Crawfish Rock

Christmas on Roatan has been simple and relaxing. This lush, green island in Honduras offers the perfect mix of Caribbean charm and peaceful diving adventures. The locals are friendly and full of character, and while there isn’t much to do on land, I’ve been completely focused on the diving, which is why I came here in the first place.

The coral reef here is the real highlight. While there’s less marine life compared to my Galapagos dives, the reef itself is breathtaking. Massive, vibrant corals dominate the underwater landscape — some of them giant red tubes that are wider than a person and over a meter tall. They’re beautiful and feel alive in a way that’s hard to describe. Of course there are also all the beautiful fish. I was especially impressed by the size of a big pufferfish: it was comparable to a humam upper body! I wonder how big they get when they puff?

Last night, I experienced my first night dive. It started off eerie, plunging into pitch-black water under a sky filled with stars but no moonlight. Descending into the darkness with only our flashlights to guide us was unsettling at first. But as we reached the ocean floor, the fear gave way to fascination. I saw my first octopus and squids floating and eating. But the real magic happened when the fluorescent microplankton appeared. Every movement left behind flickering trails, and the shimmering strings of pearls on the rocks added an otherworldly beauty.

Today’s dive was equally memorable, though for a very different reason. A large moray eel, thicker than my leg and normally a shy creature, suddenly turned aggressive and charged with a wide open mouth at our group. For several intense minutes, it switched targets, snapping at fins and coming alarmingly close. Our guide, thankfully, had a spear for controlling invasive lionfish, and he used it to keep the moray at bay while the rest of us swam away. It was a nerve-wracking encounter, and I’m still wondering what provoked such unusual behavior.

Tomorrow, on Christmas Day, I’ll take a break from diving and just enjoy some downtime on the island. Then, on the 26th, I’ll attempt my first deep dive, going below 30 meters. It will count toward my advanced diving certification, which makes it even more exciting.

Roatan is absolutely shaping up to be an unforgettable Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all of you 😊Read more