only $888.00 plus 9% hotel tax based on double occupancy. Accommodations on over-the-water cabanas, airport transfers, all meals and the best part is that there is no limit on arrival days.

Lionfish Captured

2009-07-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen. After 3 reported lionfish sightings at "The Arena" and "The Finger", 2 dive sites in the immediate vicinity of Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge; we have caught our first lionfish. The difference is that this one was not out at the reef but just in front of the lodge. While conducting a routine boat cleaning in a shallow grass bed our crew noticed the lionfish swimming around a sunken log no deeper than 10 feet. Instructor Emicel Tepaz and Dive Master Roberto Carlos Vasquez managed to guide the fish into a bag and brought it up to the boat where it was placed into a bucket. The lionfish is a juvenile about 3 inches in length and similar to native reef fish species had settled in the protective area around grass beds and mangrove roots. The fish is being held in captivity and its future is yet to be decided.

Photo: Aldo Perez

Crazy 8s August 8 Day Dive Special

2009-07-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

It's Summer time and we are going crazy with our "Crazy 8's August Special". Our 8 day dive package is being given away through the entire month of August for only USD$888.00. based on double occupancy. This includes meet and greet services at Belize International Airport, transfers from the airport to our private island, 7 nights accommodations in our over-the-water cabanas, breakfast, lunch, dinner, daily bar snacks, 6 days of 2 tank dives, at the Barrier Reef and Turneffe Atoll, tanks and weights. As usual you get complimentary use of our kayaks. No restrictions on arrival days therefore you can take advantage of last minute flight specials. You can also check out our websites for Belize Dive Connection and Belize Adventure Lodge for more information or drop me a note right here and i'll adress your concerns.

Looking Back at 2008

2009-05-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

We have to admit that the most unique project we participated on in 2008 was a featured spot on NBC’s Today Show in November. We had the pleasure of hosting their crew for an episode of a programming block called "The Ends of the Earth," part of NBC Universal's "Green Week," which raises awareness about climate change and endangered environments. The show was aired live from different locations throughout the country. Matt Lauer, host of the show, is not a certified SCUBA diver and we had the privilege of giving him his first ever Discover Scuba Diving experience. We did the confined water training at Banyan Bay Resort in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and one of the shows opened with him diving Hol Chan Marine Reserve under the careful supervision of our Instructor. We also took their crew out to the Blue Hole in Lighthouse Reef Atoll where we were joined by Fabien Cousteau, grandson of legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau who first explored the Blue Hole in 1972. After an early morning dive in the Blue Hole with Fabien and Matt the Today Show aired live from the Blue Hole.

Photo Credits: Left - Instructor Pablo Gorosica introduces SCUBA equipment to Matt Lauer for the NBC cameras. (Joel Parkey)

Right - Matt Lauer with our crew at the Blue Hole. (Romi Badillo)

SCUBA Instruction for the Summer

2009-05-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

As the summer approaches we will be conducting more SCUBA Instruction to keep us cool during the hot months. Customized packages are always available. With 5 PADI Instructors on staff and several others on call along with a large fleet of dive boats we can handle any large number of students. An Open Water Course can be done in as little as 3 days while Open Water Referrals require only 2 days, Rescue Diver takes less than 5 days while Dive Master can be completed in less than 10 days. You can also choose to do a Dive Master Internship with Hugh Parkey's Belize DIve Connection logging your required dives in real time scenarios, conducting dive briefings, leading dives and assisting wioth students. If you are a non diver and not sure about giving it a shot you can participate in a half day Discover Scuba Diving Program and it will credit towards your certification if you wish to continue. Equipment is included in the Discover Scuba Diving class, Open Water Scuba Course, and the Open Water Referral.

Included in our calendar of activities for this summer are numerous courses to introduce Belizeans to the diving scene. We are in the process of finalizing dates for our annual PADI Open Water Scuba Diver Course for the YMCA. This is just one of the many charitable projects the Hugh Parkey’s Belize Adventures Group carries out every year to introduce the Belizean public to various marine activities available. In the past many Belizean children and teenagers have obtained SCUBA certifications through our collaboration with the YMCA in their summer programs. Also planned for this summer is our PADI Dive Master Course for locals interested in a career in the SCUBA Diving industry. Over the years we have certified several PADI Professionals who are active and productive in the tourism industry. To keep with the tradition the courses starting from Open Water will be offered to Belizeans at discount prices. An internship with Hugh Parkey’s Belize Dive Connection is also included in the course. The better part of the program is that we are looking for more staff and will hire candidates who excel in our courses provided other criteria is met including a valid tour guide license.

Photo credit: Instructors conducting confined water training in a protected part of the reef in front of Hugh Parkey's Belize Adventure Lodge. (Tony Rath)

Whale Shark Diving

2009-04-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

Our Whale Shark Package is still available for the remainder of the season. We had our first successful dives during the April Full Moon. A weekend of diving at Gladden Spit Marine Reserve with an overnight at Pelican Beach Resort on Southwater Caye. We had more than just whale sharks during these wonderful dives. We sighted huge schools of snapper, jacks, reef sharks, and even a scalloped hammerhead along with the elusive whale shark.

Dive Master Denroy Usher stated that the guests were really excited throughout the 4 dives and the adrenaline just hiked up when the whale shark encounter happened. Spaces are still available for the May, June, and July full moons. These include 2 days diving at Gladden Split Marine Reserve, overnight at Pelican Beach Resort on Southwater caye, Marine Park entry fees, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, tanks, and weights. If you don’t have time this year you can reserve your spaces for next year. Package and detailed information are available through our reservations office.

Photos by Joel Parkey