Cayos Cochinos, Bay Islands, Honduras

Roatán Banks

Roatán Banks is a series of submerged seamounts in the deeper water between Cayos Cochinos and the southern shore of Roatán, included in Roatán Aggressor and Honduras Aggressor itineraries because the isolated structures concentrate pelagic life. The principal pinnacle rises from a 60-meter sandy bottom to a summit at roughly 18 to 22 meters and is heavily decorated with deep-water gorgonians, rope sponges, large barrel sponges and dense clusters of black coral. The summit attracts dense schools of horse-eye jack, blackbar soldierfish, creole wrasse and snapper, while the deeper flanks are reliable for Caribbean reef shark, spotted eagle ray, large barracuda and grouper. Hawksbill and green turtles cruise the structure. The exposed open water can produce moderate current and the depth makes this an advanced single-tank dive; visibility averages 25 to 35 meters.