Roatán

Roatán has the Bay Islands' largest dive industry, with short boat runs to walls, channels, reefs and purpose-sunk wrecks. West End and West Bay provide the densest choice of operators, while the south shore gives access to Mary's Place and other fissure sites.

Best time
Mar–May
Certification
Open water
Budget
$–$$ · under $2,000 to $2,000–4,000
Trip length
3–7 days
Trip style
Land based, Day trip, Shore dive
Access
Easy

The short version

Known forDense network of short-run moored dive sites.

Main tradeoffOctober to January rain and wind can reduce visibility and cancel boats.

Roatán dive region

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Your outlook

Explore 4 dive sites

Browse the map and wildlife below, or add an optional preference to narrow Roatán.

Most relevant wildlife

  • Hawksbill turtleJan–Dec
  • Great barracudaJan–Dec
  • Green sea turtleJan–Dec
  • Caribbean reef sharkJan–Dec

Plan the trip

Links coming soon

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4 sites shown.

Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Mar–May · Mild current · 26–30°C (coldest Jan, warmest Jun)
Best months Operating
Current
Mild
Water temperature
26–30°C (coldest Jan, warmest Jun)
Visibility
12–30m: Dry spells and offshore sites are often clearer.
Experience
Many west-side reefs suit Open Water divers.

01 · Marine life

What you may see

rareoccasionalcommonly seenpeak seasondestination closed

Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.

Hawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricata
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Hawksbills are year-round reef residents, without a defensible month-level peak.

Great barracudaSphyraena barracuda
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Great barracuda are resident around reefs and wrecks.

Green sea turtleChelonia mydas
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januarycommonly seen
Februarycommonly seen
Marchcommonly seen
Aprilcommonly seen
Maycommonly seen
Junecommonly seen
Julycommonly seen
Augustcommonly seen
Septembercommonly seen
Octobercommonly seen
Novembercommonly seen
Decembercommonly seen

Green turtles are resident around the island's reefs and seagrass habitat.

Caribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus perezi
Sighting likelihood by month
MonthLikelihood
Januaryoccasional
Februaryoccasional
Marchoccasional
Apriloccasional
Mayoccasional
Juneoccasional
Julyoccasional
Augustoccasional
Septemberoccasional
Octoberoccasional
Novemberoccasional
Decemberoccasional

Caribbean reef sharks occur around outer reefs, but ordinary Roatán dives do not provide a reliable monthly pattern.

See all 8 species

02 · Dive sites

Dive sites worth knowing

A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.

See all 4 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsEasy. Fly to RTB. Typical trip $–$$.

Route overview

Easy

Day trips from a coastal base, about 0.5h from the airport.

Airport options

RTB

Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport

West End is roughly 20–30 minutes by road and West Bay roughly 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic

Typical trip cost

$–$$

under $2,000 to $2,000–4,000

Per person, excluding international flights.

  • Two-tank boat diving is commonly advertised around $100–160 USD before rental equipment, tax, tips and any marine-park contribution.
  • Resort packages can push a seven-day stay into the middle tier.

Sources & last checked

Checked September 2026

Research is source-backed, but conditions and fees should still be confirmed locally.

View 6 sources and checking notes

Note on the data: Marine-park status and the voluntary fee are current official statements. Site coordinates, visibility and prices are approximate and operator-derived. No wildlife month peak is asserted. Water temperature: Rounded planning bands derived from NOAA OISST climatology, not temperatures logged at individual dive depths. Access: RTB is on Roatán. Most visitors transfer by road to the west or south coast; congestion can double normal journey times.