Roatan Dive Sites
Roatan Dive Sites
Roatan is blessed with beautiful dive sites where adventure seekers can explore the bounties of the Caribbean water. With this in mind, here are the top Roatan dive sites that should be on your list:
Hole in the Wall
When you talk about the best dive sites in Roatan, the Hole in the Wall will always appear on the list and it’s definitely for good reasons.
It has plenty of areas where you can explore other than the actual “hole”. Plus, there is a small cave system here where you can find glassy sweeper fish or silversides.
Blue Channel
Compared to other dive sites in Roatan, the topography of the Blue Channel is quite different. It has a gently sloping wall where you can swim through to get towards the shallow reefs. It also has overhangs on the north wall.
El Aguila
“El Aguila” is a cargo boat that is 220 ft. long. It sank over the dive site Deep Eel Garden in 1997. The following year, the Roatan was hit by Hurricane Mitch and the boat was split into 3 pieces. Although it was a tragedy that the boat sank and was later severed into pieces, it makes it a much more interesting dive site that is quite popular among the tourists today.
Dixie’s Place
Also known as the Lighthouse or Moonlight, this dive site is bright and shallow. It is only a short boat ride away from the shore and here, you are bound to see schools of blue tangs, black groupers, and even hawksbill turtles.
Roatan Snorkeling
Suppose you are looking for a more laid-back experience, but you still want to enjoy the marine life that Roatan has to offer. In that case, the perfect activity for you to do is Snorkeling. As long as you know how to swim, you can see the amazing things under the water without any hassle.
With this in mind, here are the top snorkeling spots that you will find around Roatan:
Sandy Bay
Sandy Beach is home to healthy, diverse sea life with minimal boat traffic. It is situated on the northern side of Roatan, which is why it’s packed with awesome spots for snorkeling.
Some of the fishes that you will have the opportunity to encounter here include parrotfish and large groupers.
West Bay Beach
The West Bay Beach is home to exceptional visibility, vibrant colors, and abundant marine life, making it one of the best snorkeling spots in the Carrabien. It is among the most accessible spots in Roatan, which makes it an even better place to visit.
Look for the buoys in front of the Grand Roatan Resort to get the best view of what’s under the water. You can also go in front of the beach resort and enter through the Infinity Bay Spa which is located near the jetty for a better view. But, avoid going north of the jetty because there are plenty of boats there, and snorkeling in that area is not allowed.
Starfish Alley
As its name suggests, here, you can find plenty of amazing starfish without much effort because they are visible less than 3 feet deep into the water. This is one of the most beginner-friendly snorkeling spots on the island, near the West Bay.
You can find Caribbean cushion starfish in seagrass beds in Starfish alley, just a few yards away from the shore. However, make sure not to step on the vegetation to help preserve the vegetation.
Half Moon Bay, West End
Half Moon Bay is known for its abundant marine life. It is named as such because of its half-moon shape. You can explore the iron shore on each side of this bay but watch out for the boats and avoid venturing into the channel markers.
The southern side of this bay is much calmer, making it more ideal for beginners. Here, you can find octopi and seahorses. Meanwhile, the right side of the bay has plenty of starfish and squids.
