Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

Duppy Waters

Duppy Waters is a north-shore Utila wall dive whose Caribbean Creole name (duppy means 'spirit') refers to the eerie blue gloom of the deeper wall. The dive begins on a coral plateau at 10 meters with healthy hard coral stands, then runs to a steep wall that descends past 35 meters. The face is covered with deep-water gorgonians, rope sponges, large barrel sponges and clusters of black coral, with crevices that shelter spotted moray, lobster and channel-clinging crabs. Reef life is consistent: queen and grey angelfish, hawksbill turtle, schooling creole wrasse, midnight parrotfish and the occasional Caribbean reef shark or spotted eagle ray cruising the deep blue. The north shore can pick up moderate swell during winter cold fronts but is otherwise calm; visibility runs 22 to 30 meters and currents are usually negligible.