belize-3
๐ง๐ฟ BELIZE
MARINAS IN BELIZE SPONSORING THE OCEAN POSSE
MARINAS
| The Moorings >> | Placencia |
| The Placencia >> | Placencia |
| Thunder Birds Marina >> | Placencia |
| Roberts Grove >> | Placencia |
| Kukumba Beach >> | Belize City |
| The Placencia Yacht Club >> | Placencia |
| Radisson Fort George Marina >> | Belize City |
| Sitee River Marina >> | Hopkins |
MUST SEE
Belize Barrier Reef System a UNESCO World heritage Site >>
7ย marine preserves
- Bacalar Chico Natural Monument 18.141ยฐ N 87.863ยฐ W
- Half Moon Caye Natural Monument 17.2047ยฐ N 87.5364ยฐ W
- Blue Hole Natural Monument 17.3160ยฐ Nย 87.5347ยฐ W
- South Water Caye Marine Reserve 16ยฐ43โฒ08โณNย 88ยฐ08โฒ56โณW
- Laughing Bird Caye Natural Park 16ยฐ26’36” N 88ยฐ11’50″W
- Sapodilla Caye Marine Reserve 16ยฐ08โฒ46โณN 88ยฐ16โฒ52โณW ย 16.146ยฐN 88.281ยฐW / 16.146; -88.281
Atolls
Turneffe Atoll 17.4382ยฐ N, 87.8304ยฐ W
Glovers Reef Atoll 16.71729,-87.84885.
Lighthouse Reef Atoll 17ยฐ18โฒN 87ยฐ33โฒW / 17.300ยฐN 87.550ยฐW / 17.300; -87.550.
Actun Tunich Muk’nal Cave System >>
LABANAI MAYAN SITE “SUBMERGED CROCODILE”>>
Mayan ruins of ALTUN HA>>
for a complete list of tour oprators follow this link >>
| DOCUMENTATION | BELIZE | |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months; requires one blank page | |
| Boat Documentation | Coast Guard Doc (Original) Pre-arrival Notification Required – www.sailclear.com |
|
| Proof of Insurance | Liability | |
| Crewlist | Required at checkin/out Pre-arrival Notification using- www.sailclear.com Entered in SailClear – Belize Port Authority Press release here  |
|
| Zarpe | Required at checkin/out | |
| OFFICIAL PROCEDURES | HAIL UPON ARRIVAL | |
| Official Country Visa |
The visitorโs permit extension allows you to remain on condition that the holder does not enter into employment paid or unpaid and does not engage in any business or profession without the consent of the Director of Immigration and does not remain in Belize further that the expiration of permit. The Visitorโs Permit Extension allows you to stay in Belize for an additional 30 days. FeesFees with effect from 1 May 2020. All fees are in Belize dollars. The Visitorโs Permit Extension fee is BZ$200.00 Who can QualifyPersons who want to extend their holidays in Belize or persons investigating the possibilities of settlement. Persons who require a visa (see Visa Section) after a predefined number of extended days in Belize, must acquire that visa before being issued a visitorโs permit extension.
Holders of a Belize visa may qualify for visitorโs permit extension. |
|
| Immigration Visa | Good for 180 days; must leave country to renew | |
| Required Permits | TIP | |
| Upon Arrival Visit: | Immigration; Customs; Port Authority | |
| Upon Departure Visit: | Immigration; Customs; Port Captain | |
| Entry & Exit Fees: | ||
| Notes: | Expect to be boarded by Navy upon entering and/or leaving the country | |
| OTHER | ||
| Required Vaccinations | ||
| Pets | Vaccination Certificate | |
| Currency: Belize Dollar |
American Dollar to 
Belize Dollar
| Crime Index | Safety Index | Corruption Index | Corruption Score | GDP x capita, | Pop (K) | Life Ex. | Cost of Living | Groc. | Rest. $ | Loc.Purch.P. | ||
| 53.62 |
|
NA | 29 % | $ 4,884 | 383 | 74.36 |
US EMBASSY
17ยฐ15’23.9″N 88ยฐ46’23.9″W
Belmopanโ, Belize
https://bz.usembassy.gov/
TIDES
The largest known tidal range near Belize City is: 1.38ft. (0.42m).
