Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras

Black Rock Canyons

Black Rock Canyons is a Guanaja north-shore dive named for the volcanic ridges that frame a series of vertical canyons cutting through the fringing reef. The dive begins on a coral plateau at 10 meters with healthy hard-coral cover, then drops into the canyon system with vertical walls rising 12 to 18 meters on either side and floor depths ranging from 18 down to 30 meters before the canyons spill onto the deeper outer wall. The walls are heavily decorated with deep-water gorgonians, rope sponges, brain coral and large clusters of black coral. Reef fauna is consistently rich: hawksbill turtle, queen and French angelfish, schooling creole wrasse and grunt, large midnight parrotfish, spotted moray and reliable spotted eagle ray passages through the canyon openings. The complex topography rewards careful buoyancy control. Visibility averages 25 to 35 meters and currents are usually mild.