Bear’s Den

A cavern dive on Roatán’s south reef featuring a 120-foot chimney chute and a large circular cavern with a sandy floor, spotted drums, and glassy sweepers.

Overview

Bear’s Den is a cavern dive on the southern coast of Roatán, centered on a 120-foot (37-meter) chimney chute that begins at approximately 15 meters (50 feet) depth and leads into a spacious circular cavern at 9 meters (30 feet). The cavern has a sandy floor and receives enough natural light from multiple openings that overhead lighting is not required in the main chamber. Beyond the primary cavern, the site continues into volcanic tunnels, additional swim-throughs, and a honeycombed coral wall. The site is quieter than West End Wall and Mary’s Place.

Site Information

• Location: South coast of Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Cave/cavern
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 20–30 meters (65–100 feet)
• Current: Light to moderate on the south wall
• Best Time: Early morning for best sunlight angles inside the cavern

Marine Life

Inside the cavern: spotted drum, glassy sweepers, crabs, lobsters, and neck crabs are reported. Nudibranchs (lettuce leaf sea slugs) and seahorses have been found at the site. The surrounding wall hosts gorgonian soft corals, sea whips, sponges, black coral, butterflyfish, grouper, snapper, turtles, and barracuda. No confirmed nurse shark population at this site — previously described nurse shark encounters could not be verified from site-specific sources.

Dive Profile

Proceed from the mooring to the cavern entrance at approximately 9 meters. The main circular room with its sandy floor is the highlight for most divers. For the chimney chute, descend to the entrance at 15 meters — the narrow passage requires excellent buoyancy and single-file navigation. The chute exits through the reef and connects to the wall system. Early morning dives allow sunbeams to illuminate the cavern interior. Explore the additional swim-throughs and volcanic tunnels accessible beyond the main cavern.

Entry and Exit

Served by West End and West Bay operators. Permanent mooring. Entry via giant stride or back roll.

Tips

• Early morning dives maximize sunlight angles for photography inside the cavern
• The chimney chute is narrow — single-file only; discuss order with your buddy beforehand
• Advanced buoyancy control is required for the chute; beginners can enjoy the main cavern without entering it
• Ask your operator about current conditions in the volcanic tunnel extensions beyond the main cavern

Safety

Overhead environment requires appropriate training for the chimney chute. Maintain buoyancy to avoid silt disturbance in the sandy-floored cavern. Always keep a natural light exit visible unless cave-trained. Carry a torch for secondary swim-throughs. Standard south-wall current precautions apply.

Photography

The circular cavern with sunbeams angling through the entrance provides excellent wide-angle opportunities. Shoot toward the cavern opening for silhouette and ambient-light compositions. Spotted drums near coral heads and nudibranchs on the walls reward macro photographers.

Sources: Splash Inn Dive Resort – Bear’s Den, Roatan-Diving.com – Bear’s Den, Sun Divers Roatan – Dive Sites. Last updated 2026-06-27.