This is the eighteenth in a series which introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. The focus in this one is on Honduras liveaboards.
In addition to this liveaboard series, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or other liveaboards, click on Liveaboards / Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title.
Roatan Scuba Diving
Situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Honduras, near the Belize Barrier Reef, Roatan is one of the Bay Islands of Honduras, whose fringing reef is part of the greater Mesoamerican Barrier Reef that runs from Mexico to Panama.
Roatan Dive Site Map
The clear water and generally mild conditions suitable for beginners surrounds healthy coral and rich, fascinating marine life in a setting including walls, canyons, and swim-throughs.
There is great macro life and a variety of reef fishes, eels, large sponges, crabs, lobster, and pristine coral, topped off with turtles, rays, sharks and several wrecks. They run a shark feeding dive with masses of 2-3 meter Caribbean reef sharks swimming among the divers. During the spring and summer whale sharks are often sighted around Utila Island.
Urban centers and dive resorts are located on Roatan and Utila Islands, but to take in the diving further away around Cayos Cochinos and Guanaja, a liveaboard is the best solution.
Diving is year round, but the best weather is from January through September. Visibility is great and water temperatures warm, ranging from 80 to 87°F (27 to 31°C).
For reviews of diving in other Caribbean locations, please check out these posts:
- Scuba Diving Cuba Best Dive Sites Cuba
- Best Cuba Scuba Diving Liveaboard Jardines de la Reina
- Scuba Diving the Dominican Republic
- Best Scuba Diving Panama
- Scuba Diving Cancun Mexico
- Best Scuba Diving Puerto Rico
- Scuba Diving St Vincent and the Grenadines Review
- St. Lucia Scuba Diving Review
- Cozumel Scuba Diving Review
- St. Martin Scuba Diving Review
- Turks and Caicos Scuba Diving Review
- Best Diving Cayman Islands
- Best US Virgin Islands Vacations Scuba Diving
- Best Trinidad and Tobago Vacations Scuba Diving
- Best Caribbean Beach Vacations Curacao Scuba Diving
- Best Caribbean Diving Destinations Aruba
- Best Caribbean Dive Vacations Bonaire
- Best Tropical Island Vacations Dominica Scuba Diving
- Best Caribbean Scuba Diving Los Roques Venezuela
- Barbados Scuba Dive Vacations
- Grenada Scuba Diving Review
- Best Scuba Diving Caribbean – Martinique
- Best British Virgin Island Diving Liveaboard
- Best Bahamas Liveaboard Scuba Vacations
- Best Belize Dive Trips & Cocos Island Diving
- Best Caribbean Liveaboard Dive Trips (several locations)
Roatan Liveaboard Dive Boats
There are only two liveaboards cruising the Roatan Island area. The Roatan Aggressor is part of the very professional and well dispersed Aggressor Fleet. The SV Zeppelin is a small family run yacht operated by a private couple of diving professionals who provide a cozier, more intimate setting with very personal service.
- 8-day itinerary diving Roatan, Utila, Cayos Cochinos and the Sea Mount
- Highlights: whale sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and bottlenose dolphins, sheer walls, seamounts, mystical wrecks, massive barrel sponges & captivating macro critters
- All dives from mothership with easy entry & exit
- Complete digital photo facility
- Large sun deck with loungers, wet bar
- Beer & wine – complimentary
- Nitrox, rental equipment & courses available
- Satellite email available
- Snorkel & explore secluded beaches
- Nondivers always welcome
| Roatan Aggressor | SV Zeppelin | |
|---|---|---|
 |  |
|
| Length | 31 m | 14 m |
| Guests | 18 | 4 |
| Crew | Unlisted | 2 |
| Equipment | Pricing to be arranged | Free |
| Nitrox | Yes - pricing to be arranged | No |
| Snorkeling Package | No | Yes |
| Price/Day | $249 | $335 |
Roatan Photo Opportunities
With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here: Best Underwater Cameras Compared and Reviewed
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
I hope you found this post on Honduras liveaboards interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
The Zepplin explore and sail package is now on my bucket list for sure. It hit everything i am looking for: family owned yacht,snorkeling and yoga. I would love to be able to do something like this by next year. I am assuming the price you quoted is standard. Are you aware if they do any other price specials throughout the year ?
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for your comments and interest. It really would be a special personalized experience in a great location.
I am not aware of any pricing specials coming up. The price quoted is not likely to be changed this season, but the best way to ensure you can get an available spot and the same pricing is to book as early as possible. Also, they are only running through March, 2019 and then will take a hiatus before starting up again. They haven’t yet published their cruise dates for the next season. You can click through using my link to Liveaboard.com
for complete details on the booking process.
If you have further questions about this Roatan liveaboard or anything concerning scuba diving,please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
Thank you very much for sharing the Roatan Honduras live abroad experience, I was worried when you mentioned that divers have sharks swimming alongside them, considering that sharks are very deadly.
Have you ever had cases where divers never return from their adventure?
Are there measures in place in case of emergencies like storm, injury from shark bite? Etc
I love the sea life, but the risk is more, I will like to visit when I have adequate information about the area.
Bye
Hi Azogor,
Thanks for your interest and questions.
The diving with sharks is well planned and there have been no shark attacks on the divers at Roatan. But it is not mandatory to go on these shark dives. You can arrange with the crew for another dive without sharks.
The boat’s Captain and crew have the safety of passengers and divers as their primary concern. When weather becomes a problem, protective measures are taken. These Roatan cruises do not venture long distances from shore.
If you would like to take a course to learn to scuba dive it takes 3-5 days and includes 5 shallow water or swimming pool sessions and 4 open water dives. This training would go a long way in getting you started toward taking a cruise like this one and allaying fears of diving and ocean cruising. If you would like advice on where to do a course or anything related to diving, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe