Texas

Drift dive at the far western end of the island, often reached as a drift from West End Wall or Pablo's Place. Plains with huge barrel sponges at about 15 m lead to a wall that starts beyond 30 m; strong east-to-west current brings triggerfish, durgon and sometimes larger animals. Called one of the island's best sites when conditions allow.

Facts

• Region: Honduras – Roatán
• Area: West End & West Bay
• Depth: 15–35 m
• Level: advanced
• Current: strong
• Type: wall, drift, reef
• Coordinates: 16.2789, -86.6044 (approximate)
• Highlights: huge barrel sponges, queen triggerfish, black durgon, soft corals, deep wall
• Permit: Roatán Marine Park (RMP) user fee: the park's own page calls it a 'voluntary user fee' of US$10 and gives a bracelet/token in return; it is sold at the RMP EcoStore in West End and at partner dive shops and resorts. In practice dive operators ask divers to hold it before diving the park's reefs (one operator lists US$10 per year or US$3 per day), so treat it as required and confirm the current amount and validity with the park or your shop. The fee funds the mooring buoys and reef patrols.
• Issuer / contact: Roatán Marine Park (RMP)
  • Phone: +504 9430-3193
  • Email: info@roatanmarinepark.org
  • Website: https://www.roatanmarinepark.org/voluntary-fee
  • Phone and e-mail from roatanmarinepark.org; fee amount from the park's voluntary-fee page (US$10). Per-year/per-day wording comes from an operator listing, not the park.
• Tips: Experienced divers only: the deep wall is hard to climb back from and the current is strong. Position approximate (map listing, near the westernmost RMP buoys); follow the boat captain.

Sources

• https://roatanet.com/diving-guide-to-roatans-west-endsandy-bay-marine-reserve/
• https://roatandivers.com/blog/the-best-dive-sites-in-roatan
• https://roatan-diving.com/dive-sites
• https://pickadive.com/dive-sites/honduras/roatan