wreck

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EL AGUILA

El Aguila, a former cargo ship, was scuttled just off Utila in 1997, later moved to Roatán and sunk again near Dixon Cove. Now she lies in three main pieces, courtesy of Hurricane Mitch, which ripped through just a year after her second sinking. We actually prefer her this way; it means more swim-throughs and interesting angles to explore. Our favourite part is dropping down onto the bow, usually around 20 metres, then making our way back towards the stern. You can poke around the hold, which is full of schooling snapper and grunts, or peer into the engine room, though it’s a tight squeeze. Look for the resident green moray eel often peeking out from a pipe. Visibility here is typically good, often 20 metres plus, and the currents are generally mild, making it a relaxed wreck dive. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light filtering through the deck plating and into the holds is incredible. It’s a fantastic wreck for open water divers looking for something beyond a reef, but still shallow enough to allow for plenty of bottom time.