Airplane Wreck - Roatán

We’ve dived a few plane wrecks in our time, but the Roatán Airplane Wreck has a particular charm. It’s a single-engine passenger plane, a small Cessna that went down in 2021. Everyone on board made it out okay, which always helps with the mood. This isn't a massive warplane, so don't expect dramatic bomb bays, but its relatively shallow depth, maxing out at 22 metres, means plenty of bottom time. When you drop down, you find the plane lying flat on the sand, surprisingly intact. You can easily swim around the cockpit, peer into the passenger windows, and imagine the pilot’s last moments before the splash. Because it’s relatively new, it hasn't completely transformed into an artificial reef, but we’ve already spotted some excellent signs of colonisation. Look closely, and you'll see tiny blennies peeking from crevices, a few cardinalfish sheltering in the fuselage, and even a small school of blue parrotfish picking at algae that’s starting to grow on the wings. We’ve even seen the odd turtle cruising by, perhaps curious about the new addition to their neighbourhood. This is a relaxed dive, perfect for photographers wanting clean lines of a recognisable wreck, or anyone who enjoys the novelty of an accidental artificial reef. Our advice? Go in the morning; the light hitting the plane through the clear water is just stunning.

Location
Roatán, Honduras, Central America
Coordinates
16.098500, -86.868700
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Airplane Wreck

Year Sunk
2021
Vessel Type
aircraft
Cause
unknown

One of Roatán's newest dive sites, this wreck is a six-passenger, single-engine plane that went down in 2021. In a fortunate turn of events, all passengers and the pilot survived the incident, leaving behind a modern relic for divers to explore. The plane was not intentionally sunk, making it an authentic crash site that offers a different kind of wreck diving experience.

The aircraft now rests upright and intact on a sandy bottom at a depth of about 24 meters. Located away from the main reef, it stands as a solitary, man-made structure on the seafloor. While marine life is still in the early stages of colonization, the wreck itself is an interesting and photogenic subject. Its recent vintage and complete structure provide a unique opportunity to see a plane on the seabed much as it was on its final day of flight.

Marine Protected Area: Sistema de Humedales de la Isla de Utila

Best Time to Dive in Roatán

The warmest water temperatures in Roatán occur in September, averaging 30.2°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 27.3°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.4°C
  • February: 27.3°C
  • March: 27.4°C
  • April: 28.0°C
  • May: 28.9°C
  • June: 29.3°C
  • July: 29.1°C
  • August: 29.7°C
  • September: 30.2°C
  • October: 30.0°C
  • November: 29.1°C
  • December: 28.3°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Roatán

Nearest Dive Centres to Airplane Wreck

Marine Life in Roatán

Home to 170 recorded species including 150 reef fish, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 hard corals, 4 other, 1 sharks & rays, 1 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Airplane Wreck

Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C, currents 7 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories