Utila, Bay Islands, Honduras

Pretty Bush

Pretty Bush is a north-shore Utila dive that takes its name from the extraordinary density of branching black coral colonies decorating the upper portion of its wall. The dive begins on a coral plateau at 10 meters with healthy stands of brain coral, sea rods and barrel sponges, then drops to a stepped wall running from 18 down past 30 meters. The shoulder of the wall in particular is fringed with bushy black coral, deep-water gorgonians, rope sponges and large barrel sponges. Reef fauna is reliable: queen and grey angelfish, hawksbill turtle, schooling creole wrasse, midnight parrotfish, spotted moray and the occasional spotted eagle ray. Cleaner shrimp stations are abundant in the wall crevices and a popular subject for macro photographers. Conditions on the north shore are usually calm with visibility of 22 to 30 meters; the site is moored and accessed by boat from Utila Town.