Night Diving in Roatan: A Whole New World Beneath the Surface
Night diving is a magical, often overlooked experience that will show you a whole new side of “the same old reef” while also helping you level up your skills and knowledge.
Night diving is a thrilling new challenge for certified divers who are looking to keep learning and expand their skill set. Excellent buoyancy is a must, so night diving is a great addition to Peak Performance Buoyancy and is a popular option in the Advanced Open Water Diver course.
What Makes Night Diving in Roatan Special?
Roatan’s extremely clear waters make night diving an enjoyable experience. Areas with high sediment in the water can be challenging at night because the sediment in reflects the light back, causing a disorientating sensation similar to snow blindness. With Roatan’s famous 100’/30m visibility, you’ll dive comfortably.
Night diving in Roatan is incredibly unique because it’s one of the few places in the world where you can see the “String of Pearls.”
The String of Pearls is a bioluminescent phenomenon caused by a very small crustacean called Ostracods. The strings appear as a glowing string of dots, floating from the ground upwards. The String of Pearls is brightest about an hour after sunset, so we dedicate the end of the dive to enjoying them!
Octopuses, lobsters, and basket stars can all be seen on a Roatan night dive. You have an extremely high chance of seeing lobsters out walking around, and basket stars unfurled in all their glory. Octopuses are a bit more fickle, but it is still very likely you’ll see at least one, and sometimes many as 3-4 per dive. It is also possible to see turtles sleeping in the nooks and crannies of the reef, or a nurse shark out and about.
Experienced and RMP-certified night divers can hunt lionfish. This is especially beneficial for the reef because lionfish are nocturnal. It is easier to spot them and eliminate their threat to the local fish population.
How Does it Feel Different From a Day Dive?
Night diving is a whole new sensory experience! Because your field of view is limited to what falls in the beam of your torch (flashlight), you get a more intimate experience with the reef. It’s easier to focus on what’s in front of you, and many divers report feeling more connected and less distracted on the dive. Using a torch also allows you to see the true color of the corals without losing the red tones.
When you dive at night, you get to experience the marine life that’s hidden away during the day. Many nocturnal creatures are extremely alien-looking! It is common for divers to surface completely giddy over seeing something brand new.
Another big benefit to diving at night is that the reef is unbothered with the dozens of boats and divers in the area during the day. There are far fewer dive boats at night, and dive shops are conscientious about spacing out their dive sites. It’s like getting a VIP backstage pass!
Night diving requires good navigation skills, so you’ll want to complete at least one Underwater Navigator dive (which can be done as a part of the Advanced Open Water course, or as a complete PADI Specialty).
Which Dive Sites are Best for Night Dives in Roatan?
Check out our dive instructors’ favorite dive sites:
Chief’s Quarters: Nice topology, easy to navigate, with a high chance of octopus sightings, and a good place for string of pearls since it is further from shore and you don't get the lights on West End or west Bay. Also, on the west side, we rarely have sea wasps, unlike on the north.
Anywhere on the stretch in front of Turtle Beach area, as it’s typically darker. I have a preference for shallow night dive profiles to look for octopus around 15-20feet and 30-40ft for basket stars
Temptation or Kaylee’s Daydream. “I love to go along the wall.” There are tons of Basket stars, lobster crabs. Saw slipper lobster. Good chance of sting rays on the sand. Easy to navigate. I’m the shallows of those two is a lot of gravel where I saw huge octopus, swimming Moray, and walking crabs. In terms of string of pearls, probably the earlier mentioned are the best for the reasons,” Instructor Lukas wrote. “They have the lowest light pollution.”
Want to know more about the dive sites in Roatan? Click here: https://roatandivers.com/blog/the-best-dive-sites-in-roatan
How can I do night dives?
The prerequisites to do night dives are:
Be a diver
12 years old
Have a night dive training (part of the advanced course)
Tips for First-Time Night Divers
To make the most of your first night dive, it's essential to be prepared and mindful of some key tips.
Before you even enter the water, ensure your equipment is in perfect working order
Make sure your dive light is fully charged and functional, and a backup light is recommended
Take some time to familiarize yourself with your gear in the dark, practicing how to turn your lights on and off, and locate your gauges and alternate air source by feel
Turn on your light/torch before entering the water
Once underwater, remember to move slowly and deliberately, using your light to scan the reef and avoid disturbing the marine life
Remember to shine your light next to marine life, not directly on it to avoid stressing or harming are beautiful creatures
Communication is key, so pay close attention to the dive briefing and ask as many questions as you need to
During the dive, maintain good buoyancy control to prevent accidentally touching delicate corals or kicking up sediment, which can reduce visibility for everyone.
Is There Any Special Gear Required for Night Diving in Roatan?
You need a dive light/torch for diving in Roatan, but if you don’t own one, you can rent it directly from us. Torches are included free during a night training dive (Night Diver Specialty or Advanced Open Water Diver).
While not required, it is nice to have a noise maker (tank banger, shaker, etc.), a DMSB, and a tank blinker that can be turned off to witness the String of Pearls and bioluminescent plankton.
What Are People Saying About Night Diving With Roatan Divers?
Here are just a few of our hundreds of TripAdvisor reviews to help you get a sense of how Roatan Divers does things differently!
Why Choose Roatan Divers for Night Diving?
Roatan Divers is strategically located in the West End, and you will need about 5 to 10 minutes of navigation to reach all these dive sites.
We have our own dock and 4 dive boats to accommodate our divers at every level and interest, but spots fill up fast. Be sure to book your trip in just a few clicks via our online booking form. You can let us know any courses you’re interested in and how long you plan to stay, and we will design the rest!
Roatan Divers is proud to offer a boutique diving experience to our clients, and we have been awarded a 2025 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award. Still not sure about booking with us? Please feel free to check out our nearly 1,800 TripAdvisor reviews or reach out directly to ask your specific questions.
