Roatán · Honduras · Wall · Reef
Half Moon Wall
Reef top at 5 m, wall dropping to about 46 m off West End
Area photo: Luis Alfredo Romero · CC BY-SA 4.0
Half Moon Wall lies off West End and is an easy site to reach, which is why local dive centres use it so often. The reef begins at about 5 m and the wall below it drops to roughly 46 m, so the same site serves a shallow coral dive, a run along the wall face, or a deeper look over the edge.
Also known as Half Moon Bay Wall.
Where it is and how deep
16.3084° N, 86.5961° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Drop onto the reef top, which begins at about 5 m. That is shallow enough that the first minutes are bright, easy water and a straightforward orientation before you go over the edge. Follow the reef out to where it breaks and the face falls away; the wall runs down to around 46 m, so pick a working depth and hold it rather than letting the coral lead you further down.
Most dives work along the wall in one direction, then come back over the reef top for the shallow half and the safety stop. Local centres put it on the schedule regularly because it is easy to reach, and it takes repeat visits well: the same site gives you a shallow coral dive one day and a run along the face the next, depending on the group and the gas plan.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Good | Good |
Season follows Roatán: March–August is driest with the calmest seas; October–January brings the Bay Islands' rainier season and reduced visibility.
Know before you go
- The wall drops to about 46 m, well past most recreational plans - set a maximum depth before you descend and watch the gauge along the face.
Sources
- Half Moon Wall — Scubago
More dive sites in Roatán
Wall
Canyons and swim-throughs on a wall bottoming out at 16 m
Wreck
Three swim-throughs, and sometimes 15 to 20 groupers inside
Reef
A coral pillar standing in a square cut in the reef wall
Drift
A shallow drift down a sand path scattered with wreck pieces
Steep cracked wall over sand that starts at 25 m and keeps going
Reef
Volcanic fissures lined with some of the Caribbean's largest black corals
Wreck
Stairwells, cabins and an intact mess table at 12 to 33 m
Pinnacle
A coral spire off the wall, topping out at about 27 m
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