Roatán
Honduras · Bay Islands
Roatán is the largest Bay Island — more developed than Utila, with cruise ship traffic on the west end and quieter dive resorts on the east. Wall diving, healthy reefs, and a long running marine park keep the reefs in decent shape.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Wall diving from Roatan remains excellent topographically. Live coral cover has thinned over the last decade.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Warmer than usual right now, but not hot enough to bleach.
Fishing
Some fishing is allowed here, in marked zones.
Sources · AGRRA and GCRMN reef surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across 10 survey years from 2010 to 2022, live coral cover here has fallen from 15% to 11%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 15% |
| 2011 | 24% |
| 2012 | 22% |
| 2014 | 19% |
| 2015 | 10% |
| 2016 | 20% |
| 2018 | 24% |
| 2019 | 22% |
| 2021 | 20% |
| 2022 | 11% |
What you will see
15 species across the dive sites here
Atlantic Sergeant Major
Seen 21 days ago
at Mary's Place
Least concern
Spotted moray
Seen 22 days ago
at Mary's Place
Least concern
Atlantic Blue Tang
Seen 23 days ago
at Mary's Place
Least concern
Queen angelfish
Seen 23 days ago
at Mary's Place
Least concern
Stoplight Parrotfish
Seen 23 days ago
at Mary's Place
Least concern
Caribbean Bluehead Wrasse
Seen 24 days ago
at Mary's Place
Least concern
Great barracuda
Seen 25 days ago
at Cara a Cara
Least concern
Allison'S Anole
Seen 27 days ago
at Mary's Place
Least concern
Schooling horse-eye jack
Seen 1 month ago
at El Aguila Wreck
Least concern
Green moray eel
Seen 1 month ago
at El Aguila Wreck
Least concern
Black grouper
Seen 1 month ago
at El Aguila Wreck
Near threatened
Spotted eagle ray
Seen 2 months ago
at El Aguila Wreck
Endangered
Black coral colonies
Seen 2 months ago
at Mary's Place
Caribbean reef shark
Seen 2 months ago
at Cara a Cara
Endangered
Bottlenose dolphin
Seen 4 months ago
at Cara a Cara
Least concern
Dive sites
What divers say
The east end ops feel like Utila with better water and bigger walls.
Good to know
Pick your side
West end is busy/cruise heavy; east end is quieter.