Caye Caulker vrs. Ambergris Caye

Hello, I will be in that area over Christmas for about a week, flying into Cancun and taking a bus down to Chetumal and the water taxi. I want to dive Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Caye and the Blue Hole so most of the diving will be on day trips away from the island. I found a dive op that does all these at good prices on Caye Caulker called Frenchie's but was wondering if Ambergris Caye was worth a few days as well. I believe it is farther from the places I listed above so maybe I would just stay there as well for two days on my return to Mexico.
Can you compare the two places? Is the diving around Ambergris Caye worth a few days? Am I making the right choice spending the majority of my time on Caye Caulker? I do not party and just want beauty, idyllic surroundings and a small town vibe.
Also, any info on how busy it is there during the holiday would be nice.

Thanks in advance!

I would stick with 1 island, especially because you'll save money and increase your chances of hitting all/most of the spots you want to dive if you go with 1 shop. We spent the last week of our most recent visit (last March) on Caulker and I chose to dive with Belize Diving Services; I was really pleased with them. They have a nice, big boat which makes those long days much more comfortable. There's a nice cost break if you book a 10 dive package ahead of time; that means actually picking which days you want to do which dives based on their posted schedule; here. Do note that you must have advanced certification and at least 25 dives recorded in order to do the full Blue Hole experience.

Have a great trip, whatever you decide. My photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection are below in case you'd like to check them out.
Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

PS Best to book soon - best value accommodations and popular dives can book up over the holidays.

Thank you so much! I will check out Belize Diving Services. I have read many other good reviews about them as well but haven't yet looked. Comfy boats are important when the dive sites are several hours away.
Thanks again for your reply, I will be sure to look at your links!

I would stick with 1 island, especially because you'll save money and increase your chances of hitting all/most of the spots you want to dive if you go with 1 shop. We spent the last week of our most recent visit (last March) on Caulker and I chose to dive with Belize Diving Services; I was really pleased with them. They have a nice, big boat which makes those long days much more comfortable. There's a nice cost break if you book a 10 dive package ahead of time; that means actually picking which days you want to do which dives based on their posted schedule; here. Do note that you must have advanced certification and at least 25 dives recorded in order to do the full Blue Hole experience.

Have a great trip, whatever you decide. My photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection are below in case you'd like to check them out.
Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

PS Best to book soon - best value accommodations and popular dives can book up over the holidays.

Oh, I just looked at your flickr page, I was in Roatan in May! It was stunning wasn't it!?!?!?! I love your photos of Hole in the Wall.....
And guess what..........I stayed at Posada Arco Iris TOO!!!!!!!!!! I dove with Reef Gliders and Native Sons.......amaaaazing trip wasn't it?

I would stick with 1 island, especially because you'll save money and increase your chances of hitting all/most of the spots you want to dive if you go with 1 shop. We spent the last week of our most recent visit (last March) on Caulker and I chose to dive with Belize Diving Services; I was really pleased with them. They have a nice, big boat which makes those long days much more comfortable. There's a nice cost break if you book a 10 dive package ahead of time; that means actually picking which days you want to do which dives based on their posted schedule; here. Do note that you must have advanced certification and at least 25 dives recorded in order to do the full Blue Hole experience.

Have a great trip, whatever you decide. My photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection are below in case you'd like to check them out.
Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

PS Best to book soon - best value accommodations and popular dives can book up over the holidays.

Yeah - we had a really nice time on Roatán; we've visited several other times but this was our 1st time staying in West End. I dove with Scuba Roatán and they were awesome, highly recommended.

Look at the two on gmaps and you tube. there are some good dive sites around AC that can be done as day trips from CC. AC does have a town on it and has more upscale food and acommodations along with back packer type places. CC is much smaller back packer type place with pretty much no beaches.

Definitely Caye Caulker unless you have money to waste on a tourist trap!

Thank you everyone.....my mind is made up. Caye Caulker for Xmas! Now to find a place with availability! :)

AC is hardly a tourist trap as you can see from you tube. its actually a fishing village.

