HAWTHORNE TRADER - Roatán

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.

Location
Roatán, Honduras, Central America
Coordinates
16.316668, -86.550000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Marine Protected Area: Islas de la Bahía

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 HAWTHORNE TRADER

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 HAWTHORNE TRADER

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