I was asked on my first trip to Half Moon, how I preferred to spend my time. My answer was that I wanted to be “on the water, in the water, or under the water as much as possible.” If this is your preference as well, you will love the activities on the island!
Kayaking
Kayaking is typically easy on Half Moon unless the wind is just crazy. The boats are are single or double sea kayaks rudders that are controlled with feet pedals. The guides will instruct you prior to taking the boats out so you can do it even if you are inexperienced. (Pro tip: travel as a single woman, and if you feel lazy, just pair up in a double kayak with a guide :)) I have had different types of kayaking adventures on Half Moon. There is a short one to a shipwreck Kayak trips that is within site of the island, and a longer one to a neighboring island, Long Caye, where we stay and picnic. It’s also possible to tie the kayaks together to a buoy and snorkel from them. I was afraid that I didn’t have the upper body strength to launch myself out of the deep water to re-enter the kayak post-snorkel, but I learned quickly about the propulsion power of snorkeling fins. I launched myself so hard I dove right over the boat! Oh, PSA for couples… the double kayaks are called “Divorce Boats!” A couple married 40 years was on my first Half Moon trip. When they chose a double kayak and were told this, the woman said, “Well, 40 years…that’s a long time! Maybe that’s long enough….” (No, I don’t know if they made it to 41 years or not!)
Sail Kayaking
Sail kayaking involves putting a mast and sail on a double kayak. The person in the back holds the line and uses the sail and the rudder pedals to steer and propel the boat. The person in the front mostly is responsible for offering encouragement! I’ve had mixed experiences with sail kayaking. Three times were great, but the other was really difficult due to erratic win. It was difficult to keep the kayak on course and in the end, upright! I was really wishing for my snorkel fins to help me get back into that boat! Next time, maybe I’ll refer back to the Pro Tip in the previous section. Problem solved 🙂
Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
I love to start my mornings on Half Moon by taking paddleboard out when the water is calm. You can see the seafloor as clearly as if you were looking through a glass of water. Paddling up to and around the dock is typically easy and then you can drift back to the beach. One time, my friend and I paddled around the entire island. I recommend that only if you are a strong paddler. If the winds are high, be careful, as you can’t always predict how strong it will be on different sides of the island. Be looking for an upcoming post about being “Rescued at Sea!”
Fishing
Prior to my first Half Moon trip, I hadn’t been fishing since I was 7 years old. I wasn’t sure I had the stomach for actually catching the fish, but I decided to try it. The fishing on Half Moon is hand line fishing. You literally hold fishing line in your hands and drop the hook with a sinker (likely a nut or spark plug) into the water. On my first trip, the visibility was so good that I could see the fish deliberately eating the bait and avoiding the hook! This sparked my competitive instinct and I was victorious several times in the battle of woman against fish, including the large Margate Grunt in the picture at the top of this page. I admit to then handing the fish to the guide to remove the hook. Trust me, no one wants me handling sharp objects on an unsteady vessel.
On the way back to the island, you troll for barracuda using a large hook, a fish cut to resemble a squid, and a big line off the back of the boat. I actually brought one in on my last trip and landed it with the help of my favorite guide, Roo!
Conch Hunting
In Belize, it’s either lobster season or conch season. October through June is conch season and you can go snorkeling outside of the protected marine park surrounding the island, and dive to pick up conch. Fresh conch is delicious in ceviche, soup, or fritters–all of which the chef will likely make for you.
Snorkeling
There is great snorkeling on Half Moon, both from a boat and from the shore. Along with the thousands of fish, you can also see turtles, nurse sharks, lemon sharks, rays, and lobsters. Check out my page that describes some of the sites here!
Hammock Surfing
If reading this has exhausted you, never fear. There are hammocks outside the tents and around the island. You can always opt to spend your time relaxing and watching the birds overhead.
