These volcanic islands are actually the tops of the submerged Sierra de Omoa mountain range. On the mainland side the bottom falls quickly to 200 feet or more; toward the ocean side, the depths quickly reach several thousand feet in the Bartlett Trough. This close-to-shore drop-off provides many shore diving and snorkeling opportunities at most resorts.
The typical Bay Islands drop-off may be vertical, sloping, or undercut and often begins in only 25 to 40 feet of water. Coral species diversity is extreme and sponges are numerous. Fish life is varied and a nearly continuous reef line runs from Mexico to South America, providing a route for migrating species. So close to deep water, the Bay Island reef sites often attract deep-water species such as jacks, kingfish, wahoo, mackerel, and even mantas, marlin, and whales. The bank side of the Bay Islands is a pedestal for hundreds of bank reefs and coral pinnacles locally known as seamounts, another popular Bay Islands diving feature.
Roatan is a 30-mile long, narrow island and often less than one mile wide. This provides a nearly continuous northern reef and a nearly continuous southern fringing reef. Each includes about 30-35 named dive sites with several drift dive sites at the western tip.
A few dive resorts regularly run trips to both sides of the island. There is excellent diving on both sides of Roatan; weather conditions occasionally favor one side over the other. Shallow areas provide snorkeling and scuba sites featuring coral gardens highlighting huge stands of elkhorn coral. Deep sites begin shallow, where the top of the wall starts at only 25 feet and falls directly to a shelf or the abyss below. Big pelagics are occasionally sighted off both coasts of Roatan. Ninety percent of the sites are wall dives requiring that depth and no deco limits be closely monitored. The wall settings are generally spectacular, with nearly every color, shape, and type of sponge dominating the scenery. On the inside of the wall are shallow reef gardens dotted with stately pillar corals. Standout dive sites include Calvin’s Crack, Forty-Foot Point, and Valley of the Kings, full of colorful sponges. The north coast is the site of a barrier type reef with its own distinctive visual appeal. Interesting sites include Wall Street, a continuous shallow wall, and Dolphin’s Den, a coral labyrinth that runs through the reef front.
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