Roatán sharks & big fish

Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus perezi

Up to 3 m, most adults 2–2.5 m. Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is sometimes found resting still on the bottom or in caves (Wikipedia).

Key marks: Dark grey or grey-brown above and white below, with a faint white band on the flank; a tall, sickle-shaped first dorsal fin with a low ridge between it and the second; dusky undersides to the paired fins, the anal fin and the lower tail lobe (Wikipedia).

At Roatán: The shark dive at Cara a Cara, on the south side of the island, usually brings six or more reef sharks (Scuba Diving 2018), on a sandy bottom at 21 m (70 ft) (PADI 2023); another account says 15 to 20 at a time (PADI 2019).

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Whale shark Rhincodon typus

The largest living fish, up to 18.8 m reliably recorded; a filter feeder on plankton, krill and small fish. Endangered on the IUCN Red List (Wikipedia).

Key marks: Dark grey with a white belly and pale spots and stripes, a pattern unique to each shark; a broad, flat head with a very wide mouth at the front, and three ridges along each side (Wikipedia).

At Roatán: Seen in the Bay Islands mostly from February to April and from August to October, though they can turn up at any time (Scuba Diving 2018). Off Roatán they are only an occasional sight, on the north shore; neighbouring Utila is the more reliable place, peaking in March–May and August–October (PADI 2023).

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Nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum

Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (FishBase).

Key marks: Barbels between the nostrils, two broadly rounded dorsal fins set far back, yellow-brown to grey-brown (FishBase).

At Roatán: Among the sharks named for Roatán, with reef sharks and hammerheads (PADI 2023).

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Scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini

Key marks: The head is flattened into a hammer with a scalloped front edge: a notch in the middle and a shallow scallop either side of it. Eyes at the very tips. Tall, strongly curved first dorsal fin and a small second dorsal. Bronze-grey above, pale below. In open water you usually get the silhouette from below before any colour, so go by the shape of the head.

At Roatán: A scalloped hammerhead may join the reef sharks at Cara a Cara (Scuba Diving 2018).

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Spotted eagle ray Aetobatus narinari

Endangered on the IUCN Red List (FishBase).

Key marks: A duck-bill snout, white spots on a black or bluish back, and a long whip-like tail with spines near its base (FishBase).

At Roatán: Eagle rays pass by the El Aguila wreck (Scuba Diving 2018; PADI 2019).

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Atlantic tarpon Megalops atlanticus

Grows to 2.5 m. Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (FishBase).

Key marks: Large, coin-like silver scales, a jutting lower jaw, big eyes and a long thread on the last ray of the dorsal fin (FishBase).

At Roatán: Common on the West End Wall, with sea turtles (Scuba Diving 2018).

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Great barracuda Sphyraena barracuda

Key marks: Long and silvery, with slanting dark bars on the upper half, scattered blotches on the side and a black tail with white tips (FishBase).

At Roatán: On the El Aguila wreck (PADI 2023) and in the drift dives off the West End, where opposing currents draw in bigger fish (PADI 2019).

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