Dive Sites

Roatán and
Cayos Cochinos:
wonderful diving along the Mesoamerican reef

Roatán and Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve lay on The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS), also known as the Great Mayan Reef. The second largest Barrier Reef System on Earth. A barrier reef that stretches nearly 700 miles (1,000 kilometres) from the Yucatán Peninsula down through Belize, Guatemala to the Bay Islands of Honduras. It is home to hundreds of different kinds of coral and marine life.

We love diving both Roatán and the famous Cayos Cochinos seamounts to enhance your diving experience here on the Bay Islands. We also like to explore several banks nearby and we have found new amazing and untouched reefs you will love. From the famous Shark Dive to amazing canyon diving, from the beautiful Seamounts to fascinating wreck diving, here below are some of the highlights that we feel are must sees. If you are seeking more information, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Dive Sites

Roatán and Cayos Cochinos: wonderful diving along the Mesoamerican reef

Roatán and Cayos Cochinos Marine Reserve lay on The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS), also known as the Great Mayan Reef. The second largest Barrier Reef System on Earth. A barrier reef that stretches nearly 700 miles (1,000 kilometres) from the Yucatán Peninsula down through Belize, Guatemala to the Bay Islands of Honduras. It is home to hundreds of different kinds of coral and marine life.

We love diving both Roatán and the famous Cayos Cochinos seamounts to enhance your diving experience here on the Bay Islands. We also like to explore several banks nearby and we have found new amazing and untouched reefs you will love. From the famous Shark Dive to amazing canyon diving, from the beautiful Seamounts to fascinating wreck diving, here below are some of the highlights that we feel are must sees. If you are seeking more information, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Roatán Dive Sites

INSIDIOUS REEF - DOLPHIN'S DEN - THE SHARK DIVE - EL AGUILA (SHIPWRECK) - KEY HOLE - BLUE CHANNEL - TEXAS - MELISSA’S REEF - PABLO’S PLACE  SPOOKY CHANNEL - WEST END WALL - CANYON REEF - HOLE IN THE WALL - MARY'S PLACE - MR BUD - CALVIN CRACK - GARDEN OF EDEN - 40FT POINT

Cayos Cochinos Dive Sites

SEAMOUNTS - C. J.'S GARDEN - ROCKY DOMES - PELICAN POINT - MO EDEN - PANETTONI - MARIPOSALES 1 - MARIPOSALES 2 - LA GRUPERAS - CABALLERO POINT.

C. J.'s Garden

 C.J’s Garden is probably our favourite dive site on the Bay Islands. Situated 22 miles south of Roatán, it's one of the several hidden banks around Cayos Cochinos and one of the first we explored in the area.

A beautiful seamount that rises up from the deep blue to a minimum depth of 60 feet. Its large top is covered by a dense and pristine concentration of huge sponges, sea fans, and different kinds of coral. Large schools of horse eye jacks, Atlantic spadefish and Southern sennet are common to see swimming around and mixing with each other.The reef is inhabited by big groupers, squirrelfish, snappers and many other kinds of fish. Wahoo and barracuda come close to check divers out. The famous feather stars and yellow stingrays can only be seen here. It really looks like swimming through a luxuriant garden full of life.

C. J.'s Garden

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C.J’s Garden is probably our favourite dive site on the Bay Islands. Situated 22 miles south of Roatán, it's one of the several hidden banks around Cayos Cochinos and one of the first we explored in the area. A beautiful seamount that rises up from the deep blue to a minimum depth of 60 feet. Its large top is covered by a dense and pristine concentration of huge sponges, sea fans, and different kinds of coral. Large schools of horse eye jacks, Atlantic spadefish and Southern sennet are common to see swimming around and mixing with each other. The reef is inhabited by big groupers, squirrelfish, snappers and many other kinds of fish. Wahoo and barracuda come close to check divers out. The famous feather stars and yellow stingrays can only be seen here. It really looks like swimming through a luxuriant garden full of life.

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The Point

The Point is the south west tip of Roatan and comprises 4 incredible dive sites. Texas, Black Rock, West End Wall, and Pablo’s Place.

