Destination guide
Warm walls, easy wrecks, and shallow reefs on Honduras's Bay Islands hub
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Overview
Roatan is a long, forested ridge on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef with dive sites only minutes from shore. West End, West Bay, and Sandy Bay sit inside the Roatan Marine Park, with moorings on hundreds of sites. Expect quick dropping walls, canyons like Marys Place, wrecks such as the Odyssey, and shallow snorkel reefs right off West Bay Beach. Year round warm water and strong local conservation make it an easy base for scuba, freediving, snorkeling, and beach days.
Roatan stretches roughly 60 km east to west. Most visitors base in the northwest around West End, West Bay, and Sandy Bay, where the coast is more sheltered and the reef crest lies close to shore, so snorkelers can reach coral in a short swim.
Roatan sits on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The drop off runs close to shore, giving classic Caribbean walls, canyons, and overhangs. Mary's Place and Dolphin Den cut deep slots in the reef, while Blue Channel and The Bight mix gardens, sand, and small channels. Wrecks like the Odyssey on the north side and Prince Albert on the south add big structure dives, all reached via mooring buoys instead of anchors.
Roatan works for new divers, photographers, and mixed groups. Many reefs start in 5 m to 10 m, so beginners can stay shallow while advanced buddies drop deeper. Water hovers around 27°C to 29°C, and freedivers use the fast drop off near West End and West Bay to hit depth quickly. Topside, white sand beaches, gardens, zip lines, sloth sanctuaries, and east end mangrove tours keep non divers busy all week.
Highlights
Field notes from guides and contributors on what stands out immediately.
Finish a dive or snorkel day with a swim and sunset drink at Half Moon Bay in West End. Calm water, small docks, and a string of bars and cafes make it an easy place to watch boats return and skies go orange. Night dives often leave from here too.
Shops in West End, Sandy Bay, and the south side offer night dives and some night snorkels. Expect basket stars, octopus, and different coral colors under lights. Bring a primary and backup torch, follow the guide, and keep profiles simple on your first night in.
If you are based in the northwest, plan at least one day or a short stay on the south side. Resorts like CoCo View offer unlimited house reef diving with wall, shallow reef, and Prince Albert wreck all close by, and south side conditions often stay calmer when northers hit the north coast.
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