Explore West Bay

On the western side of the diving mecca that is Roatan, Honduras, West Bay is ideally nestled along a stretch of pristine sands bathed by warm Caribbean waters. West Bay Beach is one of the Bay Islands’ top diving hotspots, home to numerous dive centers and dive resorts, right on the seafront, offering diving trips and dive courses ranging from beginner all the way up to professional levels. 

The healthy reefs that teem with tropical species are right off the beach, close enough to both dive and swim in many parts. You can opt for shore diving or boat diving, depending on where you wish to dive. Liveaboards often visit West Bay’s best sites so you won’t miss out if you’re not staying here.

Courses and Events

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide. For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

May 3, 2026 +6 More
$2,024.00

Open Water Diver

This globally recognized course is the best way to begin your lifelong adventure as a certified diver. Customized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure that you have the skills and experience to be truly comfortable underwater. You will earn your SSI Open Water Diver certification.

April 30, 2026 +1 More
$395.00

10 Dive Package

An incredible experience in the magnificent waters of the Caribbean. Ten dives to Roatan's most interesting and life-filled spots, always accompanied by an SSI professional.

April 30, 2026 +10 More
$380.00

Divemaster

The Divemaster course is the first step in an exciting journey. Gain the respect of your fellow divers and become an ambassador for diving by taking the Divemaster course. All you need to get started are 40 verified/recorded dives and Deep Diving, Navigation, Night Diving & Limited Visibility certifications or at least 5 recorded/verified dives in each area plus Diver Stress & Rescue. You will be certified as a Divemaster/Dive Guide after successfully completing the Divemaster course. If you want to turn your passion into a profession by guiding certified divers, teaching ecology courses, assisting instructors or becoming an instructor yourself, the next step is AI

May 4, 2026 +9 More
$700.00

Enriched Air Nitrox Explorer

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins, plus shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you will learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. Upon completion, you will earn an SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

April 30, 2026 +97 More
$150.00

Dive Activity

Diving in West Bay

Reef diving is excellent here, and interesting topography makes for exciting cave diving, especially at sites like Hole in the Wall, Blue Channel and Bear’s Den. Must-dive wall sites include Half Moon Bay Wall, Texas, Pablo’s Place and West End Wall. Many of the wall sites offer exhilarating drift diving too.

Wreck diving here is also possible, with two popular shipwrecks being the El Aguila and The Odyssey.

Top Wildlife Sightings in West Bay

It’s Caribbean species galore, from colorful hard and soft corals, macro critters, eels, octopus, stingrays, and tons of colorful reef fish, to schools of barracuda, eagle rays, turtles, reef sharks, and even whale sharks. Lucky divers might spot dolphins on occasion.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
673 Sightings
J
27
F
94
M
49
A
68
M
65
J
44
J
112
A
55
S
55
O
30
N
22
D
52

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
645 Sightings
J
7
F
47
M
52
A
54
M
77
J
60
J
101
A
89
S
84
O
27
N
7
D
40

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
632 Sightings
J
29
F
87
M
80
A
62
M
56
J
46
J
80
A
42
S
43
O
26
N
24
D
57
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
371 Sightings
J
22
F
79
M
49
A
19
M
19
J
7
J
53
A
39
S
18
O
20
N
11
D
35
Shutterstock-Andrey Armyagov

Hawksbill Turtle
145 Sightings
J
10
F
2
M
3
A
7
M
27
J
10
J
34
A
8
S
17
O
6
N
7
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
91 Sightings
J
13
F
0
M
7
A
1
M
20
J
2
J
17
A
1
S
14
O
0
N
16
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
847 Sightings
J
45
F
123
M
107
A
70
M
68
J
57
J
104
A
47
S
50
O
46
N
60
D
70

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
737 Sightings
J
52
F
109
M
73
A
49
M
49
J
51
J
101
A
36
S
57
O
34
N
59
D
67

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
631 Sightings
J
20
F
102
M
67
A
32
M
50
J
37
J
99
A
61
S
55
O
13
N
40
D
55

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
360 Sightings
J
24
F
29
M
31
A
31
M
51
J
17
J
53
A
34
S
40
O
10
N
9
D
31
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
303 Sightings
J
29
F
36
M
13
A
8
M
30
J
41
J
41
A
18
S
10
O
12
N
34
D
31

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
301 Sightings
J
21
F
42
M
44
A
18
M
14
J
15
J
43
A
12
S
20
O
9
N
29
D
34

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
268 Sightings
J
22
F
27
M
41
A
20
M
19
J
6
J
29
A
10
S
13
O
6
N
28
D
47

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
254 Sightings
J
15
F
24
M
37
A
17
M
20
J
20
J
38
A
17
S
0
O
9
N
20
D
37

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
190 Sightings
J
6
F
53
M
11
A
3
M
25
J
5
J
33
A
7
S
8
O
0
N
17
D
22

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
183 Sightings
J
15
F
42
M
33
A
4
M
28
J
0
J
5
A
7
S
10
O
0
N
27
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
180 Sightings
J
13
F
9
M
27
A
15
M
31
J
2
J
5
A
7
S
9
O
3
N
25
D
34

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
170 Sightings
J
13
F
16
M
25
A
11
M
5
J
9
J
40
A
6
S
2
O
6
N
11
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.

