Roatán, the area around Pillar Coral

Roatán · Honduras · Pinnacle · Wall

Pillar Coral

A coral spire off the wall, topping out at about 27 m

Area photo: Luis Alfredo Romero · CC BY-SA 4.0

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

Depth profile of Pillar Coral: typical dive 10–27 m (33–90 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 m27 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

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.

Month-by-month season rating for Pillar Coral
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeFairFairGoodGood

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 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

  1. Pillar Coral — Scubago

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