wreck

Log This Dive

Airplane Wreck

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.