Page 87 - Central America
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NEWMAN’S WALL - This wall is well worth the extra effort of cross- ODYSSEY WRECK - Roatan’s biggest wreck lies at 110 feet in a big
ing the channel on a calm day. There are lots of long sand chutes on sand patch next to a beautiful reef wall. The bow of the wreck is sitting
the top of the wall and spectacular vertical walls. The top is covered upright while the superstructure of the stern is sitting at a 30 degree
lots of coral including soft corals and sea fans. angle which makes swimming through it quite interesting. This 300
NEVERSTAIN BIGHT - This snorkeling site offers a shallow wall top foot long cargo ship was intentionally sunk in 2002. It has been rear-
with prolific coral life and an abundance of marine life visiting the ranged by storms. The stern is almost upright and stands 85ft high.
cleaning stations. The cargo hold has collapsed and the bow lies on her side but the size
NORTH MORAT WALL - is one of the most exciting dives in the Bay of this wreck is truly stunning and the coral has started to grow all
Islands. The 3 miles long offshore reef offers great drift diving. Due over her. There is some nice shallow reef nearby where you decom-
to its far distance from settlements and most dive operators this site press during your safety stop.
has a healthy collections of large sponges, almost pristine communi- OVERHEAT REEF - training dive for beginners in one of the best
ties of elkhorn and staghorn corals, as well as large outcrops of star, dive sites of Sandy Bay, where school masters, sergeant majors, squids,
brain and plate corals. The vertical wall is broken by numerous sand yellow tail damsels, as well as a variety of gorgonians can be seen. The
chutes and covered with large barrel, vase and rope sponges. Black shallow part of the reef is also ideal for snorkeling. From 15 feet, the
coral dominate the depths. There is also a good chance to see large reef slowly starts its descent to 40 feet, and then dramatically goes
pelagics like nurse sharks, eagle rays, barracudas, tarpon and tuna. down to 80 feet. This dive site is great for night diving. Spiny and
OCEAN SPIRIT - This mooring was put in so that a cruise ship “Ocean Spanish lobster, Caribbean reef octopus, channel clinging crab, and
Spirit” could tie off here. Great afternoon dive looking for Turtles and southern stingray are a common sight when the sun sets. The wall
Rays down on the 80ft sand or on the 45ft sand as you cruise north. at this site is characterized by large sea fans and several large sheet
OCTOPUS ACRE - The reef at this site begins at approximately 25 coral colonies providing habitat for eels and king crabs. The base of
feet, drops down a small wall to a plateau with densely packed, thick the wall meets the sandy, sloping bottom at approximately 120 feet,
fingers of patch corals which are covered with giant barrel sponges from where it continues its drop to beyond recreational limits. Depth:
as well the delicate azure vase sponges. The plateau continues out to 25-140 feet.
the wall, which drops to about 120 feet and is a great location to view PABLO’S PLACE - A wonderful opportunity for drift diving exists
sheet corals and icing sponges. Keep your eyes peeled for the oceanic here at the western tip of the island. The nearly-vertical reef wall starts
triggerfish along with turtles, trunkfish and filefish at this site, so lots at approximately 50 feet and descends beyond recreational limits.
of fish and a good chance of seeing a nurse shark. Depth: 40 – 150 feet. An abundance of black coral colonies are easy to spot along the reef
wall as well as large barracudas, yellowtail snapper and trumpetfish.
Depth: 15 – 160 feet.
