Raggedy Cay - Roatán

Spot aux surfeurs, tucked away in Prony Bay, gives us a taste of the open ocean without actually being out there. It’s essentially a channel, protected from the worst of the weather, with a reef plateau that starts around 6 meters and then drops away dramatically. We really love the sheer density of fish life right on top of that plateau – schools of surgeonfish and parrotfish are always milling about, sometimes so thick you have to fin through them. The real draw, though, is that drop-off. While the reported max depth is 25m for recreational divers, the wall itself plunges much deeper, and that's where the bigger visitors show up. We’ve seen tuna, mobula rays, and even a surprise whale shark on a couple of occasions out in the blue. It’s a site that suits everyone, from newer divers who can stick to the shallower, fish-rich plateau, to more experienced folks who can hang out at the edge of the drop-off, scanning the deeper water. If you’re looking for pelagics but don’t want a rough ride, this is our pick. Just be aware that while visibility averages 25m, it can vary with the tides flushing the bay.

Location
Roatán, Honduras, Central America
Coordinates
16.086000, -86.998300
Type
wall
Maximum Depth
15-40m

Marine Protected Area: Sistema de Humedales de la Isla de Utila

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 Raggedy Cay

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 Raggedy Cay

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical depths for diving at Raggedy Cay?
Raggedy Cay offers a diverse depth profile, starting with a flat bottom around 6 meters beneath the boat. From there, divers can explore a captivating wall that gradually drops off to approximately 40 meters. While the site reaches these depths, many recreational dives focus on the 15-40 meter range, making it suitable for various experience levels at Raggedy Cay.
What kind of marine life and coral can divers expect to see at Raggedy Cay?
At Raggedy Cay, divers can look forward to encountering a variety of fascinating marine life. You'll commonly spot impressive Nurse Sharks and graceful green moray eels. Keep an eye out for green turtles, and it's also a good location to practice lionfish hunting.
How challenging is the diving at Raggedy Cay, especially for less experienced divers?
Raggedy Cay is rated as an intermediate difficulty dive, primarily due to its nature as a wall dive where the mooring is quite far from the wall itself. This can make navigation a bit tougher, especially for less experienced divers. While manageable, newer divers should ensure they are comfortable with wall diving and navigation skills before exploring this site.
What is the best time of year to dive Raggedy Cay for optimal conditions and marine encounters?
Unfortunately, the provided data does not specify the best time of year to dive Raggedy Cay for optimal conditions or marine encounters. For general information on seasonal diving in the region, you can explore our When to Dive guide.
What scuba diving certifications are recommended or required to dive at Raggedy Cay?
The data provided does not specify any particular scuba diving certifications recommended or required for Raggedy Cay. Given its intermediate difficulty and depths up to 40 meters, an Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent would generally be advisable to fully explore the site. Always check with local dive operators for their specific requirements when planning your dive at Raggedy Cay.
What are the typical water conditions, currents, and visibility like at Raggedy Cay?
Divers at Raggedy Cay can generally expect good visibility, averaging around 20 meters, offering clear views of the wall and marine life. The provided data does not include specific details on typical water temperatures or currents for this site. For more general information on regional conditions, please visit our Roatán sub-region page.