Dive Sites on the north east
side of Roatan
Following described are some of the dive
sites we dive out of Turquoise Bay Resort.
Dolphin Den
  The
shallow cave like swim-through Dolphin Den takes you from the inside of the reef to the
outside. The maze of tunnels and caverns is so extensive that you can spend
your whole dive inside it, still it is simple enough not to get lost. There
are plenty of openings in the ceiling to make this dive save, still one may
want to stay close to his dive buddy.
Inside the cavern one may find thousands of silversides
and other creatures like moray eels. The silversides seam to have been the
reason for the tragic death of a pod of dolphins whose remains was found
inside the cavern. They must have followed the silversides inside and got
disoriented.
Depth range: 5 – 12 meter (15 – 40 feet)
Experience required: Intermediate
 The Sponges
At this amazing wall you can find many different sponges
and corals including huge barrel sponges and spectacular pillar corals. The
drop-off is at 60 feet and drops to 180 feet. Very often there are turtles,
nurse-sharks and eagle rays passing by, as well as morays. During the dive
it is common to find several cleaning stations, and the safety stop has some
beautiful elk horn.
Depth range: 5 – 40 meter (15 – 130 feet)
Experience required: Beginner
 Andy’s
Wall
A colourful wall with soft and hard corals, often visited
by groupers, schools of chubs, creole wrasse, horse-eye jacks and black
durgons among others. The wall starts at 60ft, dropping to 160.
Depth range: 5 – 40 meter (15 – 130 feet)
Experience required: Beginner
 Big
Bight
A cool wall dive to the west of the mooring which sits in
about 40ft of water and just under the buoy there are a few swim throughs
which can be fun at the end of the dive. The wall starts at around 15ft and
goes down to 60ft near the mooring further west it goes beyond 140ft the
wall has a lot of sponges and look out for lobsters and crabs in the
crevices. Large grouper are often spotted along with barracuda and some
times the odd turtle or eagle ray can be seen. To the east of the buoy the
wall is a little more sloping and in the sandy areas at around 90ft nurse
sharks have been seen under the reef skirts.
 The
Canyons
Pinnacles and striking formations make this a dramatic
dive site to explore. Stingrays and eagle rays are commonly found cruising
the sandy bottom. Look out for barracudas, midnight parrotfish and king
crabs.
 Barracuda
A top site with many different route to explore each new
dive master has developed their own route to this site, the mooring sits in
around 26ft of water with a reef shelf underneath. To the east of the
mooring there is a sandy area at around 44ft depth, this ideal for training,
and also spotting the occasional southern sting ray, following the sand
patch to the east look out for lobsters in the base of the reef, in the reef
surrounding the sand porcupine fish are often seen, carrying on north-east
from the end of the sand patch takes you to an area called shark garden.
Here as the name suggests we often spot nurse sharks at around 100ft.
heading straight north from the mooring you come to an area of sloping reef
with some great swim throughs. The sandy areas stretch down to around 90ft
and nurse sharks have been spotted in this area as well. From there head
west and explore the swim throughs. To return to the mooring head south and
you’ll find a shallow gravel canyon area that leads to the wall follow this
shallow wall at 26ft with the wall to the right, therefore heading east
again to return to the boy. As the name suggest there are barracudas around
this site and its quite common for you to spot one at the beginning of a
dive and then for the barracuda to follow you throughout your dive.
 The
Labyrinth
There’s something for everyone at the Labyrinth, it
starts with a shallow area of 40ft perfect for beginners and slowly slopes
down to 60 feet. Hidden in a big hole in the rock, a spotted drum patrols
his territory among schools of glassy sweepers. The sandy canyons winding
through towering rock formations provide thrilling swim-throughs.
Depth range: 5 – 18 meter (15 – 60 feet)
Experience required: Beginner,
intermediate for swim-throughs.
 Fish
spot / The View
This site has two names it was named the view as it is
directly out from the view restaurant. It has also been named fish spot for
its abundant amount of fish around the top of the reef between 15 to 20ft
Mongoose
Mongoose is a site that like Dolphins Den takes you from
the inside of the reef to the outside, the mooring sits in about 10ft of
water. This dive site is an impressive canyon, and the cracks and crevices
provide hiding places for many different sea creatures look out for eels and
spotted drums. Also keep an eye out for rays around the entrance to mongoose
as they have been frequently spotted. The site goes down to between 70 and
80ft.
