wreck

Log This Dive

HAWTHORNE TRADER

The *Hawthorne Trader* is one of Roatán's true characters, a 71-meter freighter that decided to call the reef home after an explosion way back in 1970. We love how much of it is still so intact, a real testament to its build quality. It sits upright, mostly, with the bow shallower, starting around 10 meters, and the stern dropping to about 30. You can spend a good chunk of a no-decompression dive exploring the cargo holds, where shafts of light pierce through, illuminating schools of silversides that flicker like disco balls. Look for resident groupers peering out from the shadows and moray eels tucked into every crevice. Our favourite part is the engine room, accessible if you're comfortable with some tighter spaces; it’s a bit silty, but the machinery is still surprisingly recognisable. We'd suggest going early in the morning, before the dive boats arrive, for the best chance to see the wreck come alive with cruising reef sharks or a passing eagle ray. This site is brilliant for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate a good backstory and divers keen on seeing how nature reclaims man-made structures.