Scuba diving in Roatan, Honduras – The best of The Bay Islands

Scuba diving in Roatan, Honduras should be on everyone’s diving bucket list. With its warm tropical sea, an abundance of marine life ranging from macro to cetaceans and a warm climate annually, Roatan epitomizes a flawless scuba diving trip.

The variation of locations situated in the Caribbean Sea gives you a lot of options. In this blog post I am going to tell you why I was drawn to the largest of the Bay Islands, located on the Mesoamerican reef system. I will also share with you a bunch of useful insights about the scuba diving in Roatan, Honduras. You will also find everything you need to know to help you plan your diving holiday in West Bay and West End.

 

Hi, I am Elise, a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer from London, England. Along with my partner James, we gave up the city life 2 years ago and moved to the Caribbean to pursue a career in teaching scuba diving and underwater photography.

Before uplifting our lives for a new adventure, we wanted to ensure we were in a perfect spot for scuba diving, as well as a location that above water provided a good way of life and did not cost a small fortune. We carried out a lot of research before settling on one location and concluded that Roatan is the perfect place to be for us. From on land, it dazzles with its postcard picture perfect translucent turquoise waters and its endless stretches of golden beaches. Here is West Bay beach which has been voted in the top beaches in Central America for several years running on TripAdvisor. And underwater the reef is a stone’s throw from the coastline and home to rich healthy corals, turtles, nurse sharks, eagle rays and much more!

 

What to expect from diving at West Bay and West End

The 32mile / 52km long island of Roatan is rich in culture and a mecca for diving. This is evident by the 30 plus dive shops located around the western side of the island. The reef stretches the entire length of the island. The hotspot for tourists and diving enthusiasts, however, is West Bay and West End. From complete beginner to a technically trained scuba diver, there are options for you all in Roatan.

Rising from the Cayman Trench, the coral reef extends to just a few hundred feet from land. Shore dives, however, are unavailable in most locations, due to the high level of boat traffic from water taxis. With corals along the entire reef system the whole island is like one vast dive site and creates a diverse range of typography.

The short distance from dive centre to dive site means more time in the water. Most dive shops offer a 2-tank morning trip. Then they return to the beach for surface intervals and a spot of lunch at your hotel or preferred restaurant. Later they are back out for the afternoon dives. Within a 10-minute boat ride you can expect to find around 30 different named dive sites. These range from a 15ft / 5m sandy playground with eagle rays feeding to a dramatic 100ft+ / 30m+ wall drop-off to wrecks and deep canyon swim-throughs.

 

What marine life can you see scuba diving in Roatan, Honduras?

Roatan’s reef is one of the healthiest I have had the pleasure to dive. This is largely thanks to the care and protection of The Roatan Marine Park. Over the last 10 years they have worked hard to educate the government and work with the community. This paid off in 2015 as the reef ranked the highest in coral health and fish populations in the Mesoamerican reef system. For more amazing diving along this barrier reef, check out the blog post on Cozumel, Mexico.

The diversity in underwater inhabitants allows for some exciting eye candy on most dives. Green and Hawksbill turtles are a common sight and if you are lucky Loggerhead turtles can make an appearance too. Parrotfish in an array of beautiful colours make up the soundtrack for your dive as you hear them crunching on the corals. Angelfish, Damselfish, Hogfish, Trunkfish and Triggerfish are all familiar friends on the reef as well. You can often see Southern Stingrays and Eagle Rays filter feeding in sandy areas.

One of my personal favourite times of year in Roatan waters is mid-June when many caves and swim throughs are filled to the brim with Silversides. These tiny silver fish form a glittery mass that moves with you in a magical encounter. Watch out for the 5ft Tarpons and Barracudas that like to feast on them though!

The invasive Lionfish is still a fairly common sight on our reefs. Many local scuba guides are now trained at spearfishing and will catch them where possible. This makes for delicious fresh ceviche if the Groupers, Snappers or Green Morays don’t eat them off the spear first! When taking a closer look, you can find nudibranchs, sea slugs, seahorses, pipehorses, shrimps and too many more to name.

 

Scuba diving with sharks in Roatan

If you are looking for a close encounter with sharks, the “Cara a Cara” dive with the Waihuka Dive Centre is your guaranteed best option. This literally translates as “face to face”. Located on the South side of Roatan this excursion allows you to scuba up close and personal with around 15 large female Caribbean Reef Sharks. Advanced divers only for this dive as your average depth is 70ft and you may be subject to strong currents.

