Populated with a variety of cultures and blessed with amazing ecological diversity, Honduras is a Central American country worth traveling to and diving around. The Bay Islands offer every species of sea life found in the Caribbean all in one place. But there's more, much more. For diving enthusiasts who enjoy underwater photography, there may not be a better location for shooting videos or photos of corals, plants, and sea life. When Christopher Columbus named the region "Honduras", meaning Deep Water, he knew what he was talking about. Whale Sharks, schools of Hammerheads and reef sharks, and a tremendous variety of both large and small sea creatures abound at every diving venue.
Legendary dive sites like Roatan Island in the Bay Islands and the wreck of the Jado Trader off Guanaja Island attract divers from around the world and with good reason. Stingrays, seahorses, and every variety of fish imaginable exist in abundance. Coral reefs crossing gentle plains are balanced against sea walls that drop off into a black void are just two of the amazing sights divers can enjoy. As a part of the Caribbean Barrier Reef, the warm water currents move up from the south and bring with them a wealth of sea life and vegetation that is unequaled in the Western Hemisphere.
Honduras Diving Highlights
- Home to world-class dive sites, especially around Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja.
- Scuba Dive on the second-largest barrier reef system in the world, offering diverse marine life and coral formations.
- Opportunities to dive with whale sharks, particularly near Utila.
- Several shipwrecks to explore, including the Odyssey wreck near Roatan.
- Relatively inexpensive diving compared to many other Caribbean destinations.
Where Is the Best Diving In Honduras?
There are hundreds of dive spots in the waters around Honduras. Every diver can find a dive site that suits their ability and interests.
The most known location for scuba diving and snorkeling are the three islands that sit just off the Caribbean coast side of Honduras.
The Bay Islands offer dozens of locations with attractive environments, ecology, and photo opportunities galore. There are wrecks to explore and walls to dropdown.
All of the diving locations have the most diverse and abundant corals, fans, plains, and reefs with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for beginners through to divemasters.
With three islands to choose from, the Bay Islands offer excellent diving and vacationing opportunities.
Roatan Island
Perhaps the most popular dive destination in Honduras, Roatan Island is the main jumping-off spot for divers seeking the best variety of dives within the closest distances. Roatan boasts numerous dive shops and dive excursion boats along with resorts and restaurants for every budget. Experienced divers can choose from a wide range of dive excursion providers and dive packages all year round.
Utila Caye
This is the place to go if diving shipwrecks are on the bucket list. The El Aguila wreck and Haliburton wreck provide lots of exceptional sights and wildlife, Remote and private resorts offer peaceful yet exciting dive sites. Lesser-known with fewer visitors than Roatan Island, Utila Caye is a great dive spot a little off the beaten path
Guanaja Island
Opposite Utila Caye off the west end of Roatan Island, Guanaja Island has some of the most bountiful reefs and coral gardens in the region as well as the wreck of the Jado Trader to explore. Great all-around diving for any skill level from beginner to advanced divemaster. A frequent jumping-off point for many divers, Guanaja Island is the road less traveled for scuba enthusiasts but no less appreciated or enjoyed.
Tela Bay
Tela Bay is a little off the beaten path but worth the trip. One of three towns located along Honduras’ eastern coastline, Tela provides an intimate atmosphere with old-world flavors and sights. Offshore, corals and sea life cover the gently sloping sandy contours making it an ideal environment for beginning divers. The variety of bottom conditions lets new divers discover a wide range of environments and sea life in a small area.
What are the Best Dive Sites in Honduras?
Part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest reef on the planet, the East Coast of Honduras offers the same clear, warm waters offered by many locations around the Caribbean region. The water clarity only adds to the exciting discoveries to be found in hundreds of locations throughout Honduras’ diving universe. Choices of dive locations, beautiful resorts and destination hotels, and sumptuous food have made Honduras’ Caribbean coastline a favorite of divers and snorkelers for many years. Divers interested in cruise ship vacations take advantage of the day trips offered by local dive shop operators at the port in Mahogany Bay and Coxen Hole on Roatan Island.
