The Caribbean coast of Honduras borders the Mesoamerican Reef, the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
An abundance of marine life, large and small, can be seen while scuba diving around the Bay Islands of Honduras and near mainland coastal towns, such as Tela.
Here is some of the marine life you can expect to see on a scuba trip to Honduras.
Sharks and Rays
You have a good chance of seeing a spotted eagle ray or southern stingray while scuba diving in Honduras, but reef sharks are less common. If you see a shark, it’s likely to be a nurse shark or whitetip reef shark. If you’re very lucky, you might see a hammerhead.
Some dive sites are sharkier than others. One of the many PADI Dive Shops in Honduras can help you plan your shark sighting strategy.
Whale Sharks
In Utila, whale sharks can be seen year-round, but you have the highest odds of encountering one mid-February through April and August to September. Whale sharks are sometimes seen along the north shore of Roatán.
Dolphins
Common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins are often seen topside. They live in and around the Bay Islands, but the north shore of Roatán is one of the best places to see a pod.
Sea Turtles
Five of the seven types of sea turtles can be found in Honduras. Green turtles and the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle are the most common. Loggerhead turtles are seen occasionally.
Reef Creatures Large and Small
Honduras is home to lush reefs with massive barrel sponges and gigantic gorgonians. Living in and around the coral, you can expect to see:
- Angelfish
- Butterflyfish
- Damselfish
- Caribbean reef squid
- Octopuses
- Parrotfish
- Schools of grunts, wrasses and snappers
Larger fish hunt the smaller marine life in Honduras. These may include barracuda, Nassau groupers and tiger groupers.
Macro Critters
Roatán is one of the top destinations for macro photography, according to the experts at Scuba Diving® magazine. Highlights include:
- Seahorses (some of the biggest I’ve ever seen)
- Nudibranchs
- Flamingo tongues
Toadfish
Honduras is also home to the toadfish. This “singing” fish is well-camouflaged, but you may get to hear its croak.
Ready To Dive in?
The marine life in Honduras includes a wide variety of crowd-pleasing critters. The visibility is also 18-30 meters/60-100 feet year-round. Ready to book your trip?
