Belize Dive Haven Resort & Marina

I was 1 of a group of 60+ in June that traveled to Belize’s Turneffe Island with the promise of a 5-star Padi resort. It quickly turned into a deep disappointment, starting from the boat trip to the island. What should have been a 90-minute boat ride stretched into an extremely long and rough trip, soaking many in our group, along with our personal items, carry-ons, and luggage. One in our group lost his laptop due to being drenched with salt water, and there weren’t enough life vests for everyone. 1 of the other boats carrying additional members of our group broke down on the way and had to do an ocean transfer to another boat. That same boat broke down on the 1st day of diving, and they had to acquire another boat. The 5-star PADI certified Dive Shop was nonexistent. There was nowhere to purchase or repair equipment. Roll call after dives, rule,s and procedures were hit and miss. My dive gear wasn’t stored as promised, but sat on the boat at night. The docks, essential for a diving resort, were warped and full of holes, posing a safety risk. The dining experience was another significant source of frustration. Belize Dive Haven shows beautifully presented meals on their website, but we didn’t receive anything close to those photos. We lined up for food that was consistently lukewarm with an extremely limited menu served by the staff from 4-5 chafing dishes without any heat source underneath. The meals often consist of the same uninspired dishes of a spoonful each of rice, beans, chopped veggies, and a small meat portion, usually chicken. Meal times were short, portions were small, and they ran out of food several times. The lack of any snacks throughout the day, coupled with the poor quality of the meals and options, made the entire dining experience a genuine low point of the trip. The bar was understocked and understaffed from the very first night. They were unable to make many popular drinks due to a lack of ingredients. Alcoholic Drinks and soda were only available from the bar, as there weren’t any waiters. This was particularly frustrating given that the resort was expecting a large group of guests. There wasn’t any bar service for the pool either. You had to get out of the pool and walk to the dining room bar to get a drink. The state of the property was a major concern, with a large portion of the amenities shuddered and left to fall into disrepair. There wasn’t a manned front or lobby desk; it was deserted. Approximately half of the hotel's buildings were visibly neglected, with no signs of maintenance or cleaning for an extended period. Only 1 of the 2 pools was filled, and all the water features around the pools were empty and full of debris. Most of the beach was buried in Sargassum seaweed. The Spa was in a guest room. The Ballroom was full of molding, rotting furniture. Most floors in the main building had water inundating closed-up areas during rainstorms. There were cracked windows, missing glass panels, peeling paint, bathroo

Nothing about this resort is as advertised, except the diving. Limited food options that were luke warm at best and most of the resort is in a terrible state of repair. About half the hotel and most of the buildings were abandoned with no maintenance or cleaning for years. One pool had water in it but the other was empty. No dive shop, the "spa" was in one of the hotel rooms. Worth about 25% of what they are charging.

Belize Dive Haven is a beautiful destination with incredible potential. While there are a few areas that could use improvement, the exceptional staff truly make up for it with their professionalism and warm hospitality. The pool is massive—perfect for a relaxing swim and the diving experiences are absolutely breathtaking. My only critique would be the food and beverage offerings. I’d love to see the natural juices made from fresh fruits rather than concentrates. That said, I would definitely return given the chance—it’s an unforgettable experience overall.