Truly a trip of a lifetime. Amazing staff…Chris, Cardinal, Gino,and Aixa were absolutely great, and catered to not only our needs but to the needs of others around us. The diving was lovely and got more and more exciting each day. An untouched environment with everything you need to have a fantastic vacation. I highly recommend blackbird to others.

I went to Blackbird Caye Resort in Belize for a week long vacation in January 2012, and it is undeniably the most beautiful place I have ever been to.

It is literally like having your very own private island! It is secluded from the city and located on the Turneffe Reef Atoll. It is only accessible by boat or plane (we chartered a plane directly from the airport, and we arrived in under 15 minutes!).

Waking up to the gorgeous sunrises and kayaking to the picturesque sunsets were like looking at a real life postcard. For scuba diving enthusiasts like myself, the experience was world-class thanks to the extremely knowledgeable dive masters, and not to mention, the breath-taking Barrier Reef (Belize boasts the largest living barrier reef in the world, and parts of it are only a stone's throw from Blackbird's beach!).

The staff was so courteous and helpful. I was so impressed with how they were soo attentive to all our wants and needs. I mentioned I wanted to fish off the pier, and within minutes a selection of fishing tackle was delivered to my room. They also changed the water container outside our door often so that we wouldn't track sand into the room. Little things like this can either make or break a trip, and Blackbird did not disappoint. It only made it so much more enjoyable. The food was excellent and there was a meat/seafood/combination option every day. Our room was large and well decorated. There was no shortage of hot water or clean water to drink. We were also fortunate enough to meet some interesting people who were guests of the Resort as well.

It was the epitome of relaxation! Belize truly is a hidden treasure, and I will definitely be making another visit to Blackbird in the future!

Can't wait!

We just got back from an amazing week at this dive resort and can't wait to go back. Starting with the managers, Eli and Vidal, we got the perfect level of attention and care throughout our stay. They're warm and friendly and make sure you have everything you need, while invisibly ensuring that everything runs like clockwork. Our cottage was lovely, clean, very comfortable, and had abundant hot water and air conditioning (not really needed with the ocean breeze). BCDR has its own reverse-osmosis water treatment system and water is deliciously drinkable from the tap. Beautiful wildlife is right outside your door: nesting osprey, crocodiles (don't worry, they stay out of your way), herons, egrets, mockingbirds, iguanas, and more. Then there's the marine life you see while diving/snorkeling: dive masters Cardinal and Andre are the best, period. You'll see marine life like never before while being guided by highly professional, safety-first dive masters. We thought three dives a day might be too much, but the schedule is very well-paced and we loved it. I'm a novice diver of two years, my companion an advanced diver with 15 years' experience, and we both were thrilled. The food from Miss Leta's kitchen is excellent in all ways and dining room manager Aixa knows just when to come by to fill your glass or take your plate. We had a special dinner request -- we wanted a local Recado-style entree if possible -- and the very next dinner, it deliciously appeared! To have this level of service and accommodation in such a remote and intimate setting is amazing. To have all of that and be on the Turneffe Atoll 5-10 minutes from some of the world's best diving and snorkeling is unbelievable. If you're looking for an extraordinary dive vacation, we heartily recommend Blackbird Caye Dive Resort.

Jan 2012: we just got back from a week at Blackbird Caye Dive Resort on Turneffe Atoll. We had an excellent experience at this remote and lovely resort; one of the great charms of this place is its isolation on far-away Turneffe Atoll. The staff were all very friendly and personable, and responded directly and quickly to personal requests; for instance, I requested several specific dinners (curry, seafood-recado, and lobster) and these were all provided the very same day! The food at all three meals was excellent; you can get Belizean-style cooking ( the chefs will even share their recipes) or American style, and even a sampling of each at dinner No cut-up hot dogs like I have unfortunately had in Cozumel. They served fresh fruit, perfectly prepared scrambled eggs, delicious fish, shrimp and even lobster, pork chops, muffins, bread, fruit juices, and never the same thing twice. The resort offers three dives per day, using a well-paced schedule that includes breakfast, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Everything is well maintained, most importantly the dive boat fleet. We never ever had to handle our equipment after the initial setup; the dive staff took car of rinsing, setup, overnight storage and everything else; all we had to do was get on the boat. The housecleaning staff were invisible; while we were out diving they impeccably serviced our room. Though small, the resort has a fully stocked bar, an elegant dining room, it's own water treatment plant, fish identification books, a big screen TV, and many other amenities that helped make this a wonderful week away. Out back are various birds, including an active osprey nest ripe for excellent photography, many large iguanas, a couple of resident crocodiles, and I eeven saw a boat-billed heron! The remoteness means there is no store- so if you need something special (like Gatorade) buy it in Belize City before you come out to the atoll, or (I bet) you can make your needs known beforehand and the staff will get what you need. No need to bring towels, fancy clothes, your own wine or alcohol (as I was tempted to, again from another experience in Cozumel where the wine served with dinner was simply terrible); Blackbird Caye Dive Resort has everything. Be aware; this is really a full service Dive & Snorkel resort; if you don't do these activities there isn't much else to do but take endless photos of the local wildlife, sit on the sandy beach and read while getting a tan, take long walks along the coast, or hang out in the bar with the TV, friendly staff, or other visitors. What a great trip!