Flounder
143 Sightings
J
7
F
18
M
25
A
15
M
24
J
21
J
18
A
7
S
4
O
0
N
2
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
135 Sightings
J
6
F
4
M
16
A
3
M
25
J
10
J
28
A
6
S
5
O
4
N
22
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
125 Sightings
J
5
F
26
M
4
A
4
M
12
J
13
J
26
A
6
S
7
O
0
N
15
D
7

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
120 Sightings
J
3
F
17
M
6
A
4
M
1
J
0
J
26
A
0
S
18
O
15
N
24
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
107 Sightings
J
9
F
1
M
6
A
8
M
11
J
7
J
20
A
1
S
10
O
7
N
15
D
12
Alamy-WaterFrame

Common Seahorse
105 Sightings
J
3
F
2
M
30
A
29
M
4
J
0
J
7
A
0
S
10
O
0
N
5
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
94 Sightings
J
8
F
17
M
4
A
8
M
4
J
0
J
12
A
14
S
4
O
0
N
14
D
9

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
90 Sightings
J
6
F
20
M
25
A
0
M
14
J
0
J
12
A
6
S
0
O
2
N
4
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Shutterstock-s_a_j

Sand Eel
78 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
12
A
15
M
22
J
11
J
17
A
0
S
1
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
62 Sightings
J
8
F
18
M
4
A
0
M
6
J
1
J
3
A
0
S
3
O
11
N
8
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Shutterstock-RLS Photo

Lobster
58 Sightings
J
11
F
20
M
2
A
2
M
4
J
2
J
16
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
53 Sightings
J
9
F
9
M
2
A
2
M
11
J
0
J
2
A
6
S
2
O
0
N
4
D
6

The best Months to Dive in West Bay

Warm temperatures rest around 27°C–30°C/81°F–86°F allowing for great diving year-round. The best time is usually April and May, when the dry season brings the best weather and ocean conditions.

The rainy season runs from around July to January, though the wettest months are between October and January. Tropical rains usually pass quickly though, and sunny days occur frequently. 

For whale shark encounters, any time of the year is possible, however February and April provide the best chances.

Dive Centers

Infinity Divers

Infinity Bay Resort - West Bay Beach, 34101 Roatan Island, Honduras

Warfighter Scuba

Sunset Ridge, 86315 Roatan, Honduras

SSI Central America - Honduras, SSI Service Center Central America

Roatan Island, 34101 Bay Islands, Honduras

Dive Sites

Mares

Texas (The Point) (★4.5)

Most dives that are called Texas actually start closer to the Salt Life Point buoy and drift into Texas. The reason for this is that Texas is the area off of the westernmost point of the island and can be subject to strong currents. The Texas buoy itself is in 40 ft / 12 m and if there is current it will generally be pushing you off of the island and out towards the blue, so your dive can be hard work and short.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Pablos Place (★4.5)

Located on the western tip of the Island, this is a great drift diving site with a vertical reef wall starting at about 50ft. An east to west current gives a moderate drift for recreational divers.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

West End Wall (★4.6)

West End Wall is one of the most popular dive sites in Roatan. People come from all over the Bay Islands to dive here. It is a huge and amazing wall on the west end of Roatan, full of canyons and a huge variety of marine life. Sometimes the current can be medium to strong at the end of the dive.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Bucca Quay (★4.6)

Referred to by most as West End Wall, the official name is Buca Quay. This is a great wall drift dive with side canyons, chutes, and sand falls starting off at about 66 ft / 20 m to the bottom of the wall it drops off as you head west/south.
Scubapro

Black Rock (★4.5)

A continuation of West End Wall, Black Rock also provides an outstanding dive site with numerous fissures in the reef wall. Featuring spectacular soft coral formations and giant barrel sponges, this dive site joins up with West End Wall, Texas, and Pablo’s Place.
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

Infinity Bay House Reef (★4.4)

Located just off West Bay, this site encompasses various dive sites, suited for beginners on the inner reef and snorkelers. A short distance away is the outer wall and greater depths.
Mares

Mandy’s Eel Garden (★4.6)

Located on the prestigious West Bay Beach, Mandy’s Eel Garden starts at around 20 feet and continues towards the outer wall on the reef dropping down to the abyss.
Scubapro

Over Heat (★4.4)

A beautiful relaxing dive site, named after the patch of reef over which an old resort dive boat would overheat each day. Over Heat is one of the most favorite dive sites on Roatan.
Scubapro

Butcher’s Bank (★4.4)

Butcher’s Bank offers is so much variation, making it a firm favorite with many dive operators in the area. The line is set at the usual 40 ft / 12 m at the inner end of a coral finger running in from the outer wall.
Mares

Tabyanas (★4.5)

Tabyana, aka “Herbie’s Fantasy or Place“ is a salt water dive site, located in West Bay, Roatan, Honduras. This dive site has an average rating of 4.50 out of 5 from 4 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 36-40ft/11-12m. The average visibility is 71-80ft/22-24m.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Pubudus Playground (★4.4)

Starting at a 10 meters/ 30ft sand patch, this dive site is a perfect place to practice navigation as it is located bit further away from the wall/drop off.
Scubapro

Pablo’s Place (★4.4)

Just around the corner on the Southern tip of the island. Due to strong, unpredictable currents, a site more suitable for advanced divers. Top of reef 25 feet down the wall to 100 feet.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Chloes Coral (★4.4)

Right at West Bay Beach, this shallow site with clear waters is great for beginners. Sandy area’s are mixed with coral heads for fun diverse under water views.