Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Bay Islands Department

Coco View Wall is one of the most spectacular dives on the island. Starting at 6 meters and dropping straight down to 35 meters and beyond, you can see a huge variety of life living at every strata. This dive is most easily accessed from the beach at the Coco View Resort. Because there are a few important things you need to know before diving this area, Coco View requires you to take an orientation class and a dive with their dive master. To reach their wall, walk out to the dive platform, and then follow the guide chain through the safest channel in the reef, and you'll find yourself at the edge of diving paradise! A few kilometers East of French Harbour, turn into the parking lot for the Coco View ferry dock . You can't miss it!

Go all the way to the west end of the beach and swim out. The patch reef starts in 4 four feet of water and soon gets you to the wall dropping over 200-feet. It can also be accessed for free by any diver.

The Wreck of the Prince Albert is possibly one of the finest wrecks you will dive directly from the shore. It is a 47 meter long tanker, ranging in depth from just 7 meters to 22 meters at her keel. Macro photography can be spectacular on the outside hull with many years colorful growth apparent. The interior spaces are accessible for advanced divers; however, try the nearby obstacle course first to practice moving through confined areas! As an added treat, 30 meters off the bow of the wreck is the empty shell of a DC-3 aircraft. A few kilometers East of French Harbour, accessed either through Fantasy Island or Coco View Resorts.

Bay Islands Beach Resort is home of the famous Spooky Channel. The channel offers three unique shore diving opportunities: the inside reef for snorkelers to view the large coral heads and friendly parrot fish; the channel itself, which is a grand-canyon-like dive of 15 meters wide and 30 meters deep; and the outer reef that houses all the expected life of Roatan's North shore. Along the short stretch of road between Half Moon Bay and Sandy Bay on the Northwest side of the island.

Sandy Bay beach is the closest entry for the dive through the Little Channel. The reef wall is about 300 meters beyond the beach. This should be considered an advanced dive due to the distance of the kick-out. Take the main road North out of Coxen Hole to cross the island. As soon as you see the ocean again, you are at Sandy Bay!

Sunny Side B&B is another access point to the Spooky Channel. Although not a full service dive resort operation, it is the closest dock to the channel, with a spectacular beach for the non-divers in your group. Don't show up unannounced at this location; diving is generally for the guests of the B&B only. Along the short stretch of road between Half Moon Bay and Sandy Bay on the Northwest side of the island.

The Front Porch dive is one of the finest North shore dives, due to the proximity of Anthony's Key (intro photo) to the reef. You are just a short swim away from the reef's edge, with an easy dock-side entry and exit. Along the short stretch of road between Half Moon Bay and Sandy Bay on the Northwest side of the island.

Just outside of Half Moon Bay on the Northwest side of the island, you'll find a small resort that has an unusual access to some advanced diving. Entry into the water is easy from this site; getting out isn't! Generally, divers swim around the bend to the left and exit at the Half Moon Bay Cabins, our next site. The gentleman, Tulio, standing in our intro picture was our tour guide for our stay on the island. Tulio is a part-time dive instructor, a part-time tour guide, and a full-time conversationalist. Born on Roatan, he is fully familiar with the diving and local life on the island. If you are staying in Coco View or Fantasy Island, ask for him by name if you need a quick ride to a dive site or a full day tour. In Half Moon Bay at the far Northwest end of the island.

Half Moon Bay offers something for both snorkelers and divers. The shallower waters of the protected bay makes for a leisurely swim right off the beach, and a more advanced dive can be had around the bend of the bay off the reef's edge. This is also the exit point for the advanced shore dive of the previous site, Sea Grape. Half Moon Bay Cabins also has an excellent restaurant for lunch or dinner. In the Eastern side of Half Moon Bay at the far Northwest end of the island.

Step into the water about 3-4 feet deep, it drops off gradually to about 20 feet and then about 75 yards offshore the wall drops well over 100 feet. Lots of tangs, yellowtails, crabs lobster and a lot of octopus at night Located in the very west of Flowers Bay. From West End or West Bay head to the Southside to Flowers Bay. Take a right at end of road, past the old white church, look for tall blue house on the shore side.

Lovely wreck with great visibility in calm conditions. Bottom/sand around 120', top of superstructure is around 60'. Ship is almost completely intact. Wildlife abounds around the superstructure. There was a seahorse on the port side of the bow.