We asked Ronan (Half the dynamic Duo of the Hannan brothers – ahem – owners.) about his experience diving Belize’s famous Blue Hole!
What was your first thought when you saw the Blue Hole?
First sight of the Blue Hole – way bigger than it looks in photos. Everyone has seen photos of it from the air but when you get there it is pretty incredible since it is such a perfect circle even with such a large diameter – boating from one side to another takes a while! Overall one of the greatest things about going to the Blue Hole is actually “going” to the Blue Hole. It does takes a couple of hours to get there, but as you stop to snorkel or dive, viewing the spectacular colors of the reefs and marine life along the way, you can’t help but be amazed with its awesomeness.
Was this your first time scuba diving?
No. I learned to dive on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. I’ve dived the Great Barrier Reef, as well as in the Maldives and numerous other warm water destinations. I have to admit I have never dived in cold water!
How does the Blue Hole experience compare with other scuba diving excursions?
The Blue Hole is a very different diving experience due to its size, and obviously fish need to feed, so away from the walls there isn’t much sea-life. In the center it can get quite confusing as to which way is up and which way is down! It’s like an abyss! But over by the wall there are multiple stalactites and innumerable small cave systems. This is where the sharks hang out so its certainly interesting from that perspective. It is one of those dives that any diver absolutely has to do in their lifetime!
We know winter is approaching and that means temperature drops! (Fortunately in Belize, it’s always summer!)
Luckily, the owners are brothers from Ireland, so they know a thing or two about cold nights. We got some tips from their playbook- Hot Toddy’s! Here’s the recipe so you can make it at home.
Pour the honey, boiling water, and whiskey into a mug. Spice it with the cloves and cinnamon, and put in the slice of lemon. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes so the flavors can mingle, then sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg before serving.
The Owner’s recount of their first time at ATM Cave (actun tunichil muknal)!
What was your first impression when you saw the cave opening?
It was a little intimidating because there’s a big pool that goes into the entrance and our guide, Wilbert, looks to us and says we are suppose to swim into the mouth. You just hold your breath and jump in.
What was your favorite part of ATM?
Climbing (and swimming) into different cathedrals of the cave, they are massive!
What did you see while exploring?
It’s amazing because you walk along history following what the Maya did to reach out to their gods. Lots of ceramic pots, cave drawings and even human remains!
Nestled on the white-sanded beaches of Belize, on the shore of the Caribbean Sea, the small fishing village of Placencia attracts visitors far and wide, from Italy to New York City. Our Weekend with the Owners takes us to the Belizean town for a getaway packed with delicious food, drinks and great escapes! Colin and Ronan Hannan spoke to us about their experience in Placencia and shared their itinerary of must-see and must-do happenings while on the coast. Read on for their full weekend itinerary.
With the villas, we challenged ourselves to create a truly world-class product that could sit alongside these great destinations and really put Ka’ana on par with the best of the best, and our own favorite resorts around the world. – Colin and Ronan Hannan, Hospitality Design.
1 Scoop Ice
7 Lemon-Basil Leaves
1 Oz. Fresh Lime Juice
3 Oz. Fresh Pineapple Juice
1 1/2 Oz. Infused Jalapeno Tequila
Preparation:
Add a generous sprinkle of Granulated Sugar to Lemon-Basil Leaves and muddle well. Pour ice, juices and muddled leaves into Cocktail Shaker; shake well. Slice Jalapeno Pepper Wedge, garnish glass and serve.