1. Mary's Place, Roatan
Mary’s Place is arguably the most famous dive site in Roatan and a must-visit for any diver visiting Honduras. Located on the south side of the island, this site is well known for its dramatic underwater topography and breathtaking beauty.
The dive begins swimming through a narrow, vertical crevice in the reef wall. As you descend, the crevice opens up into a series of canyons and swim-throughs, creating a maze-like structure that’s both exhilarating and awe-inspiring. The walls of these canyons are adorned with vibrant marine life, creating a kaleidoscope of colors.
What to expect:
- Depth: The site depth ranges from about 35 to 130 feet (10 to 40 meters), which is great for both intermediate and advanced divers.
- Visibility: The visibility is typically excellent, often exceeding 100 feet (30 meters).
- Marine Life: The walls are covered with large sea fans, black coral trees, and a variety of colorful sponges. You’re likely to encounter a diverse array of tropical fish, including angelfish, butterflyfish, and parrotfish.
- Larger Species: Keep an eye out in the blue for passing eagle rays, sea turtles, and if you’re lucky, you might spot a hammerhead shark in the deeper areas.
- Coral Formations: The site boasts impressive hard and soft coral formations, including brain corals, staghorn corals, and delicate gorgonians.
2. Hole In The Wall, Roatan
Hole in the Wall is a unique and exciting dive site located on the north shore of Roatan. As its name suggests, the main feature of this dive is a large, tunnel-like hole that cuts through the reef wall, creating a thrilling swim-through experience for divers.
The dive typically begins on the shallow reef top before descending to the entrance of the “hole”. The tunnel runs horizontally through the reef for about 40 feet (12 meters) before opening up on the deep side of the wall, creating a dramatic exit point where divers emerge onto the face of a sheer underwater cliff.
What to expect:
- Depth: The top of the hole begins at about 35 feet (10 meters), with the exit point at around 80 feet (24 meters). The wall then drops off to depths beyond 130 feet (40 meters). This makes it more suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.
- Visibility: Generally excellent, often exceeding 100 feet (30 meters), which can add to the dramatic effect when exiting the hole.
- Wall Exploration: After exiting the hole, divers can explore the wall, which features numerous ledges, small caves, and overhangs.
- Marine Life: Inside the tunnel, look for soldierfish, squirrelfish, and sometimes sleeping nurse sharks. On the wall, you’re likely to encounter large groupers, schools of jacks, and the occasional turtle or eagle ray passing by in the blue.
3. El Aguila Wreck, Roatan
El Aguila (Spanish for “The Eagle”) is a 230-foot (70-meter) cargo ship intentionally sunk in 1997 off the coast of Roatan. Over the years, it has become a thriving artificial reef and is now one of the most popular dive sites in Honduras today.
The wreck lies on a sandy bottom and has broken into three main sections due to hurricane damage, creating an interesting and varied dive site. The broken nature of the wreck allows for easy exploration and provides numerous entrances and exits for wreck penetration.
What to expect:
- Depth: The wreck sits at depths between 60 to 110 feet (18 to 33 meters), making it recommended for more intermediate and advanced divers.
- Visibility: Generally good, you can often find visibility ranging from 50 to 80 feet (15 to 25 meters).
- Wreck Structure: The ship is broken into three main sections: the bow, the mid-section, and the stern. Each section offers unique features for you to explore.
- Marine Growth: Most of the wreck is now covered with colorful coral and sponge growth. You can look for black coral trees, large barrel sponges, and various encrusting corals.
- Fish Life: The wreck attracts dense populations of fish. You can expect to see large schools of grunts and snappers, as well as larger fish like groupers and barracuda.
- Multiple Entrance Opportunities: You can easily find several easy penetration points to the wreck. The cargo holds, engine room, and wheelhouse are all accessible.
- Surrounding Reef: The natural reef around the wreck is also worth exploring, with healthy coral formations and diverse marine life.
4. Shark's Den, Utila
Despite this dive site’s intimidating name, Shark’s Den offers much more than just shark sightings. Located on the north side of Utila, this site is famous for its large cavern and the diverse marine life it attracts.
