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3-Day PADI Open Water Diver Course

From: Viator
 

 

Roatan
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

Roatan scuba diving and snorkeling is noted for it's exceptional, unspoiled, coral reef island,located in the Western Caribbean off the mainland of Honduras.  Roatan is situated along The Great Western Barrier Reef which is the second largest in the world.
 


The reef's walls vary from inclines leading to sandy bottom at 30-200 feet, to sheer cliffs plummeting dramatically into the abyss. Roatan is on the edge of the Cayman Trench that provides clear water from the depths as well as a variety of pelagic animals such as whale sharks, turtles, dolphin, and rays. The trench plunges thousands of feet right off the west end of the island.

Roatan Honduras Scuba DivingThe Caribbean water is emerald green and perfectly clear with a 150 ft visibility range.  The coral formations, caves, magnificent walls, intricate labyrinths, and incredible diversity of marine life simply astound the most experienced of divers.

Roatan is surrounded on all sides by a living coral reef containing nearly every species of coral growing in the Caribbean Sea, including several species of rare black coral, and sponges of all colors and shapes.

Some barrel sponges located off the east end of the island are the close to the size of a compact auto.

The reefs surrounding Roatan are perfect for snorkeling, from the beginner who can snorkel off the beaches, to the more experienced who can take a dive boat out to the walls. The coral comes very close to the surface so you’ll be able to see plenty of fish and coral.

Roatan has a hyperbaric chamber located at the Cornerstone Medical Clinic at Anthony's Key Resort in Sandy Bay.

Weather

Weather rarely affects diving on the entire island.  The northwest side of the island is protected most of the year from the southeast trade winds except for the short rainy season in December and January.  Even in December and January, the West End area and northern side may be calm and enjoy excellent diving conditions.  If wind conditions or weather becomes and issue, the dive operators and resorts will simply move their boats to the "lee side" of the island and calmer waters. 

Popular Dive Sites

Roatan has over 100 dive and snorkeling sites. Some of the more popular dive sites include:

Calvin's Crack

A plateau atop a shallow reef facing a wall, Calvin's Crack runs through the reef along narrows, widening to an exit along the outer wall.

Canyon Reef

Canyon Reef has lots of towers of pillar corals in a depth of 10 to 150 feet.  The terrain looks like a canyon with massive clefts in the walls and ravines.  There are tunnels that zigzag to the shallow areas.  The current in this area makes this a great drift dive location. 

Spooky Channel

A former river valley formed this channel which opens to the barrier reef at 100 feet with a cathedral-like scenario. The side walls of the channel rise up to almost touch each other but still allow light to illuminate your way.  There is a maze of zigzags and tunnel like effects leading throughout the reef. This unusual and spectacular dive is reasonably advanced and should be done with caution. Currents can be Very strong when tide is going in or out. Out is more dangerous as you cannot swim against it, and then you get dragged out to sea.

Barbareta Wall

3 miles offshore from Roatan, the uninhabited, hilly island of Barbareta offers undiscovered reefs replete with coral gardens, a dramatic mile-long wall, while the island is framed by white sandy beaches and coves; the wall is a continuous drop-off that usually offers great pelagic encounters. Huge sponges and gorgonians are common here.   Large orange elephant ear sponges are surrounded by other variety of rope sponges and a great variety of marine life.  Most of the marine species that are found in the Bay Islands can be seen here.  This dive location makes a good drift dive spot for multiple dives. 

Doc's Elbow

 

Directly in front of the entrance channel to Brick Bay Resort, this popular night dive provides divers with a variety of life, including octopus, reef crabs and lobsters. A short swim leads divers to the wall.

Enchanted Forest

Enchanted Forest is located on a crest about a half a mile south of the reef.  The boat mooring is on a large flat sandy area in about 30 feet of water.  The upper part of the crest has barrel and vase sponges with lots of soft coral formations.    The slopes of the ridge contain multicolored sponges and polyps. 


Half Moon Bay Wall

Half Moon Bay Wall is a semicircular wall that begins at 20 feet as a gradually declining slope.  At depth of 60 feet, the slope levels off for s short distance than drops to over 100 feet in a semi-circular wall.   Hard corals, sea fans, sponges, and soft corals are found on the upper sections.   The drop off has large orange elephant ear sponges, azure vase sponges, and soft corals.  This area was once above water and it shows the evidence of prehistoric above water times.

Herbie's Place

Herbie's Place is on the south shore of Roatan in depths of 20 to 150 feet.  Drift diving is common in this area and some very large barrel sponges will be seen.  Most dive masters will drop you off and you'll drift to another dive site known as Pablo's Place. 

 

Hole in the Wall

Hole in the Wall has numerous caves and chutes at depths of 45 to 135 feet.  One very large chute is 30 feet wide and drops to 140 foot depth.  Big grouper, barracuda, spotted rays, and hawksbill turtles are common in this location.

Mary's Place

Mary's Place is one of the more spectacular and popular dive spots on Roatan, located on the south side of the island.  The site has a steep wall that is bisected in one area.  Hard and soft corals are abundant in this area.  The wall has many fissures where jewfish, yellowtail snapper, silversides, and grouper will be found.  Nurse sharks, large grouper, lobster and crab are seen under the many ledges and along the bottom of the 100 foot wall. The shallow depth makes this a favorite with the snorkelers.  The wall and its ledge are marked with many large coral pillar columns.  Azure vase sponge is prominent in this area.  There are many over hangs and they are covered with sponges, white gorgonians, red and pink rope sponges, and a variety of black corals.  Night dives to this area are routinely scheduled.

Trunk Turtle Bay Beach

On Barbareta Island, great for snorkeling and shallow dives

Pigeon Cays


Three islets off Barbareta's south coast, with undiscovered dive sites. Pigeon Cays are enjoyable if you are looking for remote uninhabited islands with beautiful beaches. Accessible by a 2 hour boat ride.

Verde Grande

Verde Grande has a system caverns and cuts through the reef.  Most dive groups are dropped on one side of the reef and then picked up on the other side after you explore the caverns, Elkhorn coral, and other shallow water corals and marine species.  An underwater light is suggested. Please follow the dive guide briefing.

West End Beach

West End Beach is a popular snorkeling area. Especially for beginners. The sandy beach gently slopes to the barrier reef which is about 10 to 20 feet in depth.   All along the beachfront the coral reef is spotted with channels and coral formations.   Fresh water springs feed several spots in this area and the water change is dramatic.  This is an excellent area for small fish. 

West End Wall

A spectacular precipice borders a deep blue abyss, with pillar corals, Azure Vase Sponges and barrel sponges, while in the deeper water divers are likely to find themselves among schools of pelagics and Eagle Rays.

Wreck Diving - " Prince Albert"

Along the south shore, the Prince Albert was the first Roatan wreck intentionally sunk for scuba diving. The 140’ tanker, owned by a group of Nicaraguans, left Nicaragua with a cargo of war refugees, headed for Roatan. After escaping its war-ravaged country and delivering the refugees, the ship remained in French Harbour, where it was stripped of valuables and left, partially submerged.

Wreck Diving - "El Aguila"

A 210’ cargo boat sunk in 100 feet of water on a sandy bottom full of Deep Garden Eels. It has been adapted for penetration diving so you can descend onto open large compartments where you can surprise a number of fish in their homes. Adjacent to the boat runs the wall to finish off the dive among the shallow water tropical fish. When El El Aguila was sunk in 1997, it was upright in 110 feet of water. In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch arrived and battered the north shore, breaking it into 3 pieces.

 

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