Sandy Bay and West End Marine Reserve Dive Sites

El Aguila Wreck sites: El Aguila Wreck | Pillar Coral

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.

Min. Depth: 10m/30ft Max. Depth: 33m/110ft Avg. Max: 33m/110ft Nitrox Mix: EANx32 Difficulty:

El Aguila Wreck

El Aguila (The Eagle) is a 63m/210ft cargo boat that rests on a deep sand basin between two large coral outcroppings. The ship was intentionally scuttled in 1997 by Anthony's Key Resort to make for a new premier dive site. While originally settling intact and upright in 30m/100ft of water, the fury of Hurricane Mitch severed the ship in three in 1998. In October 2005 Hurricane Wilma scattered the debris into its current arrangement. Presently the bow section remains upright in its original position, the midsection is a tangled mess of collapsed walls and swimthrus, and the stern rests 90-degrees on its starboard side.

The fish are extra friendly around the wreck. Two curious green moray eels have taken up residence in a coral mound adjacent to the bow; it is quite common to see at least one of them free-swimming through the midsection. Black groupers, blue parrotfish, and dog snappers trail dive groups down the wall and around the wreck. Look for king crabs living in the bow portholes, an adult spotted drum hiding under the midsection rubble, and fields of garden eels under the stern hull.

After investigating the wreck, the dive concludes with a lazy drift up the neighboring wall. Large schools of Bermuda chubbs and creole wrasse spiral around you during the safety stop. There is an extensive cave system saturated with glassy sweepers and lobsters at 6m/20ft immediately behind the shallow mooring line; only experienced divers under the direct guidance of our instructors should attempt penetration.

Marine life: green moray eels, black groupers, yellowfin groupers, dog snappers, barracudas, king crabs, garden eels, blue parrotfish, spotted drums, lobsters

Don't miss... taking the swimthru under the stern. Arguably the most impressive swimthru of the wreck, this narrow passage at 33m/110ft takes you underneath the starboard side, allowing you to stare up through the stern's naturally-lit interior.

Min. Depth: 8m/25ft Max. Depth: 40m/130ft Avg. Max: 33m/110ft Nitrox Mix: EANx32 Difficulty:

Pillar Coral

At first, you'll see nothing. Then, like a ghost emerging from the blue mist, you'll spot it: the "pillar of coral" from which this site earns its moniker. This pinnacle begins at 28m/90ft and falls away to unfathomable depths on its backside, though a typical dive profile will have you leveling off at 33m/110ft. Given good enough visibility, the view from the far side is so spectacular that you may not notice a passing southern stingray or barracuda.

After a lap around the Pillar, your gradual ascent to the shallows will find you gliding through the many swimthrus that pierce the wall. Look for lobsters, king crabs, and tiny goldspotted moray eels in these cracks. Doing this dive on Enriched Air Nitrox will give you enough bottom time to see "Monkeyface Rock," a deep wall protrusion that resembles a certain primate. The shallows themselves are filled with scrawled filefish, dog snappers, turtles, and thick schools of creole wrasse and Bermuda chubbs.

Marine life: southern stingrays, eagle rays, lobsters, king crabs, goldspotted moray eels, scrawled filefish, dog snappers, turtles

Don't miss... squeezing into the tiny cave behind the mooring line. Barely discernable amongst the fore reef shallows, you will find yourself crawling through a tiny crack at 8m/25ft into a sun-soaked chamber. Swim towards the light through the spiraling school of glassy sweepers and you'll pop out on top of the fore reef at safety stop depth.

Next: North Shore Walls ->