COCONUT TREE DIVERS
Roatan, Honduras
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Sandy Bay and West End Marine Reserve Dive Sites
The Point Sites: Black Rock | West End Wall | Texas | Pablo's Place Coconut Tree Divers strongly supports the conservation and restoration efforts of the Roatan Marine Park, a volunteer organization that oversees the protection of the Sandy Bay - West End Marine Park. All snorkelers and divers are asked to contribute to this worthy cause through the purchase of a $10 marine park reef braclet. All proceeds from this tag go to the marine park to ensure that our beautiful reef can be enjoyed by future generations.
Not all underwater treasures are marked with an "X" on a map. In the case of Black Rock, the treasure mark is clearly visible from the surface in the form of the large ironshore protrusion from which the site earns its name. As you drop into the blue to a large sandy patch at 24m/80ft, this underwater gem of a site will unfold before you as darting creole wrasse and curious black groupers surround the group. The formation responsible for the surfaceside black rock extends to an underwater shelf running down to 33m/110ft while the sand runs all the way to the second wall at 40m/130ft, making this site ideal for the Advanced Open Water deep dive. The wall transitions from gentle sloping coral fingers into a sheer vertical drop as you head towards the west point of the island; extensive soft coral and sponge growth gives this site a radiant aura in the morning light. The wall is noted for its quantity of large fish life including southern stingrays, black groupers, Nassau groupers, whitespotted filefish, and oceanic triggerfish. When strong currents prevail, schools of creole wrasse will congregate to dine on the passing nutrients while schools of horseeyed jacks will gather in the blue to feast on the creole wrasse. Barracudas will commonly use the current to hunt, lurking behind the large barrel sponges for the perfect ambush. Look for spotted moray eels, green moray eels, lobsters, and king crabs hiding amongst the sponges as well. Marine life: eagle rays, southern stringrays, black groupers, Nassau groupers, whitespotted filefish, oceanic triggerfish, horseeyed jacks, barracudas, spotted moray eels, green moray eels, lobsters, king crabs Don't miss... seeing a group of eagle rays, collectively referred to as a "squadron." This site is one of the few where you can spot these magnificant creatures gliding in perfect V-formation along the wall.
The first time you see the sheer wall at West End Wall you will know you are diving on something huge. Starting in the expansive shallows at 10m/30ft and plunging into the deep blue of the Cayman Trench, this site is perfectly suited for the Deep Diver Specialty. Moderate currents are strong enough for a great drift dive as you glide towards the plateau of Texas, yet lazy enough that you can stop and look at the spotted moray eels hiding under the barrel sponges. Squadrons of eagle rays fly along the sheer drop, their white spots specking their silhouette against the deep blue. In a good current the aquatic life is nothing short of spectacular. Black, yellowfin, marbled, and Nassau groupers idly swim through thick schools of creole wrasse. Barracudas lurk in the many cuts in the wall, waiting for their hapless prey to drift by. Schools of Bermuda chubbs, yellow snappers, and sergeant majors dance in the sunlight of the shallows. Whitespotted and scrawled filefish glide over the reef looking for tasty, free-swimming pelagic tunicates. With all the excitement bustling about the reef, you may forget to look up for visiting turtles catching a breath of air. Marine life: spotted moray eels, eagle rays, black groupers, Nassau groupers, yellowfin groupers, elusive jaguar sharks, barracudas, whitespotted filefish, scrawled filefish, turtles Don't miss... spending some time in the shallows. With all the excitement on the wall, you may be tempted to skip the shallow section. Don't. Some of the densest schools of fish on the island congregate in this area to the point that divemasters have nicknamed this section "The Aquarium."
Welcome to the end of the island! The desert-like plateau of Texas forms the west point of Roatan, where prevailing currents from both the north and south sides whip up a veritable frenzy of fish and flora. There's no cacti or tumbleweeds in sight; instead, you'll careen through a maze of enormous barrel sponges, some large enough to dwarf a full-grown man. Grassy knolls of soft corals break up the otherwise flat plateau which levels out at an average depth of 18m/60ft. The current here has been described as a "rollercoaster ride" that can sweep you right off Roatan into blue water. Therefore, this dive site should only be attempted by those with Advanced Open Water certification or higher. They say that everything is bigger in Texas (also known "Herbie's Place"), and this site lives up to this reputation. Groups of slender barracuda swim headfirst against the current, waiting for errant creole wrasse to deviate from their massive schools. Large black, yellowfin, marbled, and Nassau groupers glide along the wall, dog and cubera snappers loom overhead, scrawled and whitespotted filefish slide between the undulating seafans, and green moray eels free-swim amongst the black gorgonians. It seems like every nook and cranny is filled with lobsters, king crabs, spotted drums, squirrelfish, queen triggerfish, and conical sea cucumbers. Turtles, eagle rays, and southern stingrays occasionally make an appearance to scrounge for drifting bits of food. If you are on Roatan in the late spring, odds are you will get to see the oceanic triggerfish during mating season. Like the titan triggerfish in the South Pacific, these odd-shaped fish accumulate in the hundreds, dig nests in the sand, and defend their territories with vigor. Fortunately, the oceanic triggerfish are far less aggressive than their Pacific counterparts, so you can approach these unique critters without too much concern. Marine life: black groupers, yellowfin groupers, marbled groupers, Nassau groupers, barracudas, WMD's, dog snappers, cubera snappers, scrawled filefish, whitespotted filefish, lobsters, king crabs, green moray eels, turtles, eagle rays, southern stingrays, queen triggerfish, oceanic triggerfish, sargassum triggerfish Don't miss... the brilliant colored sargassum triggerfish. You can identify these bright blue fish by the distinct makeup-like markings around their eyes. These bright blue fish hide in the shadows of the gargantuan barrel sponges and only live on Texas, so bring your camera for this gem of an underwater photography opportunity.
Like the ancient Babylonian hanging gardens, copious amounts of soft corals dangle over the abyss, illuminated with a surreal glow by the morning sunlight. Unlike the world wonder of old, you can still experience the incredible beauty of Pablo's Place. The sheer wall, which starts at 12m/40ft and falls away to unfathomable depths in the southside basin, frequently folds back on itself, leaving you suspended not just below but underneath the wall itself. King crabs, lobsters, and juvenile spotted drums hide amongst the sponges under these overhangs. Black gorgonians wave like hands against the strong current, their fingers lightly grazing passing black groupers, Nassau groupers, and barracudas. The shallows at Pablo's Place are equally impressive. Deep sandy channels break up the long-running coral fingers that extend from the ironshore, offering a variety of terrain for fish to hide and you to find them. Thick schools of creole wrasse, black durgons, and yellowtail snappers frequently congregate along the top of the wall. Oceanic triggerfish and scrawled filefish swim awkwardly around barrel sponges. Look for big conch and odd-shaped sea cucumbers along the sandy troughs and keep your eyes out for the occasional turtle, green moray eel, or eagle ray. Marine life: king crabs, lobsters, spotted drums, black groupers, yellowfin groupers, Nassau groupers, barracudas, oceanic triggerfish, queen triggerfish, scrawled filefish, whitespotted filefish, turtles, green moray eels, eagle rays Don't miss... doing this dive in a really strong current on Enriched Air Nitrox. When conditions are right, you can get dropped on the sheer wall at Pablo's Place and get ripped over a kilometer to the end of Texas. Just don't blink or you'll miss all the incredible fish life whizzing by your face! Next: South Shore -> |
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