The massive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretches off the coast of tiny Belize, the largest reef of its kind in the western hemisphere and home to one of the only true coral atolls found in this part of the world. And smack in the center of this unique reef environment, Turneffe Island Resort occupies a 14-acre private island, Caye Bokel, at the southern end of Turneffe Atoll, a place that comprises more than 200 individual islands, many flanked by coral-draped submarine walls.

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The massive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef stretches off the coast of tiny Belize, the largest reef of its kind in the western hemisphere and home to one of the only true coral atolls found in this part of the world. And smack in the center of this unique reef environment, Turneffe Island Resort occupies a 14-acre private island, Caye Bokel, at the southern end of Turneffe Atoll, a place that comprises more than 200 individual islands, many flanked by coral-draped submarine walls.

The all-inclusive resort boasts 20 beautifully furnished rooms, ranging from lodge-style guestrooms to private cabanas, all with private patios overlooking the Caribbean Sea just steps away from the white-sand beach that rings this secluded island. Family-style meals are served three times daily from an ever-changing menu that's flush with fresh seafood and local flavors, and hors d'oeuvres are served all day long. On-site amenities include massage services, a swimming pool, abundant hammocks, kayaks, and sailing. Snorkel trips happen daily, and the resort offers a full range of guided fishing excursions.

But all that aside, what really makes Turneffe Island Resort shine is the diving. Divers come here because the resort is located at the heart of what is arguably one of the best diving spots in the Caribbean, allowing much easier access than would be possible when diving from the mainland. The resort's full-service dive staff runs 15 dives weekly to more than 70 unique dive sites throughout the Turneffe Islands and beyond—most lie within a 15-minute boat ride from the resort. And once weekly, scheduled full-day dive trips head east to the far-flung diving grounds at Lighthouse Reef, near Half Moon Caye, and to the world-famous Blue Hole, a 1,000-foot-wide sinkhole that forms a perfect circle of dark blue as it plunges 450 feet through a ring of fringing coral.