| ROATAN & BAY ISLANDS VISITORS & TRAVEL GUIDE | ||
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 Locator Map Click on Any Dive Site to Go to Description |
Roatan's fringing coral reef is still one of the most beautiful and unique in the world, and at just a short swim from the shore, easily accessible. There are 38 dive sites within the West End Marine Reserve, all within 15 minutes boat ride, and they are all different. There are lots of very shallow snorkeling areas and the coral reef is perfect for everyone, as the top is about 40ft, allowing snorklers and novice divers to glide along in shallow water. While the more advanced are down below, all visible to each other because of the wonderful clarity of the water. With deep drop-offs, caverns, swim throughs, canyons and an abundance of marine life, Roatan offers something for everyone. The West End is on the leeward side of the island, so the water is always calm.
SPOOKY CHANNEL
A very different dive, dive through a deep channel that links
the lagoon with the outer reef. The channel begins shallow but
reaches a maximum depth of 90 feet, and is about 50 feet across
at the widest point, but if you look up you will discover what
makes this dive so famous. The walls of the channel slowly converge
above you, and when they are only a few feet from the surface,
the walls are only six feet apart. You can make out a beautiful
ribbon of light 80 feet above you. "Spooky" due to the
low level of light entering, and the reason for an unusual prominence
of low light corals normally found in the very deep. Fascinating
rock structures, swim-throughs, lobster and starfish, a truly
unforgettable dive.
WHITE HOLE
So called because of the round patch of white sand that greets
you at first in 35ft of water. Head to the wall where it drops
off and down to the sand slope at 100 ft and then beyond. Nothing
too crazy, just a chilled out dive.
BEAR'S DEN
Interested in caverns? Then this is the dive for you. At 50ft
begin with a beautiful tunnel swim-through, opening out into the
blue, and then down and along the wall. A big Plate and Sheet
Coral outcrop provides home to many fish, sometimes a group of
Squid. Make an ascent to the top of the wall and the entrance
to the huge beautiful cavern, Bear's Den, in only 25feet.
Look closely at the rocks while approaching the entrance for the tiny Lettuce Leaf Sea Slugs and other Nudibranchs, even a Spotted Drum. Swim over forty feet into "cathedral-like" Bear's Den, where sunbeams scatter shafts of light that dance around on the sandy bottom. Lie on the sand and relax while watching Glassy Sweepers swim back and forth amongst the light beams. Then it's time to head back for yet still more swim-throughs and canyons just past the mooring, keeping a close look at the Gorgonian Soft Corals as they provide shelter for rare Seahorses and Neck Crabs, usually only visible to the trained eye. The cavern is best seen in the mornings, as the sun's angle is perfect for the light beams in full effect.
PETER'S PLACE
The place for BIG Groupers, a beautiful wall, teeming with Creole
Wrasse and always at least four BIG groupers and sometimes even
bigger Dog Snapper. Perfect for close-up photography of these
gentle giants. The reef offers interesting formations and sandy
patches around about 45ft and on the wall there are canyons and
over hangs. Free swimming Moray Eel and Eagle Rays may be seen.
MIKE'S PLACE
Very similar to Peter's Place.
FRONT PORCH
A huge sandy area at 60ft this is the reason A.K.R use this site
for their dolphin dive. Surrounded by a sloping collection of
Plate Corals.
THE WRECK, EL AGUILA (THE EAGLE)
Another Roatan classic, this ship was an old beached cargo vessel,
287ft long, bought by Anthony's Key Resort to create an artificial
reef. Originally sunk in 1993 only to be smashed into 3 pieces
by the mighty Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The Wreck was thoroughly
cleaned before it was sunk so there was no environmental impact
on the reef, and is perfect for penetration, as there are no obstacles
to worry about.
 Wreck Dive |
We begin by dropping 110ft straight down to the stern and onto the sand where a field of Garden Eels sways back and forth from their little holes. Big Groupers sometimes come right up to your face while laid down watching the Eels. The propeller shaft and stern are raised out of the sand as we plunge head first through a window and into the wheelhouse, causing disorientation as the angle of the boat is twisted. Pockets of air trapped on the ceiling look like pools of liquid mercury as we exit through a beautiful rectangular opening out into the deep blue and toward the middle section.
The middle section is not really enclosed but offers a variety of swim-throughs while looking up at the mast piercing the water above. Then it's off towards the bow where you can swim through a doorway, then exit through a large hatch on the bow. Look over the edge and down to a coral patch at the base of the bow that is home to the famous Green Moray Eel that is not afraid of divers. He often comes right up to you looking for food. A pair of Translucent Blue Parrot fish feast on the algae growing on the bow. Groupers and Dog Snapper follow the divers around. Oysters and Clams are prolific all over the boat but sneak up on them or they close too quickly!
