Promoting Destination Stewardship through Diving with Frenchie’s

For many of our members here at Belize Game Fish Association, the ocean is more than just stomping grounds for sport fishing—it's a way of life. Almost 140,000 people that live in the country's coastal communities rely on healthy marine ecosystems for food and jobs, while another 209,000 visitors are drawn to the region annually, according to recent figures at TNC. Tourism—an estimated 25 percent of which is reef based—ultimately generates 41 percent of Belize's national income. As a result, tourism stakeholders are one of Belize's fiercest players in destination stewardship. Lucky for us, the nation has some pillars in the tourism industry that overlap with our membership, including our Platinum Sponsor for the 13th Annual Belikin Blue Water Classic: Frenchie's Diving. 

Caye Caulker is a small limestone island about 21 miles northeast of Belize's mainland coast, measuring just 5 miles in length and at certain points, just two blocks across in width. It's practically impossible to get lost. Whether recommended by a local or bumped into on a bicycle, the locally-owned and operated Frenchie’s Diving has been offering diving services on Caye Caulker since 1981.

When we said pillars, we meant it. 

Found on the north end for over 30 years, Frenchie's is run by Dominik Novelo and his father, none other than Frenchie himself. Together, they double as two of the three dive instructors on staff, though they have a total of seven dive masters too—all of who are PADI Certified and Licensed Tour Guides. It’s here, with their overwater office, they lie a single kilometer away from our shared heritage, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS); which includes three of four coral atolls in the entire Western Hemisphere and over 400 offshore islands, with teeming mangrove forests and an extensive seagrass population too. 

Photo by Wouter Naert on Unsplash

Creating a shared future in a mutually beneficial way, a destination stewardship ethos benefits the community of Caye Caulker just as clearly as it helps the environments in which we work, play, and fish—a win-win by every definition. 

Inspiring The Next Generation of Divers

As a member of DAN World Business Member,  Frenchie's Diving stands out by standing up, instilling an inherent appreciation for our marine resources that lie just off Caye Caulker's shores. Without a doubt, internships are a great way for high school students to gain work experience, learn about professional opportunities, and network within career and academic fields. That's why Frenchie's partners with Ocean Academy High School, even extending PADI certifications to the students and hopefully, equipping them with a life skill that could lead to a career in tourism or research, besides just for the sheer love of the sport. 

And because the Novelos—and by extension, the entire Frenchie's team—have always respected the environment and understood that outdoor recreation is a gift to be protected for the future, that doesn't end with just diving. The Novelo Family of Frenchie’s Diving Services founded Frenchie's Offshore Open tournament in 2015, a two-day catch-and-release tournament held annually during Commonwealth Day weekend at The Split, Caye Caulker.  

Especially after the complete halt of tourism during the early pandemic, the company’s core belief remains that destination stewardship is an investment in enriching the lives of employees, customers, suppliers, and the community as a whole. But it's not the only time Frenchie's Diving has stood arm-in-arm with Caye Caulker. Following the roaring Hurricane Earl in 2016, the company led Frenchie's Diving Hurricane Relief with the Caye Caulker Village Council, a relief and recovery effort for all island residents through donated household items, non-perishable food, supplies, and monetary contributions. 

When not leading half-day, full-day, or overnight diving trips, Frenchie and Dominik can be found alongside staff trolling on their way back to their Caye Caulker base. 

Pictured: Frenchie’s original dive shop on Caye Caulker, over 30 years go.

 "Over thirty years ago, with just one boat and operating out of a tiny office underneath the owners’ house, Frenchie’s Diving was born. Today, we are blessed to say that we are still growing and thriving thanks to you, our passionate divers, and all of our dedicated staff!"

At the end of the day, it's about protecting the very qualities that make a place first and foremost a wonderful place to live, with the added benefit of being a wonderful place to visit.

Proudly supporting BGFA through various outlets including the Blue Water Classic, we are grateful to once again welcome Frenchie’s Diving Services as a Platinum Sponsor in 2022!