About 30 miles off the northern coast of Honduras lies a precious Caribbean gem: the island of Roatan. The island’s dazzling array of marine life can be found on both shallow reefs and plummeting walls. It is well-known as a destination for hunting macro critters but equally famous for encountering the largest fish in the sea: majestic whale sharks. Roatan is perfectly suited for new and veteran divers alike. With coral gardens, shipwrecks such as the Odyssey and Aguila, sand flats full of hidden delights, and action-packed shark dives, there’s never a dull moment underwater.This list will guide you to the 10 best dive spots on Roatan Island.
EL AGUILA
This spectacular shipwreck has swim-throughs, giant grouper, passing eagle rays and an adjacent reef, but the real showstopper is its mast. Take your time perusing the coral-covered structure, and look out for neck and arrowhead crabs, slender filefish, fireworms and charming secretary blennies.
Carambola
Spend some time on terra firma taking in the natural beauty of Roatan’s topside at Carambola Gardens. Hike up Carambola Mountain for a spectacular view of the island, and marvel at exotic flora and fauna, including orchids, monkey lala lizards, and Honduran mahogany.
Mesoamerican Reef
Roatan, and the rest of the Bay Islands, is part of the southernmost portion of the Mesoamerican Reef, which spans more than 600 miles. It’s the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest reef in the world.
Coral Corral
The abundance of corals present in Roatan’s sunlit shallows and steep walls is almost unreal. Every color of the rainbow is represented on the reef, and the variety is equally astounding — everything from flower and pillar coral to elkhorn and staghorn coral can be seen here.
Roatan Marine Park
Sandy Bay-West End Marine Reserve was officially established in 1989 on the northwestern part of Roatan. It has since been expanded to stretch across 17 miles of coastline and now protects approximately 10,400 square miles of reef.
Mandy’s Eel Garden
You’ll find streams of creole wrasse, scorpionfish, yellow tilefish and more at this dive site off the northwest end of Roatan. But the main attractions are the sand patches packed with garden eels.
Pretty Peas
Baby trunkfish make for an exciting find while touring the reef. They’re called “peas” because of their round shape and diminutive size. They’re also super adorable.
Jawsome
While swimming over sand patches, scan the seafloor for yellow-headed jawfish. You’ll find them hovering over their burrows — or hiding within, should you spook them. Males carry their eggs inside their mouths, and if you are patient, you can catch one aerating the clutch by popping the eggs in and out of its mouth.
Seahorse
Seahorses have mastered the art of hiding in plain sight. Go slowly and keep a sharp eye out, and you just might be able to spot one. Pipefish, a relative of the seahorse, can also be found here.
RIMS
Established in 1989, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences (RIMS)’s primary objective is to preserve Roatan’s natural resources through education and research. Ideally located for a marine study on the northwest coast of Roatan, RIMS is close to over 30 miles of fringing, and barrier reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, and shoreline are home to an astonishing profusion of life.
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