Guanaja is located about 45 miles from the Honduran mainland and was first “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1502. Columbus called it Isla de Los Pinos or Isle of Pines for the conifers that dominated the island vegetation. Despite the island having been “rediscovered” by divers, it remains one of the few settled Caribbean destinations to have escaped rapid development.

It offers dramatic natural landscapes, white-sand beaches, waterfalls and a virgin rainforest. The surrounding crystal clear warm waters support an extensive pristine coral reef teaming with marine life. Only three miles wide by seven miles long, Guanaja is the embodiment of the perfect remote dive destination. It’s hard to choose only three things we love about Guanaja, but we think you’ll love:

1 ) A Unique Way of Living: The primary form of transportation on the island is by boat. Visitors are immediately introduced to the concept the minute they step outside the airport. Instead of walking into a parking lot, visitors head to the dock where transfer boats await. The reason for this mode of transport? For the majority of residents and visitors to Guanaja, life on Guanaja isn’t really “on” the island at all – it is on one of the many Cays that surround it. Boating is the only option. In fact, the largest segment of the population lives on a small cay called Bonacca, an architectural oddity that was built on concrete causeways over a maze of canals. Visitors also need boat transport to reach the vacation resorts established on private cays, such as Cabañas of Clark’s Cay, or for another unusual twist, the Villa on Dunbar Rock. This 11-room resort is perched on top of - as the name suggests - a huge rock outcropping.

2 ) Uniquely Untouched Reefs: The island's warm, clear waters support an extensive coral reef that is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. However, unlike many destinations along the Barrier Reef, dive sites here have escaped adverse diver impact. The pristine reefs boast unique underwater life; many nudibranchs, tunicates in all colors and sizes and a reef structure that includes pinnacles, volcanic caverns and wrecks. (More on wrecks to come!) One of the favorite dive sites, called The Pinnacle, is covered in several different varieties of black coral and gorgonians, beginning at a depth of only 30 feet and extending to the very base of the pinnacle at 135 feet. With few dive operators on the island, visitors to Guanaja always get their pick of the best, rarely visited dive sites.

3 ) A Unique Approach to Greening: “Guanaja, The Green Island” isn’t just a brand tag, it has become a way of life for residents and stakeholders. A marine park was established several years ago to prevent over fishing of the waters. Recycling is heavily promoted with new recycle stations set up in Bonacca. Most recently, there is a project underway to clean up the coastline by getting rid of the derelict boats — with an unusual twist. Instead of being sold for scrap metal, the island plans to sink several of the vessels, under strict environmental regulations, to their very own artificial reef Shipwreck Alley. The project is expected to be completed in 2018.

Stay and Dive in Guanaja

Cabañas on Clark’s Cay is a 4-acre island oasis that offers incredible seascapes from every room, an open-air restaurant and bar, an infinity pool and hot tub along with a meandering lazy river to watch the sunset. Accommodations consist of air-conditioned 1 and 2 bedroom “Island Cabañas” with wrap around porches to enjoy the sea breeze.

Villa on Dunbar Rock is a dream dive vacation resort located perched on a rocky cay. The 15,000 ft2 property rises from the sea-level white sand beach and PADI/SSI dive center, (which also provides services to Clark’s Cay,) up four levels to areas that include nine Ocean Front Rooms and two Suites, multiple terraces for lounging, an infinity pool and pool bar, cardio/massage room, and Great Room with its comfortable living/dining area.