Roatán offers something for every traveler. From palm tree beaches to tourist villages to lush jungles, you’ll taste delicious food and beverages and find plenty of activities to keep you busy. 

The island is located about 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras. It is the biggest of the Bay Islands, which includes Guanaja, Utila and Roatán, stretching about 40 miles long and 5 miles wide. The island is covered in mangrove forests and iron shores, which are volcanic rock formations. 

Roatán lies on the edge of the second largest coral reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Reef. It is home to over 500 species of fish and 60 coral species. 

Roatán is home to thick, vibrant coral, playful dolphins and schools of tropical fish. The island’s reefs and drop-offs are perfect for novices and experts alike. And the warm water and gentle currents make for great year-round visibility. 

Roatán has approximately 35 dive sites, from West Bay to Man of War Cay to Anthony’s Key. These dive sites offer everything from shipwrecks to peaceful eel gardens. Coral walls begin as shallow as 20 feet below the surface and drop into the depths of the Caribbean.  

Keep your eyes out for:

Sea turtles 

Eagle rays 

Blue tangs 

Parrotfish 

Angelfish 

Caribbean reef sharks 

Recommended Specialty Courses

Perfect buoyancy

Nitrox

Boat diving

Night & limited visibility

Conservation Efforts

Roatán Marine Park (RMP)

Roatán Marine Park is a community based, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of Roatan’s protected marine and coastal area including all of its flora, fauna, physical and biological characteristics and phenomena, and historical and cultural resources. Read about their programs here.

BICA-Roatán

The Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA) has a mission to conserve in a participatory, transparent and sustainable way, the coastal marine resources and the ecosystem services which they provide for the social and cultural well-being of present and future generations in the Bay Islands. Read about their programs here.

Coral Reef Alliance

The Coral Reef Alliance works at local, regional, and global levels to keep coral reefs healthy, so they can adapt to climate change and survive for generations to come. As one of the largest global NGOs focused exclusively on protecting coral reefs, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has used cutting-edge science and community engagement for nearly 30 years to reduce direct threats to reefs and to promote scalable and effective solutions for their protection. Read about their projects in Roatán here.