It’s a mixed semi-diurnal tidal type.
What is SailClear?
Sailclear is an online pre-arrival notification system which is available for use by yachts and other pleasure craft operators. The system allows Captains to submit their Customs declarations in the form of electronic notifications prior to arrival in certain participating countries in the Caribbean. Registered users can access the system to enter and update notifications about their yachts, crew and passengers while transiting the Caribbean region.
โIt is an innovative but simple facility which is intended to simplify the clearance process, reduce the time spent with the Customs officials and generally improve the experience of the visiting yacht crew and passengers.โ
Shipsโ documents may be submitted at the Authorityโs Headquarters during normal working hours from Monday โ Friday for ships that are scheduled to enter on weekends and holidays at our Main Headquarters. Arrangements must be made by 4:00 pm of the preceding work days for services.
Effective 1 April, 2019:
A portal has been created shipdocumentation@gmail.com for electronic submission of shipping documents which shall include cruise and cargo ship information such as;
- Notice of Arrival within 48 hours
- Departure Notice
- Certificate of Clearance
- Pilotage and Boarding Report
- Import and Export Cargo Manifests
- Shipโs Registry
- International Ship Security Certificate (on initial visit or annually)
- Protection and Indemnity Certificate (on initial visit or annually)
- Continuous Synopsis Record (on initial visit or annually)
- Tender manifests
Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 listed above are to be submitted in paper form in duplicates or triplicates as requires for proper authentication.
Upon boarding, only documents listed below are to be provided to Boarding Officers of the Belize Port Authority:
- Arrival Declaration
- Nil List
- Clearance from Last Port of Call
- Pilot card
- Discrepancy Report (if any)
Tariffs to be charged for private pleasure yachts visiting the seaports in Belize are to include a fee for the waiver of pilotage the fees to be charged are stated below:
| Pilot Waiver Fees | Standard Rate |
| Vessels less than 50 GT | Not Applicable |
| Vessels more than 50 GT But less than or equal to 100 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 150.00 |
| Vessels more than 100 GT But less than or equal to 500 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 250.00 |
| Vessels more than 500 GT But less than or equal to 2000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 500.00 |
| Vessels more than 2000 GT | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 750.00 |
| Charges | Particulars | Cost |
| Administrative Charges | For Boarding and clearance | 100.00 |
| Boarding for entry | For ships not more than 100 GT | 30.00 |
| for ships more than 100 GT | 75.00 | |
| Clearance | For ships more more than 100 GT | 30.00 |
| For ships not more than 100 GT | 50.00 | |
| Navigational Aids | Per call per vessel | $1.50 per GT (with a maximum of 875.00) |
| Port Dues: | First 48 hours | Each 24 hrs thereafter |
| On ships not more than 100 GT | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 30.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 10.00 |
| On ships more than 100 GT but no more than 500 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 40.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 15.00 |
| On ships more than 500 GT but not more than 2,000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 80.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 20.00 |
| On ships more than 2,000 GT But not more than 5,000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 140.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 45.00 |
| On ships more than 5,000 GT but not more than 10,000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 200.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 50.00 |
| On ships more than 10,000 GT but not more than 15,000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 240.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 60.00 |
| On ships more than 15,000 GT but not more than 20,000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 320.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 100.00 |
| On ships more than 20,000 GT | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 400.00 | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 120.00 |
| Port Security (ISPS) Fees: | Standard Rate | |
| For cruise ships | 0.60 per pax | |
| For Cargo ships on ships between 0-500 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 300.00 | |
| On ships more than 501 GT but not more than 5,000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 700.00 | |
| On ships more than 5,001 GT But not more than 15,000 GT |
ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 1,400.00 | |
| on ships more than 15,001 GT | ย $ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 2,000.00 | |
Note: All prices are in Belize dollars (BZD)
WEATHER
PILOT CHARTS
These Pilot Charts provide historic points and aggregated information ofย wind flows, air and ocean temperatures, wave heights, rain, barometric weight, and climate conditions at various seasons. This data was acquired from oceanographic and meteorologic perceptions over hundreds of years starting in the late eighteenth century. These diagrams are planned to help mariners choose routesย with respect to the normal climate and sea conditions using prevailing seasonal wind information. For an explanation of how to read Wind-roses and interpret historic Climatology follow this link.
