Active Pursuits

Top Scuba Diving Sites in Roatán

Roatán is nothing less than a diving paradise. There are more than 130 dive sites scattered around the island and, in just 1 day of diving, you can experience the full range of dives from coral reefs, canyons, and walls to wrecks and tunnels. The waters are crystal clear, and the reef, part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world, runs just offshore. Many of the best dive sites are literally right off the dock or within a 5-minute boat ride. Following is a list of the best dive sites:

• Mary's Place: Mary's Place near Sarah Cay is one of the most legendary dive sites around the island. Here you crawl through volcanic tunnels, crevices, and canyons around a reef plateau that has vertical walls that drop as much as 36m (120 ft.). You'll encounter black groupers, feather black coral, gorgonians, large bearded fire worms, and barrel sponges.

• Four Sponges: This dive site in Sandy Bay is one of the most complete, and is the best for beginning divers. The site is defined by its different levels of reef that range from 3 to 36m (10-120 ft.), allowing for the opportunity to encounter a wide range of sea life, like electric-blue chromis, barracuda, toadfish, yellow jawfish, scorpianfish, and sponges.

• Prince Albert Wreck: Since it sank back in 1985 near the Coco View Resort, the 50m (165-ft.) ship Prince Albert has attracted more soft coral growth than any other wreck on the island. There's also a sunken DC-3 plane that you can explore nearby.

• Calvin's Crack: This Jonesville dive site is defined by the huge -- Calvin must have been a big guy -- crevice ranging from 98 to 262m (30-80 ft.) in depth that runs through the reef. Brain, leaf, and black coral, sponges, gorgonians, rainbow parrotfish, fan leaf algae, and the occasional sea horse can often be sighted along the walls of the crevice.

• Spooky Channel: The Spooky Channel (sometimes called Wayne's Place), on the northwest shore near Sandy Bay, is well, spooky. The floor, ranging from 66 to 295m (20-90 ft.), is lined with sea whips and crabs, and cleaner shrimp crawl about on the abundant coral formations.

• El Aguila Wreck: El Aguila is a 656m (200-ft.) cargo ship that sank in 1997 by Anthony's Key Resort and was later split in three by Hurricane Mitch. It sits 328m (100 ft.) below the surface of Sandy Bay. Green Moray and garden eels can be found in varying spots around the wreck, as are large grouper, blue parrotfish, glassy sweepers, nudibranches, and anemones.

Outdoor Activities in West End

West End beaches are smallish and not nearly as nice as those in the West Bay (just a quick water-ferry ride away), but there are a few spots where the water is just as clear as anywhere on the island. Half Moon Beach is probably the best option. For scuba diving and snorkeling, try Coconut Tree Divers (tel. 504/445-4081; www.coconuttreedivers.com); Reef Gliders (tel. 504/403-8243; www.reefgliders.com); or Native Sons (tel. 504/445-4003; www.nativesonsroatan.com).

If you don't dive, snorkel, or even swim but still want to experience the undersea world of the Bay Islands you have a few options. The Roatán Institute of Deep Sea Exploration (no phone; www.stanleysubmarines.com) offers 3,280 to 6,560m (1,000-2,000 ft.) dives and shark dives inside the safety of a submarine. The small vehicles have room for just one pilot and two passengers. Underwater Paradise (tel. 504/445-6465) has semisubmarine glass-bottom boat tours three times day from the Half Moon Bay Resort for L380 adults or L190 children ($20-$10/£10-£5), and the Coral Explorer (tel. 504/455-5379) has a similar tour from West Bay.

For another unique perspective on the island, Bay Island Airways (tel. 504/946-5665 in the U.S., or 933-6077; www.bayislandairways.com) offers a variety of ways to view the island from the air. They have aerial real estate tours (L6,840/$360/£180 per hour for two), trips to the Pigeon Keys (L9,880/$520/£260 for a 3-hr. tour for two), and simple sightseeing and photography tours (L2,280/$120/£60 for a 15-min. flight for two).

The waters surrounding Roatán are full of Pelagic species like tuna, wahoo, mahimahi, blue and white marlin, shark, and king mackerel. Early Bird Fishing Charters (tel. 504/445-3019; www.earlybirdfishingcharters.com), a member of the conservation-minded Fisherman's Association of Roatán, leads frequent excursions from the West End to waters all around the island. Prices begin at L7,600 ($400/£200) for a half-day tour with one to four people.