Roatán · Honduras · Pinnacle · Wall
Pillar Coral
A coral spire off the wall, topping out at about 27 m
Area photo: William Eburn · CC BY 2.5
Pillar Coral is a coral spire standing just off the reef wall. The mooring is on the top reef at about 10 m and a very short swim takes you out over the top of the spire, which tops out at around 27 m. Below that the site keeps descending well beyond recreational limits, so it is a depth-discipline dive rather than a wander.
Where it is and how deep
16.3263° N, 86.5809° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Drop onto the top reef at about 10 m and get organised there before you head out. The spire is only a short swim off the wall, but the swim is where the depth happens: its top is at roughly 27 m, so you go from shallow reef to the deep end of recreational diving in a couple of minutes. Agree a maximum depth and a turn time on the boat rather than in the water.
Around the spire everything below keeps dropping - the site descends well beyond recreational limits, and there is no visual floor to stop you. Check your computer often, especially while circling the top of the spire, where it is easy to sink a few metres without noticing. Come back onto the wall and the top reef with gas in hand: the shallow reef at 10 m gives you somewhere to finish slowly and hang for the safety stop near the mooring.
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 | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Roatán: March to August is dry with the calmest seas; October to February is the rainy season, wettest in November and December.
Know before you go
- The site descends well beyond recreational limits with no bottom in sight - fix a maximum depth before the dive and watch your computer while circling the spire.
Sources
- Pillar Coral — Scubago
More dive sites in Roatán
Drift
A shallow drift down a sand path scattered with wreck pieces
Exit a sand-chute tunnel through an opening in the vertical wall face
Wall
Canyons and swim-throughs on a wall bottoming out at 16 m
Reef
A coral pillar standing in a square cut in the reef wall
Wreck
Three swim-throughs, and sometimes 15 to 20 groupers inside
Channel & pass
Swim-throughs one after another inside a canyon from lagoon to outer reef
Sand slope
A sand patch at 11 m between Dragon Maze and the wall
Wreck
Stairwells, cabins and an intact mess table at 12 to 33 m
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