Often an Eagle Ray comes gliding along the wall as we head to shallower water after about 20mins on the boat. The wall has nice canyon formations and a cavern in 15ft with a roof exit in 5ft that gives shelter to Bristle Worms and Glassy Sweepers. Drift along at 30ft towards Pillar Coral dive site where many fish like Sergeant Majors, Grunts, Blue Tang, Chub and Parrot Fish dance on the top of the wall.
PILLAR CORAL
Yes, Pillar Coral is what you will find here. There is a mysterious
kind of sea mound pillar that looms up and out of the blue, and
a beautiful swim-through cavern next to the mooring that opens
up in 5ft of water. A perfect end to the Wreck Dive.
GREEN OUTHOUSE
Named purely because there used to be a green outhouse on the
shore opposite the site in Sandy Bay (thankfully not too close!).This
is one of the favorites, as it has lots to offer for all levels,
from snorkelers, first time divers to advanced divers. The mooring
is attached to coral in just 20ft. Head out down to a 50ft sandy
area surrounded with healthy corals and plant life and then to
the wall, an impressive drop-off indeed. Usually a current flows
north bending one of the biggest Gorgonians in West End and keeps
the many types of fish, animals, and plant-life bathed in fresh
nutrients. Again head towards the shallows where you will find
canyon after canyon. A great place for Green Morays, Greater Soap
Fish and Turtles.
OVERHEAT REEF
The usual wall and reef, good area for Neck Crabs and little critters.
Named many years ago when there was only one dive operation in
Sandy Bay, and their boat engine would always overheat at this
point.
MELISSA'S REEF
Wall and reef and some canyons in the shallows.
GIBSON BIGHT
Very much like Melissa's Reef, a very good spot for Eagle Rays.
 Divers |
FISH DEN
A wonderful mound of coral in the middle of a horseshoe canyon
is where the mooring lies. We begin in just 10ft of water where
hundreds of fish gather. Sgt. Majors, Grunts and Damsels all jostle
back and forth. Follow the rubble canyon towards the big blue
and in front is a huge belly slope dropping down deep. Left takes
you towards an impressive mountain wall filled with Barrel, Tube
and Elephant Ear Sponges. This is a good area for the tiny Neck
Crabs and Seahorses as there are plenty of Gorgonians. Wonderful
topography on the wall and in the shallows provides plenty to
do exploring as you wind back to the boat.
CANYON REEF
Yes! This dive is all about canyons, so if you like just pottering
on the wall stay above the group and follow their bubbles, because
this is another fun packed lesson in buoyancy control. There is
a beautiful order one can do the canyons, starting in the middle,
with the entrance of the first in 10ft. Plunge head first into
a slim smooth sided canyon that opens out and down to 60 ft and
out into the blue, along a while and then up the next one, and
down the next one, and up the next one, and down, and back, and
up, and down and round and round! Drifting then up to Fish Den
is a nice ending.
HOLE-IN-THE-WALL
Welcome to one of Roatan's classics, you can't leave without doing
this dive! This has something for everyone. We begin in 40ft.
of water on a sand chute, home to the shy Yellowhead Jawfish,
that takes us down through the "hole in the wall" opening
out at 100ft. Novices can ascend a little and enjoy the spectacular
wall on the right while the more advanced can descend down the
sand slope, leveling out above "the abyss" that drops
down to 1000's of feet. Take a right, slowly making your ascent
up and along the wall where shoals of Creole Wrasse, Blue Tang
thrive.
Look out for eagle rays and turtles, and it's not over yet! After swimming for 10mins and upon reaching the top of the wall it's time to head towards the shallows where the 'swiss-cheese' rock formations provide another fabulous journey down, round, up and over swim-throughs, caverns, and canyons while "off-gassing" in 20ft of water.
Keep an eye out for marble-eyed Spotted Scorpion Fish lying amongst the rocks on the bottom, and finish off with a visit in the last canyon where Glassy Sweepers and Silversides (seasonal) jostle for the spotlight as the sunbeams through the cracks. For the adrenalin seekers there is a dark and silty cavern at the end of this canyon, which has several passages that one could quite easily get lost in, so of course do not do this without an experienced guide. The view coming out of the canyon is an amazing gradient of greens and blues with silhouetted rock formations. A perfect dive and a perfect profile.
SEAGRAPE
So named because it lies opposite the iron shore where Seagrape
Plantation Resort is situated. The wreck is in fact just a dive
boat (only the hull and engine remain) that sunk when it went
out in a storm and got washed onto the rocks. There is usually
a big green moray hiding under pieces of the scattered wreckage.
Nice sandy patches.
