Incredible... Roatán and Guanaja
!
Bay Islands [Roatán and Guanaja]— are located about 40 miles off the north
coast of
Honduras. They are part of the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere and provide some of
the best scuba and snorkeling sites in the world. The largest are Roatán, Guanaja, and
Utila.
Sixty-five additional smaller cays are also part of the Bonacca Ridge—a submerged mountain
range. Many divers on their way to or from Honduras' Bay Islands often prefer to enjoy a side trip
to the Mayan archeological sites on the mainland, Copan being the most frequented.
Roatán is the largest island of the group, has the most resorts and the only
international
airport. Guanaja, the most mountainous of the group with no roads, is the
naturalist's dream with overabundant ecology flourishing.
Diving!—The Central American barrier reef extends along the coasts of Belize and
Honduras and is only 300 feet off shore in most areas. You will experience fantastic snorkeling
and scuba diving! The reef is very close to the north side of Roatán, and within
easy
swimming range for snorkeling. For divers' convenience, most of the island's dive groups access
the reef by boat. They tie to special moorings both outside and inside the reef. It's only a five to
ten minute boat ride to your diving paradise..
Weather & Water—Year round air temperature averages—65–85 deg.F. October and
November are the wettest months bringing frequent rainstorms. Water temperature ranges
between 77 deg.F.–84 deg.F. Visibility runs between 80 to 100 feet.
Price Validity—All Package Prices are subject to change without notice, unless
Paid-In-Full. Changes may be required in the event of increases or decreases in the cost of
services imposed by hotels, dive operators, air carriers (if included in package), or other
contractors. Government taxes can change at any time.
Dive Sites
NOTE: The following are only a few of the many incredible sites visited on a regular
basis by various Bay Islands dive operators, varying in depth from 10–15fsw to 130fsw.
Roatán
- Half Moon Bay Wall—130fsw, intermediate, sloping wall, tube, barrel and vase
sponges, gorgonians, green moray eels, grouper, durgon, angelfish, creole wrasse, lobster.
- Herbie's Place—130+fsw, intermediate–advanced, drift along a wall, large barrel
sponges, sea fans, gorgonians, grouper, horse-eye jacks and barracuda, sharks, turtles.
- Stovall's Reef—130+fsw, intermediate, many cleaning stations for grouper and
parrotfish.
- Lighthouse Reef—130+fsw, intermediate, shallows lead to sloping wall, be followed
by grouper and yellow snapper (guess who's been feeding the fish???).
- Wrasse Hole—75fsw, beginner, sloping wall, crevasses and tunnels, various types of
wrasse.
- Wreck "El Aguila" and "Prince Albert"—respectively on the north and south
sides of Roatán.
Guanaja
- Bayman Bay Drop-Off—130+fsw, intermediate–advanced, overhangs, vase sponges,
red rope sponges, gorgonians, glassy sweepers, angel fish and bluehead wrasse..
- Jim's Silver Lode—130fsw, intermediate, wall and tunnels, swarms of silversides.
- The Pinnacle—60–140fsw, intermediate, pinnacle covered with gorgonians and wire
corals next to a sand chute which cuts through the wall, grouper, spotted drum.
- The Pavilions—10–60fsw, beginner–intermediate, sloping wall, grottoes, crevasses,
swim through caves, silversides, glassy sleepers, snapper and soft corals.
- Wreck "Jado Trader"—110fsw, intermediate, 200-foot freighter lying on its side (only
light penetration fairly safe unless Wreck Certified), horse-eye jacks, amberjack, jewfish.
Some of the many other dive sites
include—
- The Gardens—intermediate–advanced
- Lion's Head—beginner
- Mariposa Banks—intermediate–advanced
- Sandy Key—beginner–advanced
- Pelican Wall—intermediate
Dive
Adventures
- Anthony's Key Resort (Roatán)
- CoCo View Resort (Roatán)
- Fantasy Island Resort (Roatán)
- Posada Del Sol (Guanaja)
High Season and Low Season—High season generally begins mid-December and ends
mid-April. Higher rates are found during High Season and some holidays.
