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Grand Roatan, West Bay, Roatan

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Grand Roatan, West Bay, Roatan

The Grand Roatan Resort and Spa, West Bay Road, Roatan, Honduras.

Coordinates in degrees decimal:  N 16.271667, E -86.600000

Visited in February-March, 2019.  Photographer: Nigel Thomas.   Cameras:  Pentax WG-II, Sea & Sea 1G with DX1G housing and Olympus Tough T5.

Roatan Island sits approximately 50 kilometres north of the coast of Honduras.  West Bay is located at the western end of the island and is in a north to south orientation.  A coral reef stretches over the length of the bay but is closest to shore in the southern part of the bay.  The reef edge is between 100 and 200 metres from shore in the most accessible areas.  Two resorts are located immediately adjacent this stretch of beach; The Grand Roatan (www.grandroatanresort.com) and The Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort (www.infinitybay.com). The Grand Roatan, in particular, has made strenuous efforts to protect the reef, through a variety of initiatives.

Tidal range is very limited, less than 0.3M, with wind conditions in the area ideal, as they blow from the east almost all year round.  Marine life diversity is good with over 160 species recorded over a 10 day period, although some of the fish species were unusually skittish, which is my excuse for not catching a good image of the more common species!  Sadly, some of the reef is showing signs of wear and tear, with several areas of moribund coral and examples of poor coral health, with patches of algal and sponge overgrowth.  Visitor pressure is also having an effect, despite the efforts of the wardens who appear to be constantly telling people not to stand on the coral.  So please don’t stand on the coral!

Completed without the support of the resorts.

Snorkelling from shore is restricted to the southern part of the bay, with two easy access points. Entry point 1 is just to the left of the jetty (facing the sea), in front of the Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort; entry point 2 is directly in front of the Grand Roatan Resort, with several bouys in place to mark the safest route. All areas to the north of the jetty are subject to intense vessel activity all day, and it would be unsafe to venture into this area, unless in marked swimming areas.
Entry point 1, next to the jetty in front of the Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort. Note that this area may get crowded while cruise vessels are visiting, which generally occurs around 10:00. In the shallow waters the seabed is composed of flat sands, with plenty of fast swimming fish.
Further offshore the sands are replaced by mixed seagrasses, cobbles and small boulders. The sands persist as corridors through the reef in several places. These inshore habitats support a characteristic group of species as well as some of the more offshore species, such as this Giant Baracuda.
The reef areas, particularly to the south of the bay, are very shallow and care has to be taken if you try to swim through or across them. Despite this you will be rewarded with areas teeming with life, including numerous shoals of fish, such as this group of Doctorfish, Surgeonfish and Blue Tang.
The outer edge of the reef has various profiles from vertical to steeply sloping. The area is populated by numerous coral, seafan and sponge species. Past the reef edge flat sands are present. The outer edge of this reef is where the glass bottom boat cruises. A secondary reef also exists, slightly further out, which is frequently visited by diving groups, who secure their vessels to fixed bouys.
Although the area between the first reef edge and the secondary reef is largely sand, other habitats exist, including this unusual field of Seawhips.
If you fancy a night snorkel the recommended approach is to commence just as the sun is setting and swim towards the sun, starting from the jetty outside the Infinity Bay Resort. This will take you into a sand gully that runs between vertical reef walls, initially marked with bottom ropes.
Snorkelling from shore is restricted to the southern part of the bay, with two easy access points. Entry point 1 is just to the left of the jetty (facing the sea), in front of the Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort; entry point 2 is directly in front of the Grand Roatan Resort, with several bouys in place to mark the safest route. All areas to the north of the jetty are subject to intense vessel activity all day, and it would be unsafe to venture into this area, unless in marked swimming areas.
Entry point 1, next to the jetty in front of the Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort. Note that this area may get crowded while cruise vessels are visiting, which generally occurs around 10:00. In the shallow waters the seabed is composed of flat sands, with plenty of fast swimming fish.
Further offshore the sands are replaced by mixed seagrasses, cobbles and small boulders. The sands persist as corridors through the reef in several places. These inshore habitats support a characteristic group of species as well as some of the more offshore species, such as this Giant Baracuda.
The reef areas, particularly to the south of the bay, are very shallow and care has to be taken if you try to swim through or across them. Despite this you will be rewarded with areas teeming with life, including numerous shoals of fish, such as this group of Doctorfish, Surgeonfish and Blue Tang.
The outer edge of the reef has various profiles from vertical to steeply sloping. The area is populated by numerous coral, seafan and sponge species. Past the reef edge flat sands are present. The outer edge of this reef is where the glass bottom boat cruises. A secondary reef also exists, slightly further out, which is frequently visited by diving groups, who secure their vessels to fixed bouys.
Although the area between the first reef edge and the secondary reef is largely sand, other habitats exist, including this unusual field of Seawhips.
If you fancy a night snorkel the recommended approach is to commence just as the sun is setting and swim towards the sun, starting from the jetty outside the Infinity Bay Resort. This will take you into a sand gully that runs between vertical reef walls, initially marked with bottom ropes.

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All Reef & seabed associated fish Mid & Open-water fish Sponges Anemones & Sea Firs Soft Corals & Gorgonians Hard Corals & Coral like species Worms & worm like species Crustaceans Molluscs Echinoderms Algae & Seagrasses Other

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