Maccallum Girls - Roatán

Panama, just west of Avatiu harbour, is one of our favourite little spots on Rarotonga’s fringing reef. It’s got a bit of a local legend feel, named for the graveyard on shore – don't worry, the vibe underwater is far from spooky. We love dropping onto the hard coral formations here, particularly the large Porites bommies and the bright, stinging fire corals that seem to glow. It’s an easy dive, topping out at 17 metres, making it perfect for a relaxed afternoon. Keep your eyes peeled in the sandy patches between the coral; we’ve had some fantastic encounters with Darkglove Hermit Crabs scuttling about and the occasional shy Bristletoothed Surgeonfish. There's a decent chance of seeing False-eyed Pufferfish eyeing you suspiciously, or the distinctive Blackbelly Triplefin darting in and out of the crevices. We often find ourselves drifting slowly here, just enjoying the quiet, punctuated by the occasional Parrotfish crunching on coral. If you appreciate the smaller, more intricate life on a reef, rather than chasing big pelagics, Panama is definitely worth your time.

Location
Roatán, Honduras, Central America
Coordinates
16.329800, -86.480700
Type
reef

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 Maccallum Girls

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 Maccallum Girls

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