The main feature of this dive is a large, dome-shaped cavern with multiple exits, creating an other-worldly underwater landscape. The cavern is spacious enough that claustrophobia is rarely an issue, and the multiple exits provide ample natural light, also creating beautiful light effects.
What to expect:
- Depth: The top of the cavern starts at about 40 feet (12 meters) and the bottom is around 130 feet (40 meters). Most diving is done between 60-90 feet (18-27 meters).
- Visibility: Generally very good, ranging from 50 to 100 feet (15 to 30 meters).
- Cavern Structure: The main cavern is about 100 feet (30 meters) in diameter with a ceiling height of about 50 feet (15 meters). Several smaller caves and swim-throughs branch off from the main cavern.
- Marine Life: The cavern attracts a wide variety of fish. Expect to see large schools of horse-eye jacks and snappers swirling inside the cavern.
- Sharks: While not guaranteed, it’s possible to spot Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks, particularly early in the morning or during night dives.
- Coral and Sponges: The walls of the cavern are adorned with colorful sponges, black coral, and gorgonians. Look for orange elephant ear sponges and vibrant tube sponges.
5. CJ's Drop Off, Utila
CJ’s Drop Off is a wall dive located near Utila. This site offers exciting deep diving opportunities and the chance to see larger pelagic species.
The dive begins on a shallow reef flat before reaching the wall, which drops off dramatically to depths over 3000 feet (900 meters). The wall is characterized by its sheer vertical profile, dotted with ledges, and overhangs.
What to expect:
- Depth: The top of the wall starts at about 40 feet (12 meters) and drops well beyond recreational diving limits. Most diving is done between 60-130 feet (18-40 meters).
- Visibility: You can often find excellent visibility, frequently exceeding 100 feet (30 meters), allowing for expansive views of the wall and the blue water beyond.
- Wall Features: Look for interesting geological formations like crevices, buttresses, and small caverns along the wall.
- Coral Gardens: The top of the wall features vibrant coral gardens with a mix of hard and soft corals. Look for large sea fans, brain corals, and colorful sponges.
- Pelagic Species: The deep water attracts larger species. Keep an eye on the blue for passing tuna, barracuda, and eagle rays.
- Sharks: There’s a possibility of spotting hammerhead sharks in the deeper water, especially during early morning dives.
- Reef Fish: The wall is home to a variety of reef fish, including parrotfish, angelfish, and groupers. Look for moray eels poking their heads out of crevices.
6. Half Moon Bay Wall, Roatan
Half Moon Bay Wall is a spectacular dive site located just off the coast of West End, Roatan. Named after the crescent-shaped bay it borders, this dive site offers a stunning wall dive with diverse marine life and excellent visibility. Its proximity to the shore makes it easily accessible, yet it provides an experience that rivals more remote dive locations.
The dive typically begins in the shallow waters of the bay before reaching the edge of the wall, which then plummets dramatically into the depths of the Caribbean Sea. The wall is characterized by its intricate structure, featuring numerous ledges, overhangs, and small caves that provide shelter for a wide variety of marine life.
What to expect:
- Depth: The top of the wall starts at about 30-40 feet (9-12 meters) and drops off to depths beyond 130 feet (40 meters). Most diving is conducted between 40-90 feet (12-27 meters), making it suitable for both intermediate and advanced divers.
- Visibility: Generally excellent, often ranging from 80 to 100+ feet (24 to 30+ meters).
- Wall Features: The wall is highly textured with numerous crevices, ledges, and small caves. These features create a complex habitat for marine life and interesting areas for divers to explore.
- Coral Coverage: The wall is adorned with a diverse array of both hard and soft corals. You can look for large sea fans, colorful tube sponges, and intricate brain corals. The shallow reef at the top of the wall also features impressive coral gardens.
- Marine Life: The site is known for its abundant and diverse marine life. Expect to see:
- Reef Fish: Large schools of blue tangs, butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish are common.
- Pelagics: Keep an eye on the blue water for passing eagle rays, barracuda, and the occasional reef shark.