Honduras tax in generally about 16%. Some resorts collect part or all of it, while others allow
divers to pre-pay it with their package. Add 16% Honduras tax to all the following resorts'
package prices.
Anthony's Key Resort (Roatán)—(Low season rates around $599+tax)—Adventure
per
person, double occupancy includes: 7-Nights Accommodations (Hill Standard Room) - airport
transfers - daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - 3 single tank boat trips daily - 2 single tank Night
Dives per week - Buoyancy Control workshop - weights/tanks/air/belt.
Anthony's Key Resort is a dedicated dive resort offering full service boat diving and
state-of-the-art dive facilities, equipment and instruction. With 50 bungalows on a private 7-acre
island, AKR presents "The Caribbean as it used to be". As host to the Roatán
Institute
for marine Sciences divers and snorkelers will have the opportunity of snorkeling and diving with
dolphins. When not in the water, adventurers might also enjoy horseback riding, wind surfing,
kayaking, canoeing, birdwatching, and more.
CoCo View Resort (Roatán)—(Low season rates around $749+16%, 649+16%
non-diver)—Adventure per person, double occupancy includes: 7-Nights Accommodations -
airport transfers - daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - 3 single tank boat trips daily - 1 single tank
optional Night Dive (+$20) per week - weights/tanks/air/belt. Note that CoCo View now offers a
day trip to Utila with 3 one-tank dives (one on the way over, one near Utila where the Whale
Sharks are often found, and one on the return trip).
CoCo View Resort is situated on a secluded private peninsula where the trade breezes blow.
CoCo View Wall is less than 100 yards off the beach, and the wreck of the Prince Albert
lies in 65fsw right offshore—right next to a 12,000 ft. deep ocean trench. All 25 rooms are ocean
front—including 4 deluxe bungalows, and 9 air conditioned beach rooms—all with porches or
balconies, 2 beds and a private bath.
Fantasy Island Resort (Roatán)—(Low season rates around $709+16% diver,
$594+16%
non-diver)—Adventure per person, double occupancy includes: 7-Nights Accommodations
(Standard Room) - airport transfers - daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - 3 single tank boat trips
daily - 1 single tank Night Dive per week - weights/tanks/air/belt.
Fantasy Island Resort—especially for you who seek the amenities of a full resort! You will find on
this 15-acre private key, A/C, satellite TV and telephones in all 75 rooms, swimming pool, tennis
court and dive operations on both north and south sides of the island. If you have visited before,
you must return and enjoy all the newly designed and refitted restaurants, bars, and guest services
in the finest European style.
Posada del Sol (Guanaja)—(Low season rates around $900+16% diver, $700+16% non-
diver)— Adventure per person, double occupancy includes: 7-Nights Accommodations - airport
transfers - daily breakfast, lunch and dinner - 3 single tank boat trips daily - 1 single tank Night
Dive per week - weights/tanks/air/belt.
Posada del Sol, a 3-level clubhouse surrounded by papaya, mango and swaying palm trees, sits
on a hillside above a private white sand beach. Overlooking the sea, our secluded cottages
provide privacy and comfort. With shallow reefs coming right up to the shoreline and spectacular
drop-offs, you will enjoy basking in the sun, diving, snorkeling, birdwatching, exploring mountain
trails and watching exotic fish and eagle rays as they glide past our 300-foot dock.
Other Dive Adventure
Options
The above standard dive adventures can be somewhat custom-tailored re: length of stay, number
of dives, type of room, and divers vs. non-divers in party. Do you want a Resort Course, become
certified, go for advanced certifications and specialties, use the OW Referral to complete your
basic certification? If you don't see what you are looking for here, contact us and ask.
In order to provide you your best–valued, customized
Dive Adventure, please tell us more about yourself(ves)—
My Dive
Adventure Preferences
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