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West End Roatan

The West End of Roatan is the location of the majority of the tourist population with the majority of the tourist shops and restaurants located in a beachfront strip encompasing the two towns of West End and West Bay. Roatan has a very diverse diving geography in that there are three fairly distinct areas with distinct topography. The north side is mostly finger corals running straight from shore to sandy bottoms. The south shore has a preponderance of walls dropping off steeply. West end runs sandy shallows out to large coral heads which have multitudes of swim thrus and shallow walls dropping down to a sandy shelf at 100 to 120 feet before finally dropping off vertically farther out to dephs of 3000 to 3500 feet. You’ll see the same general life on these reefs as you will on the other shores.
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Roatan’s reefs are in very good condition with prolific life. there has been a very successful program to preserve and protect them.
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Turtles abound in Roatan which is a sign of a healthy system. This turtle couldn’t shake this persistent remora which seemed determined to snag a ride.
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Eagle rays are also in abundance. We spotted a pod of five at one point swimming together.
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The El Aquila is still a major wreck site but the vessel has been damaged by storms and is broken up some.
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If you’re into Morays there is never a shortage of large green morays at most any place on the reef. They are large and prolific as well as very curious. I don’t recommend it for the beginning diver but some morays don’t mind being stroked on their head.
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This fireworm is the largest I have ever seen coming in at a full 8 inches. Normally they don’t get over 4 to 5 inches.

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