About 40 miles from the mainland, Roatan is world-renowned for its diving options – and perhaps the best stop for someone looking to see what Central America has to offer beneath the surface.

Roatan is positioned on the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Divers to the area are spoiled by a wide variety of scuba experiences, from coral gardens and caverns to walls and wrecks like the El Aguila and Odyssey. And it’s all super accessible, located just a few minutes from the shore.

“Here on Roatan it’s pretty much like honeymoon diving, really simple and really easy,” said Roatan Marine Park Patrols and Infrastructure Coordinator Nicholas Bach. “Usually the visibility is remarkably good, there aren’t really any strong currents to name of, and the dive sites are all really close by.”

For those travelers that prefer not to dive snorkeling is a great option, you can take your fins and mask to the end of the pier and hop right in. the Beach is also a great alternative it is often ranked among the finest beaches in the world

Meanwhile, other parts of the island offer a quiet refuge from the crowds: “The nice thing about Roatan is you’ve got beaches and other places that are more secluded. So the benefit of being here is you can really choose how active or isolated you want to be,” added Bach.

Honduras Tourism Board shares highlights of sublime diving, abundant wildlife, archeological wonders, and more to inspire travelers seeking one-of-a-kind bucket list experiences in the new year.

Dive the Largest Coral Reef in the Americas

For travelers seeking underwater adventures, Honduras offers plenty of opportunities as home to the largest coral reef in the Americas. The vibrant Mesoamerican Barrier Reef hugs the Bay Islands just off the mainland with 700 miles of colorful corals and more than 500 species of fish.

SCUBA-certified sightseers to Roatán are invited to take part in the Coral Restoration Program at Roatán Marine Park, a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Honduras’ marine and coastal ecosystems.

From vibrant coral, massive sponges, and peaceful eel gardens to schools of tropical fish, fleets of eagle rays, and sea turtles, an underwater wonderland awaits divers in Honduras' famed Bay Islands.

The Bay Islands are famous amongst scuba divers and snorkelers of all skill levels thanks to the spectacular reef and its close proximity to shore. The three famous dive spots in the Bay Islands – Utila, Roatán and Guanaja archipelagos – invite intrepid divers to discover underwater worlds, swim with whale sharks and explore hard and soft coral reefs.