𝗪𝗜𝗞𝗜𝗣𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬

✧ Pouteria campechiana ✧

Pouteria campechiana, also known as the canistel, is an evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador. It is cultivated in its native countries and has been introduced into several other countries, including Brazil, Taiwan, and the United States. The edible part of the tree is its fruit, which...

#UnitedStates #Belize #Guatemala #Mexico #Taiwan #Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pouteria_campechiana

Four Unforgettable Warm Water Diving Destinations

There’s something magical about warm water diving—the vibrant coral gardens, the diversity of marine life, and the freedom to explore without the weight of a drysuit. Looking back at some of my most memorable diving adventures, four destinations stand out as truly unforgettable experiences. Each offered something completely different, from Caribbean walls to Indonesian biodiversity to the ultimate solo diving freedom.

🏝️ Belize: The Blue Hole and Beyond

Belize draws divers from around the world with one of the most iconic dive sites on the planet: the Great Blue Hole. But this Central American gem offers far more than just that famous sinkhole. The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches over 180 miles and features dramatic wall dives, vibrant coral gardens, and an abundance of Caribbean marine life.

“ The relaxed pace of island life between dives makes Belize an ideal destination for divers who want adventure without the rush.

Diving off Ambergris Caye gave me access to some of the healthiest reef systems in the Caribbean. Day boat diving here means short trips to spectacular sites, with crystal-clear visibility and encounters with nurse sharks, eagle rays, and massive groupers.

🐠 Raja Ampat: The Epicenter of Marine Biodiversity

If there’s a bucket-list destination that every diver dreams about, it’s Raja Ampat. Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle in Indonesia, this remote archipelago is home to more species of fish and coral than anywhere else on Earth. The numbers speak for themselves: over 1,500 fish species and 600 coral species thrive in these waters.

I explored Raja Ampat aboard a liveaboard, which is really the only way to access the best dive sites in this vast region. Waking up to new pristine reefs each morning, diving four times a day, and falling asleep to the gentle rocking of the boat became a rhythm I never wanted to end. The underwater landscape is otherworldly—massive schools of fish, colorful soft corals carpeting every surface, and manta rays gliding through cleaning stations.

“ Raja Ampat isn’t just about what you see underwater. It’s about the remoteness, the untouched beauty, and the humbling realization that you’re diving in one of the last truly wild places on Earth.

🐢 Nassau: Turtles and Sharks in the Bahamas

The Bahamas has built its reputation on shark diving, and Nassau delivers on that promise with thrilling encounters that draw divers from around the world. But the waters around Nassau offer so much more than just sharks. The healthy marine ecosystem supports an impressive turtle population, and encountering these graceful creatures is one of the highlights of diving here.

“ During my dives, I had the privilege of observing three different turtle species: green sea turtles, loggerheads, and hawksbills.

Watching them glide effortlessly through the water, grazing on seagrass, or resting under coral ledges never gets old. The fact that you can encounter multiple turtle species on a single dive trip speaks to the quality of Nassau’s marine environment.

What makes Nassau special is the accessibility combined with the diversity. Just a short flight from the eastern United States, day boat operations provide access to reefs teeming with life—from the turtles that casually swim alongside you to the Caribbean reef sharks, nurse sharks, and occasional tiger sharks or hammerheads that remind you you’re diving in waters ruled by apex predators.

🤿 Bonaire: The Shore Diving Capital of the World

I’ve saved the best for last. Bonaire consistently ranks at the top of every diver’s list, and for good reason. This small Dutch Caribbean island has built its entire culture around diving, with over 60 marked dive sites accessible directly from shore. The island’s commitment to marine conservation means the reefs are healthy, protected, and teeming with life.

“ Shore diving in Bonaire means you can wake up at sunrise, grab your gear from your truck, and be underwater within minutes—no boat schedules, no crowds, just you and the reef.

What made my Bonaire experience truly special was earning my solo diving certification there. The freedom to plan my own dives, enter the water on my own schedule, and explore at my own pace transformed how I think about diving.

The diving itself is spectacular. Healthy coral formations slope gently from shore into deep blue water. You’ll encounter sea turtles, octopuses, spotted eagle rays, and countless reef fish on nearly every dive. The combination of easy access, excellent visibility, and abundant marine life makes Bonaire a destination you’ll want to return to again and again.

Whether you’re diving from shore or joining a boat to explore Klein Bonaire, this island offers a level of diving freedom that’s hard to find anywhere else in the world.

Ready for Your Own Warm Water Adventure?

These four destinations represent some of the best warm water diving the world has to offer—from the convenience of Caribbean day boats to the remoteness of Indonesian liveaboards, from thrilling shark encounters to the peaceful solitude of solo shore diving. Each destination offers something unique, and all of them will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.

#Afghanistan #Albanie #Algérie #Antigua-et-Barbuda #Arménie #Azerbaïdjan #Bahamas #Bangladesh #Barbade #Biélorussie #Belize

Feeding invasive Lion Fish to a friendly Grouper

https://youtu.be/adEhtXq9WhM?si=a6wjnc__iIIyxCgb

#wildlife #marinelife #fish #amusing #Belize

My personal conclusion: I wish this train is here to stay. I see it as a tool to build a better, more sustainable and thriving regional economy. Expansion into #Belize and #Guatemala will favour resilience and international exchange beyond the USA. I also hope this is the start of a more thorough revival of Mexican passenger rail. Recent announcements are promising #Alstom.

