Bay Islands dive sites
Honduras · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
March to September, March-April, September-October, March-September, March to April, August to October
Skill Levels
advanced, intermediate
Nearby Cities
Coxen Hole, Utila Town, West Bay, West End
All dive sites
Blackfish Point
Utila Town · Bay Islands · Honduras
A current-swept promontory on Utila's north shore where deep-water upwellings attract whale sharks, dolphins, and eagle rays to a healthy reef slope teeming with Caribbean marine life.
CJ's Drop Off
Utila Town · Bay Islands · Honduras
A dramatic wall drop-off near the whale shark corridor, with pristine corals and a chance to spot the ocean's largest fish.
Hole in the Wall
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
A thrilling vertical chimney through the reef wall that drops divers from a sandy shelf into the open blue abyss.
Mary's Place
Coxen Hole · Bay Islands · Honduras
A dramatic volcanic fissure in the reef wall, narrow enough to touch both sides while descending through coral-encrusted cracks.
Utila North Side Wall
Utila Town · Bay Islands · Honduras
The exposed northern coast of Utila where dramatic wall dives drop into the Cayman Trench, delivering encounters with eagle rays, reef sharks, and pelagic visitors in conditions that keep crowds on the calmer south side.
Utila Whale Shark Banks
Utila Town · Bay Islands · Honduras
The underwater banks north of Utila where whale sharks aggregate seasonally to feed on fish and tunicate spawn, offering one of the most affordable and accessible whale shark encounter experiences in the Caribbean.
West Bay Wall
West Bay · Bay Islands · Honduras
A dramatic coral wall dropping from a white sand beach on Roatan's western tip, where healthy reef crest transitions to a vertical drop-off teeming with sponges, sea fans, and Caribbean reef life just metres from shore.
West End Wall
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
An iconic vertical wall plunging from five metres to beyond recreational limits, steps from the dive shops of Roatan's most popular dive village, with sponge-encrusted overhangs and prolific Caribbean reef life.
Dive centers in Bay Islands
Roatan Dive Center
Dixon Cove · Bay Islands · Honduras
Boutique SSI center in Dixon Cove with 12,500+ dive veteran owner, south shore reef access, and 5-minute proximity to airport and cruise docks.
End of the World Resort
Guanaja · Bay Islands · Honduras
Premier dive resort on remote Guanaja since 1990 with beachfront cabins, pristine virgin reefs, and dramatic underwater topography.
Hotel Guanaja & Guanaja Dive Center
Guanaja · Bay Islands · Honduras
Primary dive center on remote Guanaja island with pristine, uncrowded reefs, the Jado Trader wreck, and PADI/SSI training.
Anthony's Key Resort
Sandy Bay · Bay Islands · Honduras
Legendary dive resort since 1964 in Sandy Bay with dolphin encounters, private island setting, and access to Roatan's most pristine reefs.
Alton's Dive Center
Utila · Bay Islands · Honduras
Popular PADI center on Utila with small class sizes, budget-friendly pricing, on-site accommodation, and whale shark season trips.
Bay Islands College of Diving
Utila · Bay Islands · Honduras
One of Utila's oldest PADI 5-Star Career Development Centers since 1990, integrated with Utila Lodge for comfortable dive-stay packages.
Coral View Beach Resort & Dive Center
Utila · Bay Islands · Honduras
Beachfront PADI 5-Star resort on Utila's Sandy Bay with house reef, on-site accommodation, and a quieter alternative to town-center dive shops.
Underwater Vision
Utila · Bay Islands · Honduras
Award-winning PADI 5-Star IDC and Career Development Center on Utila with eco-focus, professional training, and budget-friendly diving.
Utila Dive Centre
Utila · Bay Islands · Honduras
World-awarded PADI 5-Star Career Development Centre on Utila with two Platinum Course Directors, technical training, and budget-friendly pricing.
West Bay Divers
West Bay · Bay Islands · Honduras
PADI 5-Star center on West Bay Beach with shore reef access, two locations, and over 100 years of combined team experience.
Coconut Tree Divers
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
Roatan's only TDI tech center and PADI 5-Star IDC in Half Moon Bay, offering everything from beginner courses to trimix technical diving.
