GUANAJA Bay Islands,
Honduras
Guanaja is the second largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras.
Guanaja is
a beautiful island with a combination of jungle, pine forest, and
sea.
As well as some interesting wrecks there are many colorful shallow
dives
that can be done in tranquility without the worry of currents or
surge making
the island especially convenient for the novice diver.
DONNA M
The Donna M was sunk by George Cundiff, owner of a local dive
operation
and hotel, as a fish haven and dive location in July of 1986. This
85 foot
long shrimp boat now rests on a sandy bottom in 80 feet of water,
just
inside of a barrier reef.
According to George, billions of silver sides have made this wreck
their
home. Visibility at this site is anywhere between 50 and 100 feet.
GEORGE'S WRECK
This huge steamer, which is approximately 350 feet long, was sunk at
George's Key in the 1920's. She now rests on a coral bed with her
remains
scattered over a large area. Since she sits in only 12 feet of water
outside
of a reef, divers and snorkelers can also enjoy swimming around this
site.
Things to be seen in the wreckage include the ship's boilers, plates
and
shafts. Visibility here has been reported to be anywhere from 75 to
2N
feet.
JADO TRADER
Photos
courtesy George Condiff.
The Jado Trader was sunk in 1987 in order to form an artificial fish
haven.
This 260 foot long freighter, which was converted into a
refrigerator ship,
now rests on a sandy bottom, completely intact, in 105 feet of
water.
Before the town finally decided to have the Jado Trader sunk, she
sat in
the harbor rusting for five to six years. George Cundiff took the
task of
sinking the vessel next to Mile Deep Wall. The wreck lies on her
starboard
side with her bow facing the wall. Visibility here ranges from 80 to
over
200 feet.
Although the wreck
has not yet fully developed into a reef, she has attracted
a good amount of fish and is starting to become covered with coral,
sponge,
and other marine life. Some of the fish to be seen include silver
sides, large
grouper, jew fish, and spiny oysters.
Close to the wreck lie two huge coral pinnacles. One of these
formations
has a volcanic cave inside. They both come to within 20 feet of the
surface.
Divers will not want to forget their cameras for this site. To say
the least,
this abandoned freighter turned reef is very photogenic.
MYSTERY WRECK
The Mystery Wreck, also known as No Name Wreck, is a steel hulled
vessel
about 90 feet in length and is of unknown origin. Somehow she sunk
and
now rests upside down on a sandy bottom. This wreck lies 50 yards
from a
coral finger in a depth of 42 feet.
Divers can penetrate the stern of the ship which sticks into the
mud, but
should they venture inside, they may have to share it with a huge
grouper,
estimated to weigh almost 1,000 pounds, who has chosen to make this
wreck his home.
RUTHIE C
The Ruthie C is a 65 foot long vessel which sits in 42 feet of
water, directly
in front of the Plaza Del Sol Hotel. She was sunk by the hotel
owner,
George Condiff, in May of 1986 as a dive site. The wreck is now
sitting at
the base of a wall on a sand and grass bottom. Visibility ranges
from 30 to
about 70 feet.
|
This
downloadable PDF e-book is packed with information and heavily
illustrated with over 80 sensational color photographs. Daniel
Berg, a noted wreck diver, instructor and author of ten
shipwrecks related books, describes all the basics of wreck
diving. Topics include everything from equipment
modifications, communication, and wreck penetration to
artifact preservation. Dan also tells how to navigate on a
wreck and be able to return to the anchor line after the dive.
Why some divers find more artifacts and explains how to catch
lobsters. Shipwreck Diving also covers such diverse topics as
shipwreck research, photography, spear fishing and how to use
an underwater metal detector. This exciting book tells all the
tricks of the trade that until now have only been learned
through years of experience. Shipwreck divers of all caliber
will find Shipwreck Diving informative, rewarding and
entertaining
