Safety · Destination Guide
Wild walls, volcanic tunnels, and quiet Caribbean island life at the edge of the Mesoamerican Reef
Updated Mar 25, 2026 • 20 sources
Guanaja feels peaceful, but it is still a remote island inside a country that currently carries a broad Level 3 U.S. travel advisory. The Bay Islands are better policed than many mainland zones, yet the safety mindset here should be practical rather than anxious: pre-arranged transfers, good insurance, conservative dive planning, and respect for marine park rules. Conservation is not background branding in Guanaja. It is central to how the island protects the reefs that make the trip worthwhile.
Most Guanaja diving is relaxed and boat-led, but the destination quietly punishes sloppy planning. Best practice here means:
Many crews know the water intimately, but you are still on a remote island where weather, current, and transfer time matter more than on a high-infrastructure destination.
Guanaja has two main clinics, one in Bonacca and one in Savannah Bight, and they can handle routine island care. More serious complications are normally escalated to mainland Honduras, often via La Ceiba, or to the better-advertised hyperbaric resources in Roatan. Several Guanaja resorts mention chamber access near Guanaja airport, but the most consistently publicized Bay Islands hyperbaric contact is Cornerstone Medical Services in Sandy Bay, Roatan. Carry dive and evacuation insurance, store emergency numbers offline, and do not assume mobile data will be reliable when you need it most.
Transfer plans can unravel faster than dive plans
Weather may not stop all diving, but it can still disrupt ferries, charters, and small-aircraft timing. Build a buffer around your outbound international leg.
Deep walls and wrecks make profile discipline essential
A Guanaja itinerary can stack deeper sites quickly. Watch nitrogen loading, use Nitrox if appropriate, and avoid treating a remote island like the place to gamble on deco or skipped safety stops.
Medical support is real but still remote
Guanaja has local clinics, but serious cases may require transfer and the nearest widely advertised hyperbaric chamber support is in Roatan. Dive insured and carry emergency numbers offline.
Wet trails and insects are part of the island
After rain, waterfall routes get muddy and mosquitoes can be noticeable. Pack repellent, grip footwear, and a dry bag even if you are mainly visiting to dive.
Guanaja sits within the Bay Islands National Marine Park, and visitors should treat reef etiquette as non-negotiable.
BICA Guanaja carries out patrols and local protection work, so this is a destination where conservation language is backed by people on the water.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when transfer plans can unravel faster than dive plans. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honduras emergency services | Police, fire, ambulance | 911 | 24/7 |
| DAN Emergency Hotline | Dive accident coordination | +1-919-684-9111 | 24/7 |
| DAN Spanish emergency line | Dive accident coordination in Spanish | +52-557-100-0540 | 24/7 |
| Cornerstone Medical Services and Hyperbaric Chamber, Roatan | Hyperbaric chamber and dive medical support | +504-9450-3253 | Clinic hours daily; emergency coordination by phone |