Facing south and hit by the eastern current, The point is a perfect gathering point for a big variety of fish and it is considered one of the best drift dives in the Bay Islands. The main attraction here is an impressive wall starting at approximately 50 ft (15 m) covered by colonies of black coral, big barrel sponges and sea fans. It is long enough to be explored in drift even with a moderately strong current. Divers can see big barracudas, triggerfish, trumpet fish, dog snapper and schools of jacks among other kinds of reef fish. Occasionally it is also possible to see sea turtles, nurse sharks, stingrays, green moray eels and during the right season even whale sharks.

The Point

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The Point is the south west tip of Roatan and comprises 4 incredible dive sites. Texas, Black Rock, West End Wall, and Pablo’s Place. Facing south and hit by the eastern current, The point is a perfect gathering point for a big variety of fish and it is considered one of the best drift dives in the Bay Islands. The main attraction here is an impressive wall starting at approximately 50 ft (15 m) covered by colonies of black coral, big barrel sponges and sea fans. It is long enough to be explored in drift even with a moderately strong current. Divers can see big barracudas, triggerfish, trumpet fish, dog snapper and schools of jacks among other kinds of reef fish. Occasionally it is also possible to see sea turtles, nurse sharks, stingrays, green moray eels and during the right season even whale sharks.

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The Seamounts

The seamounts of Cayos Cochinos are a reef formation characterized by a range of large underwater mountains that rise from the bottom depths of the reef to shallower depths. Average depths of the mountain peaks extend up from 70 feet deep (20 meters) to 40 feet deep (12 meters).

The seamounts, being further out from shore and surrounded by the ocean current, are home to a vast array of sea life and a vibrant reef structure. Because of their location, 17 miles from Roatan, and due to weather conditions that do not always permit dive boats to reach them, the seamounts, also called Roatan Banks, are essentially unspoiled.

Check out some videos about Cayos Cochinos and the Seamounts

The Seamounts

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The seamounts of Cayos Cochinos are a reef formation characterized by a range of large underwater mountains that rise from the bottom depths of the reef to shallower depths. Average depths of the mountain peaks extend up from 70 feet deep (20 meters) to 40 feet deep (12 meters). The seamounts, being further out from shore and surrounded by the ocean current, are home to a vast array of sea life and a vibrant reef structure. Because of their location, 17 miles from Roatan, and due to weather conditions that do not always permit dive boats to reach them, the seamounts, also called Roatan Banks, are essentially unspoiled.

Check out some videos about Cayos Cochinos and the Seamounts

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El Aguila

If you like wreck diving you will love this one. Spanish for Eagle El Aguila is a 230 ft (75 mt) long cargo boat. It wrecked near Utila probably on its way to Haiti from Puerto Cortes carrying a cargo of concrete.

In 1997 it was towed and placed on the north side of Roatán near West End. A few months later it was broken into three pieces by Hurricane Mitch, changing the wreck shaped layout into a more interesting dive experience with different entrances and more exciting swimming passages. The El Aguila now rests on a big sand patch with a maximum depth of 110 ft (33 m), and just like many other wrecks it provides a home to a big variety of fish including moray eels, angel-fish, snapper, tangs, and huge groupers that like to come check diver out as soon as they get in the water.

El Aguila

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If you like wreck diving you will love this one. Spanish for Eagle El Aguila is a 230 ft (75 mt) long cargo boat. It wrecked near Utila probably on its way to Haiti from Puerto Cortes carrying a cargo of concrete. In 1997 it was towed and placed on the north side of Roatán near West End. A few months later it was broken into three pieces by Hurricane Mitch, changing the wreck shaped layout into a more interesting dive experience with different entrances and more exciting swimming passages.

The El Aguila now rests on a big sand patch with a maximum depth of 110 ft (33 m), and just like many other wrecks it provides a home to a big variety of fish including moray eels, angel-fish, snapper, tangs, and huge groupers that like to come check diver out as soon as they get in the water.

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Mary's Place

Mary’s Place is indeed one of the most famous dives in Roatán. Situated on the southern side of the island it was named after the adventurous diver's wife who discovered it.

A spectacular dive site that offers both sea life encounters and striking underwater scenery. Big cracks in the reef, formed probably by volcanic activity, go deep 100 feet creating an amazing low light atmosphere and narrow passage that makes the dive very interesting and unique. The canyon walls are decorated with giant barrel sponges, black corals, large sea fans, big gorgonians and different kinds of coral. The crack passageways end on a beautiful wall that brings you back to the boat. Inside the canyon and along the wall it is very common to see schools of chubs, stingray, creole wrasse, channel clinging crabs, lobsters and spotted drums.

