Dive Site: Toon Town

About Toon Town

Toon Town is a distinctive dive site located within the Cayos Cochinos archipelago, which forms part of Honduras' Bay Islands. This area is nestled along the southern edge of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef system in the world. While the Roatan Aggressor liveaboard occasionally visits Cayos Cochinos, including Toon Town, it offers a different underwater experience compared to the dramatic walls and wrecks found closer to Roatan itself. The site is notable for its specific marine inhabitants, featuring plentiful blueberry tunicates and exceptionally well-developed crinoids that are often described as being of Indo-Pacific quality. This rich biodiversity adds a unique character to the dive. Diving in this region benefits from consistently warm water temperatures and excellent visibility, typical of the wider Bay Islands. The overall diving environment is part of a healthy reef system. Visiting Toon Town typically involves a liveaboard itinerary that includes other islands like Roatan and Utila, allowing divers to experience a variety of sites and marine ecosystems within a single trip.

Dive site facts: Toon Town

Current

Mild

Visibility

30-36 m

Water temperature

24-29°C

Entry

Boat

Level

All levels

Dive type

Reef, biodiversity, macro

Region / port

Cayos Cochinos, Honduras

Coordinates

15.9524° N, 86.4950° W

Conditions & Currents

While specific current information for Toon Town is not detailed in the sources, the broader Bay Islands generally feature gentle currents, making for relaxed diving conditions. The reefs here are fringing, meaning boat rides are typically short and conditions are calm. Visibility is usually excellent, frequently reaching 30 meters or more, and can extend up to 36 meters during the dry season from March to May. Water temperatures remain warm throughout the year, ranging from 24-29°C, with the warmest periods occurring from June through October. Divers should be aware of these overall regional characteristics for planning their dives.

Marine life & sighting chances

Blueberry tunicate

occasional

Crinoid

occasional

Parrotfish

Year-round · common

Angelfish

Year-round · common

Butterflyfish

Year-round · common

Seahorse

Year-round · occasional

Nudibranch

Year-round · occasional

Ray

Year-round · occasional

Reef shark

Year-round · occasional

Barracuda

Year-round · occasional

Grouper

Year-round · occasional

Jack

Year-round · occasional

Sea turtle

Year-round · occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Diving at Toon Town typically involves a boat entry, as it is visited by liveaboards as part of a multi-island itinerary. The dive profile would focus on exploring the unique topography, which includes areas with distinctive blueberry tunicates and crinoids of notable quality. Divers typically follow a guided route, maintaining good buoyancy to protect the delicate reef structures. Depth progression would likely vary depending on the specific features being explored, but generally, dives in the Bay Islands are accessible to all levels. The turn point is determined by air consumption and dive computer limits, ensuring ample bottom time to observe the specialized marine life. Safety stops are conducted in the shallows, usually at 5 meters for 3 minutes, before surfacing to the dive boat.

Underwater photography

Toon Town's rich collection of blueberry tunicates and high-quality crinoids makes it an interesting site for macro and wide-angle photography. For capturing the vibrant colors and intricate details of the tunicates and crinoids, a macro lens is highly recommended. However, the overall healthy reef structure also presents opportunities for wider shots, so a versatile wide-angle lens or a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses could be beneficial. Utilizing strobes is essential to bring out the true colors, especially in deeper sections or for highlighting subjects against the background. Divers should maintain impeccable buoyancy to avoid disturbing the delicate organisms and sandy bottom, ensuring ethical interaction with the environment. Patience and careful observation will yield the best photographic results at this unique site.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Hole in the Wall

  Hole in the Wall is a celebrated dive site in Roatan, part of the extensive Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is the second-largest…

• Odyssey

  The Odyssey is a significant artificial reef located off Roatan's northern coast in Honduras, deliberately sunk in 2002 after sustaining…

• Coral Garden

  Coral Garden is a significant dive site in the Dominican Republic, featuring an impressive brain coral that has thrived for over 400 years…

• Black Coral Wall

  Black Coral I and II are prominent dive sites within Cuba's renowned Jardines de la Reina marine reserve, an area celebrated for its…

Getting there & logistics

Visiting Toon Town typically occurs as part of a liveaboard trip, often aboard vessels like the Roatan Aggressor. These itineraries usually span 8 days and 7 nights, combining dives around Roatan, Utila, and Cayos Cochinos, where Toon Town is located. Guests usually board the liveaboard in Roatan, with Saturday afternoon being the standard boarding time. The boat then navigates between the islands, offering multiple dives daily. The closest major airport for international arrivals is Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB) in Roatan. Fees for marine park entry are often included in liveaboard packages, but divers should confirm this beforehand. These trips offer a comprehensive experience of the Bay Islands' diverse dive sites.

Safety & environment

Safety for diving Toon Town, as part of the Cayos Cochinos region, adheres to the general safety protocols for the Bay Islands. The nearest recompression chamber is located in Roatan. In the unlikely event of an emergency requiring evacuation, the process would typically involve initial stabilization on the liveaboard or at a local medical facility, followed by transport to Roatan or mainland Honduras. Divers should ensure they have comprehensive dive insurance that covers emergency medical treatment and evacuation. Site-specific hazards at Toon Town are not detailed, but divers should always follow their guide's briefing, maintain appropriate depth and no-decompression limits, and monitor air consumption. Staying hydrated is crucial in the warm Caribbean climate, and divers should be aware of potential boat traffic when surfacing, especially near busy areas or during transfers between sites.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Toon Town FAQ

Liveaboards diving Toon Town

These liveaboards may visit Toon Town on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Roatan Aggressor

Honduras

18 guests31.1 m

$309/day