 Turtle |
DIVEMASTER'S CHOICE
This dive is really just an extension of the Half Moon Bay dive,
with all the same ingredients.
HALF MOON BAY
Still one of the prettiest dives, with healthy supplies of coral
and wall formations, like colossal mountains the reef stands as
shallow as 30ft plunging down to 150ft and then beyond. Black
Coral and Black Gorgonians fan out up and down the wall while
shoals of Creole Wrasse and Blue Chromis swap positions with each
other as the Groupers chill on the wall basking in the soft current
that usually flows north. The sand patches and coral heads scattered
everywhere provide home to all the reef creatures such as Moray
Eels and Turtles. Further up the reef is a wonderful tunnel beginning
in 60ft and opening out onto the wall at 70ft greeted by the deep
blue and the varieties of sponges like Green Vase, Rope, Elephant
Ear and Tube. This is the best site to see Eagle Rays.
DIXIE'S PLACE
Very much an introduction into Half Moon Bay, this dive has all
the same ingredients.
LIGHTHOUSE REEF
Famous for it's popularity with every single dive shop to take
all open water students there because of it's 20ft sand patch
close to the channel and the wall. Not really recommended for
recreational divers.
BLUE CHANNEL
Famous for its perfect profile for snorkelers and divers, it is
in fact a channel that starts from the inner part of the reef
and flows out towards the coral ridge, starting at 10ft and then
to 45ft at the top of the wall. Start on the wall, barrel sponges,
interesting tiny coral heads cover the deep sandy slope that look
like an army of strange mushrooms. Then head yet again toward
the shallow water where a series of canyons in 20ft of water provide
home to a large Porcupine Fish, Glassy Sweepers, Moray Eels and
in mid-June to early August shoals of Silversides fill the canyons
sometimes making it impossible to see which way one is going.
After exiting the last swim-through, dancing with, and scattering
the tiny fish, it's time to follow the channel. Either side goes
right up the surface guiding you to the outside of the reef and
turtle grass in 10 ft where the boat can meet you, another perfect
dive profile.
THE BITE
The sand patch in 20ft at the mooring looks like someone took
a big bite out of the coral, hence the name. It's about a 10-minute
swim to the wall gradually getting deeper as you go and upon arrival
you'll find a very interesting and healthy ridge and wall. A wonderful
afternoon dive, this area is outstanding for its coral structures.
OCTOPUS ACRE
Named by Kaj and Tony, instructor divemasters from West End, this
site is great for a relaxing time and especially good for Night
Dives, as there is usually an abundance of Octopi in and around
the plentiful supply of sand patches.
TURTLE CROSSING
Also named by Kaj and Tony this site has all the same ingredients
as Octopus Acre. Funnily enough though there always seems to be
a Turtle crossing!
 Moray Eel |
SEAQUEST
A great dive site for beginners and photographers, a huge sandy
area littered with coral heads. Just meander around, keeping one
eye on the sand in front of you, as it could be home to a hidden
Southern Sting Ray. Also, if your eyes are sharp enough, lookout
for rare Pipe Fish, Pipe Horses and Peacock Flounders.
BUTCHER'S BANK
Great afternoon dive in search of Turtles and Rays, this area
boasts some great shaped coral formations and sandy areas as you
glide along at just 45ft.
WHISKEY RIVER DRIFT
Named after a dive group from Minnesota who just loved that area,
this dive is very much like Ocean Spirit.
OCEAN SPIRIT
This mooring was put in so that a cruise ship "Ocean Spirit"
could tie off here. Great afternoon dive looking for Turtles and
Rays down on the 80ft sand or on the 45ft sand as you cruise north.
SPONGE EMPORIUM
So named by Dennis Smythe, an instructor at A.K.R, because of
the variety of sponges here. This is a wonderful sandy slope dive
dotted with coral heads and quite an interesting ridge that forms
kind of a huge curve. Southern Stingrays can be found hiding under
the sand and sometimes a Nurse Shark underneath a coral outcrop.
See if you can find the old Singer sewing machine, and the old
anchor encrusted with coral. A great area for turtles (sponges
are Hawksbill Turtles favorite food), Furry Sea Cucumbers and
huge Hermit Crabs, wonderful afternoons dive.
MANDY'S EEL GARDEN
Magical formations of corals and sponges and sloping white sand
give this place a dream-like quality like no other site on Roatan.
Like the name says there is a Garden of Eels down at about 65ft.
Huge white shallow sand patches make it ideal for students on
their first dive and it's perfect for snorkeling as the top of
the wall is only 20ft.
BLACK ROCK
A deep mooring (about 60feet), which makes an exciting and beautiful
descent through clear blue water. Lovely wall.