 Sea
star channel
 This
site is ideal as training site as we begin our dive in the sandy shallows at
around 7ft, we weave our way through the shallow corral heads to the west
and down into the channel. The channel has got its name from the abundance
of cushioned sea stars that lye in the base of the channel, this is a good
area for spotting southern sting rays which on murky days are many. Follow
the channel out keeping to the slope in your right hand side the sand slope
soon turns into coral heads which multiply until you reach a shallow wall at
around 25ft, follow this till you reach an entrance between two coral heads
which take you into a wide canyon bowl. Around the entrance we have seen
eagle rays on numerous occasions. The middle of the bowl goes down to around
80ft and the topography inside changes into a rocky environment, look under
the rocks for toadfish. After exploring inside the canyon bowl, take the
same route back.
 The
Underground
Located alongside one of the channels through the reef,
this dive site turns into a tunnel at 20ft with numerous cracks letting
sunlight stream in, opening out into the deep channel reaching 80ft, where
you can find starfish, anemones & rays.
Depth range: 5 – 25 meter (15 – 80 feet)
Experience required: Beginner,
intermediate for swim throughs.
Near our Palmetto Bay Dive shop which is about 10 minutes
west of Turquoise Bay Resort.
 One Minute
West
A bowl of sand at forty-feet surrounded by vertical walls of
coral. OMW offers a great training site for new students or those who want
to refresh their skills. For experienced divers, the wall is just a short
swim from the mooring.
 Canyonlands
A series of natural cracks in the reef plunge from the reef fringe down to
the reef wall. These canyons and slots provide unique access to the
reef wall. The maze of canyons offers the chance to make multiple dives at
this site. For intermediate to experienced divers.
 Magic Bobby
This site has unique topography that allows for multiple dives to this
location without seeing the same thing twice! Tunnels, large cracks, and
overhangs offer something for both novice and experienced divers alike.
 Milk Jug
Named for the buoy that once marked this location, Milk Jug is visited by
a small number of divers and offers the chance to see a wide variety of fish
and corals. For divers traveling with non-divers, this site also offers
excellent snorkeling. Make your dive while your companion spends time
snorkeling with our experienced boat captain!
 Caity’s
Corner
This site has a series of large sand patches broken by vibrant
ridges of coral. Watch for the large nurse shark and Moray eels that
inhabit this area. This dive offers excellent opportunities for
photography. A great site for all levels of experience.
 Keyhole
This slot canyon is one of our most popular sites. The canyon heads from
the mooring up through the reef fringe and ends inside the lagoon. The
canyon narrows at the top as you near the reef creating a cathedral like
feeling. Watch for green starfish and large snappers throughout the dive.
Be sure to swim upside-down for a spectacular view of sunlight streaming
through the narrowing overhangs! Recommended for experienced divers.
 Palmetto
Channel
Located right in front of the resort, the channel is a natural
canyon running from the lagoon to the reef wall. A great, twisting, turning
dive where many snappers, grouper, and barracuda tend to congregate. This
dive offers a little of everything that makes diving Roatan great; sand
patch in the lagoon, a canyon, and the reef wall.
 Moray Lagoon
As the name implies, keep your eye out for free swimming Moray eels. This
dive site has some great drift diving with a
generally mild current. A great dive for divers of all levels of
experience.
Devil’s
Cauldron
This is a great dive for experienced divers with good
buoyancy control or those divers who take the Peak Performance Buoyancy
class. A narrow slot leads through the reef wall and opens into a large
circular opening in the reef with interesting side slots and overhangs.
 Mickey’s
Place
Another of our sites that offers great diving for you and
snorkeling for your non-diving companion. Sand chutes lead to the reef wall
that has a wide variety of sponges and corals. Watch the holes and cracks
for the Caribbean King crabs that inhabit this area. An excellent dive site
for divers of all experience levels.
Shipwreck
Named for the remains of an old steamer
that sits atop the reef fringe. This dive offers great wall diving with a
wide variety of fish, corals, and sponges. Underwater photographers will
find a great deal of subjects between fifteen feet and forty feet. Watch
for Spotted Eagle Rays and Southern Sting Rays in the sand at the base of
the wall.
 Julian’s
Wall
A great dive near shipwreck for experienced divers interested in
the corals, sponges, and other unique creatures that inhabit the reef wall.
Ask Julian what makes this dive special when you arrive at the dive shop.
  Odyssey
Wreck
Roatan's
biggest wreck lies at 110 ft in a big sand patch next to a beautiful reef
wall. The bow of the wreck is sitting upright while the superstructure of
the stern is sitting at a 30 degree angle which makes swimming through it
quite interesting. The midsection has collapsed from the powerful surge of
several cold fronts.
There are many more
spectacular dive sites. Come and see for yourself.
|