The blue hole of Belize - Author: SultryKarma_

via nature-travel-photography

#photography
#Belize

Bellapitiya Temple in #Horana South, #SriLanka -🇱🇰 is around 18,688 km or 11,680 miles from our previous place of worship San Pedro Town in #SanPedroTown, #Belize - 🇧🇿 - https://mastodon.social/@pilgrimsonline/115848430868336785

#VisitSriLanka
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
2/6

Here is every place of worship we have visited so far in Belize 🇧🇿

#List
#Belize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
Been here? ❤️
Want to visit? 🔁

6/6

Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in #SanPedroTown, #Belize has no wikipedia page, why not become an editor and add one?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contributing_to_Wikipedia

#VisitBelize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
4/6

Where is Belize 🇧🇿?

#Belize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
Been here? ❤️
Want to visit? 🔁
#Maps #Cartography #Geography #OneWorld
3/6

Emmanuel Pentecostal Church in #San Pedro Town, #Belize -🇧🇿 is around 9,287 km or 5,804 miles from our previous place of worship Pesega in #Pesega, #Samoa - 🇼🇸 - https://mastodon.social/@pilgrimsonline/115847235283885208

#VisitBelize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
2/6

🇧🇿 - Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, Mangrove Drive, San Pedro Town, Belize

#Belize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
Been here? ❤️
1/6

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport - Belize City, Belize

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_S._W._Goldson_International_Airport
https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/17.539951/-88.303556

#MZBZ #BZE #BelizeCity #Belize #airport #aviation #avgeeks #GIS

How #Guatemala, #Mexico, and #Belize plan to protect 14 million acres of #Mayan #forest

Mexico, Guatemala and Belize have announced plans to create a huge reserve of tropical forest spanning across the three countries. Pushing out criminal gangs and protecting the land from ranchers, miners and loggers won’t be easy.

Aug. 21, 2025

Excerpt: "One proposal from Mexico is the expansion of its '#PlantingLife' program, which offers landowners money to grow certain kinds of trees either for fruit or timber. The program has a $2 billion budget, Bárcena said.

"But the program, which dates to ex-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has faced criticism. In 2021, the World Resources Institute reported that it had actually incentivized deforestation in Campeche state. Bárcena said the program is being adjusted to better meet environmental objectives.

"Mexican sustainability and climate action expert Juan Carlos Franco, who works in southern Mexico, said security is crucial and requires the government to act as 'guarantor.' But the work has to be carried out with civil society in the local communities, including in places where locals have found ways to coexist with the illegal activity surrounding them, he said.

" 'Communities oriented toward the #biocultural management of the territory can overcome despite the crime, that’s the most revealing message,' he said.

No #megaprojects

"Another challenge will be holding governments over the long term to commitments to forgo big projects that promise economic development but threaten #EnvironmentalDamage, such as Mexico’s tourist rail operation, the Maya Train, which Belize is interested in extending to its territory.

"Orantes, the Guatemala minister, said that Guatemalan President #BernardoArévalo would not allow megaprojects in the reserve because when access is opened in the forest it becomes difficult to control everything that follows.

"Arévalo recently declined to renew the contract of a #petroleum company that had been operating for 40 years in a Guatemalan reserve known as the #MayaBiosphere.

"Guatemala is making the largest land contribution to the reserve, encompassing 27 existing protected areas. Arévalo had already made clear that he would not run an extension of the Maya Train proposed by Mexico’s last president through protected areas.

"In Mexico, Bárcena noted that the 950-mile (1,500-kilometer) train line, which started running in late 2023 and goes in a rough loop around the Yucatan Peninsula, lies outside the new reserve’s territory.
She said her agency was working to alleviate some of the environmental impacts of the train line, in collaboration with companies operated by the Mexican Army, which built a large portion of the rail line and operates the train.

"To avoid destructive projects in the new reserve, the three governments agreed to create a council made up of environmental authorities, as well as an #Indigenous advisory council, Bárcena said. Any proposed projects in the reserve would have to pass through them."

Read more:
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/americas/how-guatemala-mexico-and-belize-plan-to-protect-14-million-acres-of-mayan-forest/article_20e22c99-d965-528f-90b6-20e93296c85f.html

Archived version:
https://archive.ph/GyXR8

#SolarPunkSunday #ProtectTheForest #IndigenousPeople #CommunityActivism

Blogue qui présente des gestes écocitoyens et des technologies vertes, dans le domaine du logement, du jardinage, du transport et de l'énergie, du textile et de la mode, l'agriculture et l'alimentation, la santé et du bien-être, la finance responsable.

Plus http://www.revolutionverte.fr

#blogue #blog #marketing #business #journal #finance #financier #nature #naturel #Adelaide #Sydney #Australie #Newzealand #Belize #Panama #Serbie #Bosnie #Albanie #Paris #France #Menton #Monaco #Andorre #Finlande

الجامع الكبير in #Yanbu`, #SaudiArabia -🇸🇦 is around 14,043 km or 8,777 miles from our previous place of worship Dangriga Town in #DangrigaTown, #Belize - 🇧🇿 - https://mastodon.social/@pilgrimsonline/115752132086295901

#VisitSaudiArabia
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
2/6

Here is every place of worship we have visited so far in Belize 🇧🇿

#List
#Belize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
Been here? ❤️
Want to visit? 🔁

6/6

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in #DangrigaTown, #Belize has no wikipedia page, why not become an editor and add one?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contributing_to_Wikipedia

#VisitBelize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
4/6

Where is Belize 🇧🇿?

#Belize
#StepByStep 👣
#PlacesOfWorship
Been here? ❤️
Want to visit? 🔁
#Maps #Cartography #Geography #OneWorld
3/6