 

The String of Pearls – bioluminescent night diving

Night dives are particularly special in Roatan due to the phenomenon that occurs called the String of Pearls. This impressive bioluminescent show is best seen on a New Moon and an hour after the sun has set. Octopuses and squid also like to make an appearance at night.

 

Water temperature and conditions

The water temperature is warm all year round. It ranges from 26°C / 79°F from October to March to 29°C / 84°F in April to September. You can get away with diving without a wetsuit or in just a shorty.

Currents can vary from day to day. On average we are subject to very mild currents and can enjoy a very relaxed dive.

 

When can you dive in Roatan?

During the majority of the year we are spoilt with flat waters on the surface and up to 100ft / 30m visibility. This makes for calm boat journeys and easy entry and exits to the water. We are subject to a rainy season which usually hits around late October to January. This, however, does not halt our diving. When conditions are rough on the Western side of the island, most dive centres will take a short 15-minute road trip through the hills to the South side, which is protected from the wind and calm conditions can be resumed.

 

How to get there?

Situated roughly 34 miles/ 55km off the coast of Honduras, Roatan’s Juan Manuel Gálvez International airport has direct flights from Houston, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Toronto, Montreal, Guatemala, San Salvador, La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula. The island is also accessible from mainland Honduras’s La Ceiba via ferry, which operates up to 14 times a week and takes on average an hour and 20 minutes.

 

Best dive shops in Roatan, Honduras

As previously mentioned, there is an array of dive shops and resorts located throughout the island. That is why picking one that is right for you can be daunting. Based on your experience level you may have a predisposition to what you enjoy on a scuba diving holiday. Whether that be all-inclusive resorts, boutique or backpacker style dive centres and courses in alternate language, be picky with what you are spending your hard earned money on! From talking to people that have visited they found the best way of choosing a shop here was walking along the beach and finding a team that you connect with.

In my opinion Blue Planet Divers in West Bay is the top choice. Not just because it is my place of work but due to the high standards and valet experience. I am proud to work here and could not recommend it enough. Half Honduran, half Canadian owner Tom set out with a simple goal:

• Provide a personalized experience for our guests
• Deliver quality service
• Very well-kept boats and equipment
• Focus on safety
• Small groups (no more than 8) with same level experience
• Longer dive times
• Keep things easy and flexible
• Experienced boat captains and staff

We offer PADI courses from DSD to Rescue Diver in English, French and Spanish and put your requirements as top priority. Accommodation onsite is also available and access to our private beach.

 

Diving in Roatan from cruise ships

When visiting Roatan from a cruise ship it is best to book with a dive shop in advance. Stepping off the cruise ship and into Coxen Hole, the islands capital, without a pre booked excursion can get a little overwhelming with a swarm of touters.

If you are a qualified scuba diver then you can expect to join on a 2-tank morning dive, returning to shore with enough time for some lunch before your return journey to the cruise ship. If you are not yet qualified as a scuba diver then you can still experience the wonder of scuba diving on a Discover Scuba Diving course. Usually lasting around 3 hours in total, with on land theory and in water training with an instructor by your side to guide you through the magical experience.

Pretty much all dive shops on the island will offer a cruise port pick up for an additional price, up to $20 per person, either via taxi or in their own branded minibus. There are two cruise ports, Coxen Hole being the most popular and Mahogany Bay, so be sure to inform the dive centre which port you will be docking at and the local time of your arrival.

You will be required to show proof of any scuba diving qualifications you have, so be sure to remember these. You will also be required to fill out a health and safety form before any scuba diving, you can check out the requirements for this online beforehand if you have any doubts or may need a doctors approval if you are unsure of any health concerns.

 

Cost of scuba diving in Roatan, Honduras

All shops offer a competitive rates and will usually put together dive packages depending on how much you are looking to dive. You can see the average pricing below:

• A single tank dive $40USD
• 2-tank $70USD
• Night Dive $60USD
• Open Water PADI course $385USD
• Discover Scuba Diving PADI $110USD

I hope you have enjoyed reading this snippet of what the scuba diving in Roatan, Honduras has to offer. If you are looking for any further information about Roatan and its reefs do feel free to reach out. I am happy to share any information I have gained from this beautiful island!

Happy Bubbles

@seasaltyspirits

 

* All photos are by the awesome James Wilson.