Mary's Place

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Mary’s Place is indeed one of the most famous dives in Roatán. Situated on the southern side of the island it was named after the adventurous diver's wife who discovered it. A spectacular dive site that offers both sea life encounters and striking underwater scenery. Big cracks in the reef, formed probably by volcanic activity, go deep 100 feet creating an amazing low light atmosphere and narrow passage that makes the dive very interesting and unique. The canyon walls are decorated with giant barrel sponges, black corals, large sea fans, big gorgonians and different kinds of coral. The crack passageways end on a beautiful wall that brings you back to the boat. Inside the canyon and along the wall it is very common to see schools of chubs, stingray, creole wrasse, channel clinging crabs, lobsters and spotted drums.

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Blue Channel

Located in front of West End, Blue Channel is considered by many its most recognizable dive site. The unique topography makes this site a remarkable experience.

A wide channel cuts the shallow reef with a small entrance that opens up into a larger cave, from there divers can enjoy a network of swim-through channels all ending up in a shallow sea grass bed full of jaw fish. The channel entrance is home to green moray eels and pipefish, while swimming inside it is possible to see schools of silversides during late summer so numerous that it is impossible to see the other side. Chubs, groupers, snappers and angelfish also like to swim through the channels and over the beautiful coral patches. Although this is an easy dive good buoyancy control is required.

Blue Channel

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Located in front of West End, Blue Channel is considered by many its most recognizable dive site. The unique topography makes this site a remarkable experience. A wide channel cuts the shallow reef with a small entrance that opens up into a larger cave, from there divers can enjoy a network of swim-through channels all ending up in a shallow sea grass bed full of jaw fish. The channel entrance is home to green moray eels and pipefish, while swimming inside it is possible to see schools of silversides during late summer so numerous that it is impossible to see the other side. Chubs, groupers, snappers and angelfish also like to swim through the channels and over the beautiful coral patches. Although this is an easy dive good buoyancy control is required.

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Rocky Domes

Located 24 miles south of Roatán, laying on one of the many Cayos Cochinos banks, this is the kind of dive that makes everybody happy.

Great macro, schools of fish swimming around untouched and a luxurious reef and a very interesting topography makes this dive one of a kind in the Bay Islands. Three huge rocks shaped like domes and completely covered by coral, sea fans and gorgonians rise up from a bottom depth of 110ft (33m) all the way up to 70ft (21m). They are next to each other creating small swim-through aisles that can be dove at different depths. On top of the domes sea life is abundant, groupers, snappers, schools of jacks, sardines and southern sennets are common to find swimming around, while small fish and different kinds of invertebrates find their home on the reef. A paradise for macro lovers.

Rocky Domes

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Located 24 miles south of Roatán, laying on one of the many Cayos Cochinos banks, this is the kind of dive that makes everybody happy. Great macro, schools of fish swimming around untouched and a luxurious reef and a very interesting topography makes this dive one of a kind in the Bay Islands. Three huge rocks shaped like domes and completely covered by coral, sea fans and gorgonians rise up from a bottom depth of 110ft (33m) all the way up to 70ft (21m). They are next to each other creating small swim-through aisles that can be dove at different depths. On top of the domes sea life is abundant, groupers, snappers, schools of jacks, sardines and southern sennets are common to find swimming around, while small fish and different kinds of invertebrates find their home on the reef. A paradise for macro lovers.

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Shark Dive

The Roatán Shark Dive is one of the best and oldest shark dives in the Caribbean. It was established in 1999 and since then thousands of divers have enjoyed it. We like to offer this dive to our clients.

Check the link below for more info about this amazing dive.

Shark Dive

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The Roatán Shark Dive is one of the best and oldest shark dives in the Caribbean. It was established in 1999 and since then thousands of divers have enjoyed it. We like to offer this dive to our clients.

Check the link below for more info about this amazing dive.

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Dive with us the beauty of Roatán and Cayos Cochinos
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Dive with us the beauty of Roatán and Cayos Cochinos

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