Page 50 - Central America

TThe island shelf is narrower on the south side and reef development more mangrove growth.
is variable with no continuous barrier reef. Reefs are fringing and The island lies in a position that causes 10+ hours of sunlight a day
nonexistent at the mouths of the many bays and harbors. The reefs on to fall directly upon exposed, shallow South side reef structures. This
the south are extremely different from the reefs on the north and are causes a lot of florid growth and the microscopic nature of this area.
noted for their more pronounced drop offs and walls that tend to start Essentially, for that very reason- limited visibility is not that much of
in much shallower water. Due to the stronger currents that are often an issue there. The North side is typical of the diving that one used
present on the south side there is a greater abundance of octocorals, to be able to find all over the Caribbean. A cresting reef followed by
sponges and other filter feeders on this side. a sloping plateau 20-60 feet deep and then a sudden drop off to thou-
Roatán lies upon the Bonacca Ridge, an undersea extension of the sands of feet, creating a beautiful wall and stunning geological fea-
Sierra de Omoa mainland mountain range, which extends ENE. To tures. Larger predatory fish can often be seen at some of the most pop-
the north, the Swan Island Fault Zone separates the ridge from a deep ular dive sites, due in part to the prevailing currents bringing nutrient
ocean trench called the Cayman Trough. The movement along this rich water, and also the fish feeding activities of some dive operators.
transform fault zone is left later with the Bonacca Ridge area moving The South side is for those divers who love the macro life that can
east relative to the Cayman Trough which is moving west. To the be found in expansive soft coral gardens. it rewards the slow and
south, the Bonacca Ridge is separated from the mainland of Hondu- observant divers with better buoyancy skills. You have to be able to
ras by the Tela Basin or Gulf of Honduras. The boundary between the hover and get in close to see all of the many micro/macro critters that
ridge and the Tela Basin is a normal fault. All of these features are use the shallow reef structure as an incubator and niche hiding spot.
part of the North Ameican/Caribbean plate boundary zone and con- Many divers without those skill sets or an appreciation for the macro
sequently, the geology here is quite complex. This ridge line runs quite walk away hating it.
a bit closer to the Northern half of the island. As the land descends
to the North, it does so (comparatively to the South) rather steeply.
This steepness also continues at the Ocean, causing the underwater
geography to be shaped in a similar manner. For millions of years, the
heavy storms have come at Roatan from the North. This is what has
caused the shape of both above and below water Roatan. When heavy
“Northers” arrive (Dec-Mar) or during tropical storm season (Aug-
Nov), if the island is getting winds, you will immediately note the salt
smell from the crashing surf as you crest over the ridge line from the
South. The distance from the ridge line to the South shore is much
longer. The Southern shoreline is comparatively at the end of a slower
and more gentle descent. The Southern shore is where you will find