Pillar Coral

16.3263°N 86.5809°W · pinnacle

Depth
27 m
Level
Intermediate
Entry
boat
Type
pinnacle

Pillar Coral is a pinnacle dive site in Roatán, Caribbean.

Overview

Pillar Coral takes its name from a distinctive coral pinnacle that juts off the wall at approximately 27 meters (90 feet). The site works well as a drift dive between Overheat Reef and the El Aguila wreck, with swim-throughs, chimneys, and channels cutting through the reef structure along the way. Eagle rays are commonly seen gliding through the deeper water, while moray eels shelter in the overhangs. Rated Intermediate to Advanced, this site rewards experienced divers with 20 to 40 meters of visibility and water temperatures averaging 26 to 29 degrees Celsius.

Site Information

  • Location: Roatán, Caribbean
  • Entry Type: Boat dive
  • Site Type: Pinnacle/seamount
  • Difficulty Level: Intermediate
  • Maximum Depth: 27 meters

Dive Profile

Descend to the pinnacle and explore around its circumference at varying depths. The most abundant marine life congregates on the current-facing side. Maintain good buoyancy and watch for currents that may increase around the structure.

Photography

The pinnacle offers excellent wide-angle opportunities with schooling fish and dramatic structure. Shoot upward toward the surface for dramatic silhouettes. Macro subjects cluster in crevices on the lee side.


Sources: Coconut Tree Divers – Roatan Dive Sites, CoCo View Resort – Dive Sites, Splash Inn Dive Resort – Roatan Diving Sites, Roatan-Diving.com – Dive Sites, Octopus Dive School – Roatan Dive Sites. Last updated 2026-06-27.

Depth profile
0m · surface−27m max
Ocean conditions
27.4–30.8°CWater temp (yearly range)
0.8–1.6 mWave height
SepWarmest
OctCalmest seas
31°27° JFMAMJJASOND

Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).

Recorded marine life nearby

523 verified species observations (255 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1911 and 2023, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.

Chordata · 130Mollusca · 101Cnidaria · 4Echinodermata · 8Arthropoda · 7
  • Pterois · lionfish
  • Gambusia nicaraguensis
  • Palatogobius grandoculus
  • Poecilia orri
  • Lipogramma evides · banded basslet
  • Gnatholepis thompsoni · goldspot goby
  • Epigonidae
  • Gobiomorus dormitor
  • Phaeoptyx
  • Gerres cinereus
  • Lutjanus apodus
  • Malacoctenus erdmani · imitator blenny

Scientific survey records skew toward sampled taxa (molluscs, corals) and do not reflect what you are guaranteed to see on a dive.

Source: OBIS (obis.org), aggregated Darwin Core occurrence records.

Dived here recently?

Conditions change with the tide and the season. If you have dived this site, share what it was actually like — date, visibility, current, and what you saw. Real, recent reports from divers are exactly what this guide is built to collect.

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reef
Reef with anthias · illustrative · photo credit

Nearby dive sites in Roatán

Source: OpenStreetMap via dive-vibe-community (ODbL) · Last updated 2026-07-18