From a long time Caye Caulker resident and former guide:

That cut is very narrow and the current in an outgoing tide from the flats is very strong, about 3 mph. You cannot swim in it. You would have to let yourself go outside and swim sideways outside the reef parallel about 400 feet, then cross over back inside the reef with the wave action. I regularly made weak swimmers wear lifejackets while snorkeling at Hol channel, had a lesson, lecture telling them how to handle themselves should they be popped out through the channel by the rip current. Taught them how to cross the reef, further down back inside, by not standing, laying as flat and shallow as they can, and let a wave wash them across, using their fingertips. I do believe there should be a rope stretched across the narrow channel where the waves break. If you have gone past the cave, you would find it impossible for a novice to get back inside. Amateurs try to stand up, when crossing back over the reef further down out of the rip current. Then they get all kinds of coral cuts. You just have to float shallow coming back across the reef. I found if you explained and taught themselves how to handle a rip current and coming back, it took away the panic of watching yourself being swept out to sea.

COMMENT FROM ANOTHER FRIEND:
It is incredulous to me to imagine that a 50+ year old in average shape would have the stamina to go against an incoming tide / swells (such as is common in Hol Chan at this time of the year) without a life jacket.

Going against the tide wears you out as much as being on a treadmill on a fast speed. Without a life jacket, you are at a disadvantage. Been there, done that, and I can vouch to that from personal experience.

I've seen those gusts of breeze on the islands do incredible, unbelievable things.

One time I was dive master on a boat heading out to the Blue Hole. The swells at the Turneffe exit channel were at least 50 feet high. I could not believe my eyes. Literally, the boat man had to rev the three 200 horse power engines up what appeared to be a mountain of water. One error in judgment and the boat would have flipped on its top. It was quite scary. I never went out there before summer again.

These poor snorkelers got pummeled on the rocks (reef). A human body is like a bobbing cork when huge swells are rolling in. You get pitched all over the place and you have no control.

I think life jackets should be mandatory wear in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, at least during blustery days, but I would suggest it as normal wear for every snorkeler. The channel is deep, at least 30 feet deep. The average person who get tired while swimming has no leeway without a life jacket.

Another comment:

Your characterization of the cut is accurate, I've dived it half a dozen times. It's one of my favorite spots, very beautiful. And your approach to dealing with a strong current is spot on except I'd never want to be encumbered with a life jacket in that situation, most especially if I was trying to float over the reef without touching and damaging it. My point is that weak swimmers should not be snorkeling. It's an activity that should be undertaken only after someone has learned to swim well, as with scuba diving.


Response from former guide:

Well I taught my guest snorkelers at Hol Channel how to handle the rip current and cross the reef if that is what happened. If they got popped out, you let the rip current take you out. You get panicky as you get swept away from the reef and the trees and boats disappear from view. You just have to know if you parallel and swim sideways you get out of the rip current and the waves will bring you back into the reef, further down.

Coming in is the dangerous part. You can float, you don´t have to swim in the ocean. Take your time and just relax. Coming in you are behind the breaking waves as you approach the reef. The trick is to lay prone, float and let a wave pick you up and scoot you across the first layer of coral with the bubbles obscuring your view, as the wave breaks. Put your hands in front of your face for protection. As the trough leaves you on the reef, you just hold with your fingertips staying prone. When the next wave picks you up, again the bubbles obscure your view, but you feel the wave float you up off the reef, you walk using the tips of your fingertips, pulling yourself foreward. You dont kneel to see what is happening, you don´t stand, or anything. Just float shallow as you can. When the next trough drops you on the reef, you hold on again with your fingertips to avoid being dragged backward. Repeat with the next couple of waves. Usually three or four waves will pout you inside the reef. Still snorkeling, laying shallow as you can, you can now swim more in away from the breaking surf into the inner reef and lagoon. At Hol Chan you are usually about 400 feet or more either side on the now dry reef. I´ve done this in raging high surf. No problema! Piece of cake if you are knowledgeable.

The only people I see got hurt, were trying to stand up and see where they were in the coral. Scratched their legs all over.

This was a standard training lecture for all my snorkeling guests at Hol Channel. I told them not to go past the cave, as the outgoing current can be strong when the tide is flowing out. It weakens, if you get into the shallow coral on the sides to the entrance. If you are in the middle of the narrow channel mouth you are going to get popped out. Just float comfortable, make sure you are breathing through your snorkel, lay on your back. Nothing you can do until the rip tide weakens about a 100 yards out to sea.