This dive guide is intended to provide the already qualified scuba diver with information which will help to plan dives in the waters of Honduras, whether as a local resident or a visitor. Information is provided without prejudice, and is not guaranteed accurate or complete. Use it at your own risk. Expand or correct it when you can.
Understand
[edit]Honduras in Central America has a short (south) Pacific coast, and a long (north) Caribbean coast with good diving. The best developed for diving is Roatán, which is one of the Bay Islands in the Caribbean some 40 km north of the mainland. There are also dive sites on the other Bay Islands of Guanaja, Utila and the Hog Islands (Cayos Cochinos). They all enjoy year-round warm climate and sea, underwater viz of 60 to 100 ft, and it's usually calm. This makes them a good choice for learning to dive. For advanced divers they boast amazing reef formations such as canyons and swim throughs galore. The deep waters minutes away from shore lend themselves for Tec Dive training and exploration.
General Topography
[edit]Climate, weather and sea conditions
[edit]Weather
[edit]Sea conditions
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[edit]Predicting the weather and sea conditions
[edit]The marine ecology
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[edit]Dive Sites
[edit]
Notable dive sites of Roatán include the Prince Albert Wreck, El Aguila Wreck, the Odyssey Wreck and the Josie J which is done as a Tec Dive as it sits at 165 ft depth. Among other amazing sites are West End Wall, Texas, Mary's Place, Morat Wall, Rock Star, Hole in the Wall, Spencer Rose's Garden, Moyra Channel, and Calvin's Crack. The shark dive offered by Waihuka is a very popular dive as well as the Dolphin Dive offered by Anthony's Key Resort. Roatan has also become the official home of the Caribbean Cup, a free-diving competition. There are many dive operators, most of which are PADI affiliated. The Roatan diving community is very active in conservation efforts headed up by the Roatan Marine Park. The $10 dollar donation gives tourist a wrist band to show their support and in turn it goes towards infrastructure (i.e. installation and maintenance of the various moorings), fuel for patrols, and community outreach programs.
Roatán's named dive sites are:
- 1 Gran Marie's Sea Garden.
- 2 Key Hole.
- 3 Spencer's Rose Garden.
- 4 Odyssey Wreck.
- 5 Moyra Channel.
- 6 Barry's Reef.
- 7 Déjà vu.
- 8 Four Sponges.
- 9 Wrasse Hole.
- 10 Spooky Channel.
- 11 White Hole.
- 12 Bears Den.
- 13 Captain Bob's.
- 14 Mack's Wall.
- 15 Peter's Place.
- 16 Front Porch.
- 17 El Aguila.
- 18 Pillar Coral.
- 19 Schaeftown.
- 20 Green Outhouse.
- 21 Over Heat.
- 22 Hole in the Wallet.
- 23 Melissa's.
- 24 Robin's Nest.
- 25 Gibson Bite.
- 26 Dennis's Dropoff.
- 27 Happily Ever After.
- 28 Fish Den.
- 29 Canyon Reef.
- 30 Hole in the Wall.
- 31 The Wife.
- 32 Grape Escape.
- 33 Vern's Drop Off.
- 34 Dixies.
- 35 Moonlight.
- 36 Lighthouse Reef.
- 37 El Aquario.
- 38 Ocean Groove.
- 39 Jolly Roger 1.
- 40 Jolly Roger 2.
- 41 Haller Deep.
- 42 Blue Channel.
- 43 The Bight.
- 44 Bikini Bottom.
- 45 Octopus Acre.
- 46 Barman's Choice.
- 47 Shallow Turtle Crossing.
- 48 Deep Turtle Crossing.
- 49 Jolly Roger 3.
- 50 Shallow Seaquest.
- 51 Blue Moonshine.
- 52 Three Brothers.
- 53 Slippery Nick.
- 54 Jolly Roger 4.
- 55 Tabyana's 2.
- 56 Punchers Paradise.
- 57 Tabyana's 1.
- 58 Jumpin Jack.
- 59 Jack's Place.
- 60 Buchos.
- 61 Shallow Buchos.
- 62 Chloe's Coral.
- 63 Kaylee's Day Dream.
- 64 Mandy's Eel Garden.
- 65 Willie's Wonder.
- 66 Black Rock.
- 67 Texas.
- 68 Pablo's Place.
- 69 R & R's Easel.
- 70 Key Hole East.
- 71 Angies.
- 72 Rons.
- 73 South Side 1 Sand Patch.
- 74 South Side 2 Canyon Drop.
- 75 Pirates Cove.
- 76 South Side Cave.
- 77 Staghorn Alley.
- 78 Swing City.
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