WEST END WALL
A shear wall, healthy coral, a lot of fish and good chances of
seeing Eagle Rays. A really beautiful dive, usually with a nice
current, so just drift along and enjoy the ride.
 Grouper |
TEXAS
Why? Because " everything is so huge " said Mickey,
an instructor at West End Divers and well the name just stuck.
This is UNSPOILT BEAUTY at it's best. Huge Barrel Sponges, some
big enough to hide inside are scattered everywhere across the
plains of Texas and glorious corals housing every type of Caribbean
reef fish like the Queen Triggerfish and Black Durgon. Rare fish
like the Atlantic Spade Fish and the Sargassum Triggerfish can
be found amongst these coral patches, but be discreet because
they are shy fish that dart back into their holes if they see
you coming. Usually there is a wonderful current that runs east
to west making it perfect to glide across the plains at ease at
50 ft. The actual wall top at Texas is quite deep at 100ft and
beyond, and then it's sometimes difficult to work your way shallower
against the current. Anyone can enjoy the plains of Texas but
right out on the wall calls for a little more experience.
WET DREAM
The Gateway to Texas. The end of the wall that comes from the
south side and meets the mighty belly of Texas. This wall is one
of the healthiest and most beautiful areas on the whole island.
Orange Elephant Ears, Rope Sponges that crawl out into the blue,
Sea Whips, Tube sponges, Tunicates. Forests of Sea Fan Gorgonians
and Black Coral are stacked together in a myriad of color and
variety. The top of the wall is 50ft and then drops down to 100's
of feet. Here are some of the most impressive overhangs full of
life while shoals of Creole Wrasse and Boga stream back and forth.
Black Durgons, Ocean Triggerfish, Dog Snapper, Grouper, Barracuda,
Horse-Eyed Jack and a free swimming Green Moray can be seen. There
almost seem to be too many fish; it can be hard to know which
way to look!
GORGONIAN KINGDOM
So called because there are fields and fields of Rod, Plume and
Whip Gorgonians swaying back and forth in the surge as we glide
over them.
HERBIE'S PLACE
Named after a divemaster at A.K.R this place offers a sheer wall
drop like Pablo's and many Gorgonian Soft Corals.
PABLO'S PLACE
This dive is much better in the mornings as the sun is more around
the south side illuminating the impressive wall and overhangs
that make this dive unforgettable. Like all the dives on the South
Side you be amazed at the abundance of soft corals that sway back
and forth, enchanting you.
KEYHOLE
Much the same as Pablo's and Herbie's Place but with more sandy
slopes.
IRON MAN
Wicked sheer wall drop down to 100's of feet, with the top coming
right up to just 15ft below the surface. Usually dived in the
rainy season.
SELECT SOUTH SIDE DIVE SITES
 The Colors of the Reef |
MARY'S PLACE
Originally Mary's Crack, a divemaster at Brick Bay Resort discovered
and named it after his wife, but had to change it for an article
in Scuba Diver magazine a long time ago. This has got to be one
of Roatan's most famous dives because of its amazing structure
forming this crack inhabited by every type of coral, and sponge.
Impressive overhangs teem with colour and life and lots of Seahorses.
VALLEY OF THE KINGS
Right in front of Coco View Dive Resort this site has all the
same ingredients as Half Moon Bay combined with Pablo's Place.
Very beautiful.
INSIDIOUS REEF(SHARK DIVE)
This is a sea mound that rises up out of the open ocean just a
mile off shore opposite the airport. It covers quite a large area
and Las Palmas Dive Shop on the South side organizes their Shark
Dive on part of this reef. The Sharks are baited to attract them.
NIGHT DIVES
Two days after Full Moon, and for another 10 nights, Night Dives
are an absolute MUST here in Roatan. Explain it if you will, but
there is magic in the water every month, inspired by the Luna
cycle. After every full moon a special phenomenon occurs we call
"The Strings of Pearls", well it's actually Microscopic
Pelagic Shrimps that leave trails of phosphorescence. Drop onto
a sand patch and switch your lights off and wait, be patient and
you will see a glowing star system starting to appear all around
you, constantly moving, forming new strings and fading out and
forming more and so on, amazing.
But that's not all, no, wait until you switch your light back on and you will be in for a surprise. There are thousands and thousands of tiny pink worms that are attracted to the light, so stay still and watch them swarm. Move slowly over to a patch of perhaps Brain Coral where if you put the light about a foot away from it, the worms will collide, and then caught by the open polyps, which excrete a protein that causes the red worms to explode!!!
Other night time creatures such as Basket Stars, Tigertail Sea Cucumbers, Brittle Stars, and Lobster are plentiful. And, of course, there are plenty of Octopi to watch hunting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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