Located offshore from Sandy Bay, ‘El Aguila’ shipwreck is an iconic dive site in Roatan, Honduras. Translating to ‘The Eagle’, this sunken vessel is encrusted in marine growth and offers an interesting origin story against a backdrop of beautiful reef life.
History of El Aguila:
‘El Aguila’ served as a 230 ft long concrete freighter between mainland Honduras and Haiti. She was enroute when she first sank and remained submerged for many years. The ship was salvaged and bought to the island of Utila where she eventually ran aground when a tropical storm dragged her across a reef. Once again, El Aguila was refloated, yet she was destined to sit on the ocean bed. In 1997, she was sold and scuttled in Roatan with the intention to become a dive site. When Hurricane Mitch passed through the Caribbean a year later, El Aguila was broken up in to 3 parts, with her stern knocked on the side.
Dive Experience:
Today, El Aguila sits at a maximum depth of 110 feet, her bow and mast still fully upright, making for a fantastic Jack & Rose style photo opportunity. Reclaimed by nature, El Aguila is home to many macro critters such as arrow crabs, lettuce sea slugs, blennies and the odd moray eel. Featuring several points of penetration for certified divers to explore. She sits on a sandy bottom surrounded by gorgeous fringing reef teeming with schooling fish, with shy sea horses and hawksbill sea turtles leisurely drifting by.
Dive Charter with Roatan Aggressor:
For those looking for a VIP experience of El Aguila, the Roatan Aggressor offers week-long dive charters around the Bay Islands of Honduras. Traveling between Roatan, Utila and Cayos Cochinos, this lux liveaboard offers the epitome of safety, comfort and incredible diving.
Despite several attempts to bring this vessel back to the surface, the sea has reclaimed El Aguila where she now serves as a must-see dive site in Roatan. Adventurous divers won’t want to miss exploring the wonders this site holds as nature is on display in all its glory.