Jajaja - here we go again with the "which is better, CC or AC?" posturing. The OP has made up his/her mind, time to let it drop imo.

thank you for your opinion, I am sure someone appreciates it.

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Caulker, hands down, I also appreciate Stacy's opinion.
OP, just for grins take a half day and cruise over to Ambergross so you can see for yourself how much it sucks!

Some people prefer AC and some prefer CC, its really up to them to decide. Both islands are sand covered reefs with palm trees on them . AC doesn't suck obviously but it does have a small fishing town of about 12,000 people on it. You will find a great deal more to do and a greater variety of places to eat in San Pedro. North of San Pedro AC is as quiet and laid back as anyplace around. You will find a quieter more backpacker atmosphere on CC. You may figure San Pedro is way to busy and frankly your opinion doesn't matter because you aren't taking the trip. Try to just describe the place in an adult manner, The OPer will make their decisions.

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and maybe take your own advice.

That would be nice wouldn't it, instead of telling LIES about other poster's businesses!

AC is a reef island of sand and palm trees just like CC so it really cant suck. The difference is CC is very small and AC is larger and has a fishing village on it. Each caye offers a different atmosphere. AC has a great deal more isolated beach then CC as AC is 26 miles long. San Pedro is a town which will clearly offer more food and so on. Try and focus on the OPers question. you think its way too busy? that's fine but what you think doesn't matter. this thread should be about what the OPer wants and thinks.

You are wondering if Ambergris Caye is worth a few days as well. When I travel, I like to go to as many places as possible, so I'd go to AC. For you, it depends on what you prefer because AC & CC are quite different. CC is smaller, quieter, has a more laid-back atmosphere and is more like a fishing village. AC is a small town -- bigger with more shops, restaurants, bars, etc. AC is naturally busier -- more tourists, retirees and golf carts. You said, "I do not party and just want beauty, idyllic surroundings and a small town vibe". Based on that, CC is the choice for you.

If AC sounds appealing to you, stay a few days, but 1 or 2 days is enough if you just want to see the island. I'd suggest seeing AC as a day-trip from CC, but that would mean a day lost for diving and the seems to be the reason for coming to Belize. As well, if you're going through AC on your way back to Mexico, why not stay a day or two?

Both islands will be VERY busy during the Christmas/New Year period. I'd book accommodation in advance. If you just show up and try to find a place, you probably will, but all the lower budget places will be full.

Great advice, yes my biggest concern is loosing a day of diving. I only get a week in Belize (compromise with him, he gets to see the ruins in Mexico, :P). I think if Caye Caulker will be busy we want to avoid a larger more populated island. We have booked in advance for our room, now I just need to reserve the dive trips.

Thanks again for you advice,
Christine

You are wondering if Ambergris Caye is worth a few days as well. When I travel, I like to go to as many places as possible, so I'd go to AC. For you, it depends on what you prefer because AC & CC are quite different. CC is smaller, quieter, has a more laid-back atmosphere and is more like a fishing village. AC is a small town -- bigger with more shops, restaurants, bars, etc. AC is naturally busier -- more tourists, retirees and golf carts. You said, "I do not party and just want beauty, idyllic surroundings and a small town vibe". Based on that, CC is the choice for you.

If AC sounds appealing to you, stay a few days, but 1 or 2 days is enough if you just want to see the island. I'd suggest seeing AC as a day-trip from CC, but that would mean a day lost for diving and the seems to be the reason for coming to Belize. As well, if you're going through AC on your way back to Mexico, why not stay a day or two?

Both islands will be VERY busy during the Christmas/New Year period. I'd book accommodation in advance. If you just show up and try to find a place, you probably will, but all the lower budget places will be full.

If you're wondering about Frenchie's, I've never dived with them, but haven't heard anything negative (I live in Belize).

"AC is a small town" This is a slight mis statement in that AC is a caye (island) with the town of san pedro on it.

Yep, misprint. Of course San Pedro is the small town on Ambergris Caye.