- Macro Life: Look closely in the crevices for cleaner shrimp, arrow crabs, and colorful nudibranchs.
- Turtles: Both hawksbill and green sea turtles are frequently spotted here.
- Unique Formations: Look for the “chimney,” a vertical swim-through that experienced divers can navigate from depth back to the shallows.
7. Cayos Cochinos Seamounts
Cayos Cochinos Seamounts are a series of submerged mountains located in the waters off the Cayos Cochinos archipelago, which lies about 19 Miles kilometers (30 Kilometers) off the northern coast of mainland Honduras. These seamounts are part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System and offer some of the most pristine and exciting diving in Honduras.
Unlike the previously mentioned dive sites in Roatan, the Cayos Cochinos Seamounts provide a more remote and less frequently visited diving experience. The seamounts rise from the deep ocean floor, creating a unique ecosystem that attracts a diverse array of marine life.
What to expect:
- Depth: The seamounts have varying profiles, with peaks starting from about 40 feet (12 meters) below the surface and dropping off to depths well beyond recreational diving limits. Most dives are conducted between 40-100 feet (12-30 meters), suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.
- Visibility: Most of the time visibility is excellent, often exceeding 100 feet (30 meters). The remote location and lack of coastal runoff contribute to the exceptional water clarity.
- Coral and Marine Life: You will find exceptional coral health due to the protected status of the area. Large stands of elkhorn and staghorn coral, species that have declined in many other Caribbean locations as well as an abundance of sea fans, barrel sponges, and brain corals. You will also see a rich diversity of reef fish, including large schools of grunts, snappers, and jacks. Sightings of larger pelagic species like sharks, eagle rays, and sea turtles are also very common. There is also a seasonal possibility of encountering whale sharks (typically between March and April).
- Current: Can vary from mild to strong, often changing with depth and location around the seamounts.
How to Get to Honduras
Travel to and from Honduras is easy by air, land, and sea as it is located in the middle of Central America with many popular destinations for tourists and other travelers.
By Air
Travel to Honduras’ main airport at Tegucigalpa can be done from many international airports throughout the region. United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines fly from Atlanta, Georgia to Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. There is also domestic air travel available in Honduras from each of the major cities.
By Land
Roads enter Honduras from Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Traveling by vehicle can be challenging in bad weather when roads can become flooded. Roads throughout Honduras vary in quality but there is a network of roads that covers the region.
By Sea
There are several ports with ferry and excursion boats that can take divers to various destinations along both the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean coasts. Boats travel to all the destination islands from Tela and La Ceiba as well as from Puerto Castilla. Dive excursion boats are available from independent dive shops as well as from resort and destination locations.
When is the Best Time to Visit Honduras
- Most divers visit and dive in Honduras from December until April during the dry season.
- The months of May and November are more humid with hotter temperatures and frequent rain showers.
- The rest of the year, June through October are subject to weather from hurricanes and tropical storms.
- Although divers can visit year-round, the best time for viewing Whale Sharks and other large sharks is March until June.
How are the Scuba Diving Conditions Honduras
The water visibility is quite good for most dive sites with divers able to see clearly for up to 100 meters. Water temperature is quite warm and wet suits are not required, but dive skins are recommended.
Currents are generally quite low except near sea mounts and at the confluence points around the ends of islands. Diving difficulty varies by site location but every level of diving skill can enjoy many sites throughout the region.
Other Things To Do in Honduras
Honduras has attracted tourists and visitors from all over the world for a long time. The tourism industry is well-developed with many interesting sites and activities to occupy time when not diving or snorkeling. Dive excursions, cruise ships, and adventure travelers all know about the bounty of Honduras’ cities, coasts, and forests.
- The ancient Mayan city of Copan offers visitors a look far back into the past.
- Visitors can see the largest rain forest outside of the Amazon along the Mosquito Coast.
- May and June see Carnival-like Mardi Gras celebrations in La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula each year.
- Adventure travelers can mountain bike, kayak, and hike through forests filled with animal and plant life unique to Honduras.