Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

Black Coral Wall

Black Coral Wall is a north-shore Utila wall dive named for the dense stands of branching black coral that decorate the upper face of the wall. The dive begins on a coral plateau at 10 meters with healthy stands of brain coral, sea rods and large barrel sponges, then drops to a wall that runs from 18 down past 35 meters. The shoulder of the wall in particular is fringed with bushy black coral colonies (most regulated under CITES), deep-water gorgonians and rope sponges. Reef fauna is reliable: hawksbill turtle, queen and grey angelfish, schooling creole wrasse, midnight parrotfish, spotted moray and the occasional spotted eagle ray. Macro subjects on the wall include cleaner shrimp, arrow crabs, banded coral shrimp and juvenile spotted drum. Conditions are usually calm with visibility of 22 to 30 meters; the site is moored and accessed by boat from Utila Town.