AIDS TO NAVIGATION
Please sign up with Good Nautical for Anchorages, Marinas, and Ports of Entry Information.
ALERTS
BELIZE SEARCH AND RESCUE SAR
Defence Force Air Wing
Type: ARCC, Country: Belize, SRR: SRR BELIZE
Latitude, Longitude:
(17.48332977,-88.18332672)
Telephone:
501 205 2172 not 24 hours/day please contact NSA
Email:
Fax:
501 205 2094 not 24 hours/day please contact NSA
Website:
INMARSAT:
Telex:
Notes:
COUNTRY
MARINAS
WEATHER
PORTS OF ENTRY
DOCUMENTS
MUST SEE
REPAIRS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
EMERGENCIES AND SAR INFO
CHARTS
COMMUNICATIONS
SOUTH PACIFIC POSSE WEATHER
Weather GALAPAGOS
Weather French Polynesia - Marquesas
French Polynesia - Tuamotus
French Polynesia - Society Islands
Cook Islands
SAMOAS
TONGA - FIJI
VANUATU - NEW CALEDONIA
NEW ZEALAND
AUSTRALIA
Hawaii
NOAA HIGH SEAS
STRAIGHT OF GIBRALTAR
STRAIGHT OF GIBRALTAR
Over 100,000 ships transit through Gibraltar every year
Density of seawater in the Strait of Gibraltar One of the unique features of the Strait of Gibraltar is the inflow and outflow of the Medย which consists of layers of water with different salinity (salinity). Atlantic water is less saline and less concentrated than Mediterranean water, and flows eastward into the Mediterranean through straits as a surface layer, flowing at a speed of 2 to 3 knots at a depth of about 125 m. In contrast, heavier, cooler, and saltier water flows westward into the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the phase of the tide, the currents flow eastward faster or slower.
Tides in the Strait of Gibraltar โย
A very distinctive feature of the Strait of Gibraltar is the continuous evaporation of water. Vertical water height in the Mediterranean Sea decreases by almost 1 meter every year. About 6.5+ million years ago, the general shape of the Mediterranean base was similar to what it is today. The movement of the plates cut off the flow of water from ocean to ocean, completely evaporating the area. But about 5+ million years ago, the plates moved again and the straits opened, allowing large amounts of water to flow out of the ocean and refill the Mediterranean basin. This evaporation continues today, and it is estimated that if the strait were to close at current high sea levels, the basin would evaporate again. Backwash and Internal Waves Adding another challenging piece to the tidal puzzle that shapes the Strait of Gibraltar near the African continent are the often narrow two-knot backwashes that interact with the Caminal Stile (the shallowest part of the strait) and cause internally generated waves. As stated by NASA; "The waves are generated when daily tidal pulses flow through the shallow Caminal Stile near Gibraltar. They flow eastward and break up the coastal topography. They can be traced up to 90 nm, and in some cases produce interference patterns due to refracted waves
Internal waves are vertical movements between two layers and can have displacements of over 100 m with wavelengths of 1-3 nm. They are so noticeable as surface wave patterns that sunlight is carefully scattered by the water surface
Alboran Gyre
As the upper-level flow pours into the Mediterranean, the Coriolis force (an effect of the earth's rotation) causes it to form a large clockwise eddy (gyre) off the North African coast called the Alboran Gyre. A smaller weak anti-clockwise eddy forms to the North. Countercurrents (westward direcction) can be seen close inshore along both shores, particularly near headlands that project into the current.
The western end of the Mediterranean, akaย Alboran Sea, is the habitat for aย largest population of dolphins in the western Mediterranean
A layer of outward-flowing dense water stays deep after exiting the Mediterranean and forms a ribbon extending along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts at about 1000m depth.
