Utila, the area around Ron's Wreck

Utila · Honduras · Wreck

Ron's Wreck

An old shrimp boat at 18 metres, full of small life

Area photo: Lee Cain · CC BY 4.0

Ron's Wreck is an old shrimp fishing boat sitting at about 18 metres, usually reached by carrying on west from the neighbouring Moon Hole. The interest is mostly in what has moved in around it: moray eels, lionfish and rare nudibranchs are all found below the wreck, with blue tang schools and spotted eagle rays possible over the surrounding bottom.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Ron's Wreck: typical dive to 18 m (to 60 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit18 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

16.0845° N, 86.8939° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

Most dives here start somewhere else. Finishing off Moon Hole and heading west brings you to the wreck, an old shrimp fishing boat now sitting below at about 18 metres, so by the time you arrive you are already partway through your gas. Check it before you settle in to work the hull, because the small stuff on this wreck is exactly the kind of thing that eats bottom time without you noticing.

Below the wreck is where to look. Moray eels, lionfish and rare nudibranchs are all found under and around the hull, and the nudibranchs in particular reward anyone prepared to slow down and search rather than swim laps. Away from the metal it is possible to see schools of blue tangs, spotted eagle rays passing, and lettuce sea slugs on the bottom. A torch and a slow pace do more for this dive than distance covered.

The wreck

Vessel
Unnamed shrimp fishing boat
Type
Shrimp fishing boat
Cause
No published account of how or when she came to be sunk
Lies
On the bottom at about 18 metres (60 ft)

Marine life and season

  • Nudibranchs
  • Eagle rays
  • Reef fish swarms
  • Macro critters
Month-by-month season rating for Ron's Wreck
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeFairFairGoodGood

Season follows Utila: March–August offers the calmest, driest conditions and the best whale shark odds; October–January is rainier with reduced visibility.

Sources

  1. Ron's Wreck - Utila — Scubago

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