Island Diving Center
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
PADI 5-Star IDC Resort at Brisas del Mar Hotel with private dock, house reef access, and integrated dive-stay packages.
Native Sons Water Sports
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
Locally owned dive shop in West End offering authentic Roatan diving at budget-friendly prices with experienced native guides.
Reef Gliders
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
PADI 5-Star IDC Dive Resort in West End with multilingual staff, professional training programs, and access to 50+ dive sites.
Roatan Divers
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
Award-winning PADI 5-Star IDC Eco Center in West End with boutique-style small group diving and strong conservation focus.
Splash Inn Dive Resort
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
Beachfront PADI dive resort in West End with pool, restaurant, on-site accommodation, and daily boat dives to the Mesoamerican Reef.
Sun Divers Roatan
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
Roatan's first PADI Eco Center in Half Moon Bay, known for good vibes, great dives, and strong environmental commitment.
West End Divers
West End · Bay Islands · Honduras
PADI Five Star Dive Resort in West End since 1991, with on-site accommodation and access to 50+ dive sites on the Mesoamerican Reef.
Roatan Seaside Divers
34101 French Cay · Bay Islands · Honduras
Blue Island Divers
34101 Sandy Bay · Bay Islands · Honduras
Roatan Ocean Divers
34101 Sandy Bay · Bay Islands · Honduras
Scuba Roatan
Bay Islands · Bay Islands · Honduras
Best Dive Roatan
34101 Sandy Bay · Bay Islands · Honduras
Octopus Dive School
Bay Islands · Bay Islands · Honduras
Clearwater Adventures - Dive & Snorkel
W Bay Rd · Bay Islands · Honduras
Key Divers Roatan
34101 Coxen Hole · Bay Islands · Honduras
Grand Bleu Diving
Sandy Bay · Bay Islands · Honduras
Barefoot Divers
00000 Coxen Hole · Bay Islands · Honduras
Diving in Bay Islands
Bay Islands offers reef, wall, open-water dive sites across 4 locations. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
Why is Blackfish Point considered an advanced dive site?
Blackfish Point is exposed to open ocean on Utila's north shore, and the currents here can be significantly stronger than the sheltered south side where most Utila diving takes place. Downcurrents are possible along the wall, and conditions can change rapidly. The site often requires negative entries and strong current-management skills. The depth drops quickly to 30 metres and beyond, demanding good buoyancy control and air management. Most dive operators require Advanced Open Water certification and proof of recent diving experience before taking divers to Blackfish Point.
What is the connection between Blackfish Point and whale sharks?
Utila is one of the few places in the Caribbean where whale sharks are seen regularly, and the nutrient-rich upwellings at points like Blackfish Point are believed to concentrate the plankton that attracts them. The name Blackfish refers to pilot whales historically seen in the area, indicating the deep-water productivity of this location. Whale shark encounters typically involve surface snorkelling rather than diving, as the sharks feed near the surface. The peak seasons are March to May and August to October, coinciding with bonito spawning events that create plankton blooms.
How does Blackfish Point compare to CJ's Drop Off and other Utila sites?
While CJ's Drop Off on the south side is known for its dramatic vertical wall and calm conditions, Blackfish Point on the north side offers a fundamentally different experience. The north shore sites are more exposed, more current-swept, and more likely to deliver pelagic encounters. The reef structure at Blackfish Point is a sloping reef rather than a vertical wall, with more varied topography including swim-throughs and undercuts. The marine life tends to be larger and more pelagic-oriented. Most experienced Utila divers recommend diving both sides of the island for a complete experience.
Can you see whale sharks at CJ's Drop Off in Utila?
Whale sharks do pass through the deep waters near CJ's Drop Off, particularly during March-April and September-October when plankton blooms attract them. Sightings are not guaranteed but Utila is one of the most reliable places in the Caribbean to encounter whale sharks. Dedicated whale shark snorkelling trips increase your chances.
Why is Utila considered the cheapest place to dive in the Caribbean?
Utila has long been known as one of the world's most affordable dive destinations. Competition among the island's many dive shops keeps prices low, and basic accommodation is inexpensive. You can complete a PADI Open Water certification in Utila for a fraction of what it costs in other Caribbean destinations, often including accommodation.