Modelling the Strait of Gibraltar
WINDS
CURRENTS
SWELL AND WAVESย
COLOMBIA TO ARUBA - THE IMPOSSIBLE UPWIND ROUTE
COLOMBIA TO ARUBA - THE IMPOSSIBLE UPWIND ROUTE
WIND GUSTS
WAVES
WIND AND SWELL
CURRENTS
2024-05-05ย account from SV ROCHAMBEU
Beyond devastated. Thatโs how we feel right now. Itโs been a while since Iโve really documented our nomadic lifestyle. We have sailed from California, USA through Mexico, Costa Rica, the Pacific side of Panama, through the Panama Canal, the Caribbean side of Panama, through Colombiaโs โpirate alleyโ, and two thirds the way to Aruba, actually into the waters of the Netherland Antilles. We met some of the most amazing adventurous people along the way who will forever be in our hearts. Some of them we met in California and others in Mexico. Some have split up but then we meet back up and call it โbungee-boatingโ. Some we will never see again. But yesterday morning we split up unexpectedly, heart wrenchingly. After motor sailing for 2 days and 2 nights in benign sea conditions, the weather took a drastic turn. Suddenly while on night watch, 25 knots of steady wind came out of the Atlantic and the seas starting pounding. By daylight we were feeling drained from a lack of sleep and our buddy boats had begun drifting away. We were still fine, all communicating on VHF radio, and eagerly waiting to just get through it for another 40-50 miles so that we could wake up to sunny Aruba and eat an anticipated Dutch breakfast. (You shouldโve seen how excited Rolf grew a few nights ago when it dawned on him that we were going to sail to a country where people spoke his language and he could eat Dutch food again.) But then suddenly a new tie down strap for our dinghy snapped and blew away. Shit! Because we were bashing there was a lot of force and our dinghy davits were compromised, now damaged and weakened. We had another new strap and were able to secure the dinghy. Good. But, our solar arch is also partially sitting on top of the davits and now the dinghy and solar panels are at risk of just breaking off and going kerplunck into the angry ocean. If that werenโt enough, we had a 2 knot current that we were fighting against while feeling like we were riding a bucking bull. This slowed us down to a whopping 1 knot of โspeedโ. We were crawling and waves were crashing over our bows every now and then. Making life go from worse to miserable, our autopilot shutoff because it couldnโt keep up with the bashing. Conditions matter. And yesterday morning was a perfect example where with rough seas, strong current, and high wind (all on the nose) was a trifecta for poor motor performance and loss of the autopilot. So we had to make one of the toughest decisions ever - either steer by hand for 2 days and crawl to Aruba or turn back to Colombia. The main considerations were the stability of our dinghy davit system, our own safety & fatigue, and the comfort of our 14 year old dog, who was clearly suffering too. We bashed for an hour debating back & forth whether we could make it safely to Aruba or turn back. The problem was that the weather forecast now indicated the wind and sea state could persist for another couple of days. So with immense sadness we turned around. ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ Now weโre alone, sailing back down the Colombian coast to Santa Marta, maybe even back to Cartagena. Next up, we have to still work our day jobs, which can be stressful and demanding at times while we figure out how to reinforce our dinghy davits and consider replacing our props. Really, I wish we could buy a bigger and more powerful boat with tons of horsepower for the 5-10% of the time we really need to motor hard from one amazing destination to another. But for now, Iโm back to the night watch cruising solo. At least weโre comfortable with the wind and swells behind us and our sails are up.
WINDWARD PASSAGE
THE WINDWARD PASSAGE
Windward Passage Windward Passage, the NE approach to the Caribbean Sea, lies between Hispaniola and Cuba, 45 miles to the NW. The channel is free from obstructions and no special directions are necessary if both coasts are given a wide berth. TidesโCurrents.โThe set through the Windward Passage is SW in mid-channel at a rate which is usually less than 0.7 of a knot, but may attain rates of 2 knots. Near the coasts on either side of the passage, tidal currents are strong and irregular. On the E side of the passage, a current sets N at a rate of 0.7 knot around Pearl Point (19ยฐ40'N., 73ยฐ25'W.), but 6 miles off- shore the current will set W or WSW. Close N of Cap du Mole St. Nicolas, the N current meets a constant set flowing along the N coast of Hispaniola and causing ripples. The W flow from Cap Haitien through Chenal de Tortuga, at a rate of about 1 knot, sets between Rabal and Cap du Mole St. Nicolas.
The current gradually increases
AHOY !
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| โ๏ธ Up to date and verified information by fellow yachts | โ๏ธ | โ๏ธ |
| ๐ Communications focused on facts, not opinions or unsolicited advice | โ๏ธ | |
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