Sandy Bay, Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras

Blue Channel

Blue Channel is a north-shore Roatán dive named for the deep blue cast of a long natural cut through the fringing reef in the Sandy Bay marine reserve. Divers descend onto a coral plateau at 8 meters and follow the channel as it slopes from 10 down to 22 meters between vertical coral walls that reach 12 to 15 meters in height. The walls are encrusted with sea rods, brain coral, lettuce coral, large barrel sponges and orange elephant-ear sponges, and the sandy floor is patrolled by southern stingrays and yellowhead jawfish. Reef fauna along the shoulders includes queen and French angelfish, hawksbill turtle, schooling French and bluestriped grunt, midnight parrotfish, spotted moray and creole wrasse. The wider opening at the seaward end is a reliable spot for spotted eagle ray fly-bys. The channel atmosphere and shallow profile make this a popular afternoon and Open Water training dive; visibility runs 18 to 25 meters and currents are mild.