Roatan
Located 70 km from the northern coast of Honduras are the "Bay Islands". Of both coral and volcanic origin, they are the southern end of the 2nd largest coral barrier in the world, which It begins in the Yucatán in Cayo Chinchorro, which continues along the entire coast of Belize and ends here forming a group of islands whose names sometimes sound strange to our ears, such as Guanaja, Utila, Barbareta, Cayos Cochinos and Roatán.
Roatán is the largest of all that make up this beautiful archipelago, with an extension of 70 km in length and around 2 km in width, it is quite particular in its orography, since in contrast to other The small islands of the Caribbean are mountainous (300 meters above sea level), where we find waterfalls that descend from their mountains, beaches with incredible fine white sand, covered with palm trees, all along the coast and a reef around the entire perimeter of the island.
Most of the aboriginal inhabitants are concentrated in three towns: Coxen Hole, the capital. French Harbor its main fishing port and Oak Ridge. Although today it is an integral part of Honduras, a large part of the names of the cities, as well as the language spoken by the population, is English or Creole, since the Islands were always a field of exchange and battle between the countries of Spain and England. .
Scuba diving is practiced along the entire coast, although it has basically been concentrated in two areas and this is due to the weather. The main area is the West End or Northern and Western part of the Island, where hotels, bungalows and several diving centers have been opening in recent times. The other part is the southern area that faces the continent and is mainly recommended for the months of November and December when the sea in the Caribbean area is rougher.
Both coasts still offer interesting reliefs and sea beds with canyon formations, coral gardens and fissures in some rocks in which we find a great profusion of small life: sponges, black crinoids, black coral, turtles, etc.
Dive spots
West End (North) - West End Wall
As its name shows us, this immersion point is located at the extreme western tip of Roatán. In fact, it consists of two diving points, one shallower than the other, covering two areas of the same reef. The shallowest one is close to the shore, starting at 5 meters and reaching 36 meters deep; while the one that is further away, in the open sea, starts at 20 meters deep to reach 45 meters. Because there are normally always currents in this area, it is likely that you will see sharks, groupers, turtles and all types of pelagics.
Garden
Located on the coral barrier in front of West Bay (where most of the diving centers are located) it is a shallow reef with a very gentle slope that reaches up to 30 meters. The dives begin at a depth of approximately 5 meters in the middle of a large number of multicolored reef fish such as angelfish, butterflies, etc. Although what we can highlight most about this dive are the sea eels that are found on a sandy bottom about 15 meters deep.
Lighthouse Reef
This is a very popular diving spot, both for expert and beginner divers. It is very close to Half Moon Bay, a shallow dive with great marine activity. The upper area of the reef is about 5 meters from the surface to continue later to a sand terrace at 8 meters and then continue to the wall with a maximum depth of around 45 meters.
Since there is practically no current, the wall can be dived in any direction. Marine life is very varied in the crevices, sandy bottoms and corals inhabited by a multitude of fish and invertebrates and under the rocks and crevices we find large crabs and spiral anemones.
Hole in the Wall
This is an exceptional dive for those experienced divers who love depth. Located east of "Lighthouse Reef". The dive begins at 5 meters from the surface where we will find canyons that take us to the cliff that descends to 150 meters. It is not a dive with much marine life, but it does have coral formations, large canyons, caves and it is possible to have encounters with deep pelagics.
The South.- Mary's Place
It is the best dive in the southern area of Roatán. Due to past volcanic activity in Roatán, fissures and cracks have formed in the walls of the seabed covered with hard coral, black coral and inhabited by groupers, sweet lips, etc. These three cracks start at a depth of 6 meters and reach 30 meters, being an undoubted spectacle to the eye, the shape of the contrast with the outside light and the shapes that the cracks have.
Price Albert Wreck
An interesting wreck to explore. The "Prince Albert" is a cargo ship that sank in 1987 and in recent years corals have been covering its 42 meters of length. The wreck is located in the southeast channel of Roatán on a sandy bottom sloping 25 meters deep, and can be explored without the need for flashlights since it can be entered through any of its multiple gates. Near the wreck there is a colony of eels and another incentive to add is the proximity of a DC-3 plane.
Enchanted Forest
It is a recently discovered dive, located on the outskirts of French Harbor, it is a deep dive with crystal clear waters. The upper part of the reef is in deep water, it begins at 18 meters where the wall descends to the abyss (more than 1,500 meters). On the crest of the reef and behind each promontory we find large formations of columns of coral and staghorn coral.
Roatan Oceanographic Center
It is the only place in the world where you can dive with the center's dolphins in complete freedom and in the open sea, on a sandy bottom and at a depth of 18 meters. You can also practice "snorkeling" with the dolphins in a limited area.
