Underwater Guanaja, Bay Islands

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Most people travel to Honduras to snorkel and dive in Roatan, however Guanaja would be my preference of the two. This volcanic island and it’s surrounding ocean is a maze of interesting perforated rock formations created when lava has hit the ocean and cooled quickly. There are caverns and chambers all along the coastline, some not entirely submerged so suitable for snorkeling. In smooth tunnels off the northern tip hide nurse sharks, eagle rays, jewfish and parrot fish while off the southern shore lies a forest of elkhorn corals concealing several shallow wrecks where angel fish, pufferfish and trumpet fish make their homes and large rays and nurse sharks cruise the sandy floor.

A soft coral spot near the southern most tip of the island is a good place to visit in the evenings when the coral seems to emit a soft glow, but the current here can be strong (which is why the area is so lush) so take care.

One of the most famous dives on Guanaja is called Jim’s Silverlode, a reef wall with a deep rift which opens out into a tunnel teaming with sardines ending in a wide sand bottomed, open topped cavern with walls ridged with coral. Larger fish like grouper and yellow tail and eels are common in the cavern, they’ve become used to divers so they’re likely to follow you hoping for a feed. This is an easy dive good for intermediate beginners or experienced snorkelers looking to go deeper.

4 / 5 Review by expert member Daniella May

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