Villa on Dunbar Rock

Dive Overview

Dive sites ring the island, meaning finding a location to scuba dive in the lee of the wind is nearly always possible. In addition to the sites surrounding Guanaja, the innumerable cays that encircle the island form an ideal habitat for reef creatures and virtually every known crustacean. From tiny black-spotted nudibranchs to cave-dwelling Caribbean lobster, the reef system is ideal for macro and wide-angle photography. There are also more than 300 identified fish species in Bay Island waters. Scuba divers frequently see angelfish, hamlets, utterflyfish, creole wrasse, grouper, jackfish, moray eels, octopus, parrotfish, nurse sharks, andmore.

[Read More: Roatan, Utila & GuanajaDive Travel Guide]

Accommodation Overview

OCEANFRONT QUEEN ROOM

Room #3 and #4 are located on the 4th floor, overlooking the Villas infinity pool. These two rooms have smaller but equally as modern bathrooms as Rooms #5 #8, but make up for it by having an expansive patio area with lounge chairs and hammocks. Guests staying in these rooms have unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea.

Rooms #5 #8 are located across the courtyard from the Great Room. Room #5 and #7 are on the 3rd floor and 4th floors respectively, with balconies offering views of sunsets and Bonacca Town facing west and the lush mountainous slopes of mainland Guanaja facing north. Room #6 and #8 are also located on the 3rd floor and 4th floors respectively, offering views of the sunrise facing east and the rugged shoreline of mainland Guanaja facing north and east.

OCEANFRONT KING ROOM

The King rooms are a bit smaller than the Queen rooms but otherwise include all of the same amenities, key of which is they all have direct oceanfront views from their balconies. Room A is located on the Villas main level (3rd floor) and is the closest room to the Great Room. Room B is one floor up directly above Room A. Both rooms face west, offering views of the sunset and of nearby Bonacca Town. The third Ocean Front King Room C is on the opposite side of the property. Located on the 4th floor, above the bar, this east-facing unit is one of the first rooms to welcome to morning sunshine.

PRESIDENTIAL SUITE

The entry area to the presidential suite leads into the sitting area which is screened off from the sleeping area. The sleeping area includes a king bed and an executive size desk. There is a large flat-screen TV that can be viewed from both the bed and the sitting area. The refrigerator comes stocked with local beer, soda, and bottled water. The private balcony, located at the far end of the room, has its own ample size hot tub.

• Comfortable sitting area
• Large flat-screen TV viewable from the sitting area and the bed
• Refrigerator stocked with local beer, soda, and bottled water.
• Kind size bed
• Secluded balcony with hot tub
• Executive size desk

PENTHOUSE ONE-BEDROOM SUITE

It has a private sitting area inside a sliding glass door enclosed entry area. You would be hard pressed to find a room anywhere with view like the ones from this sitting area. The separate bedroom includes two queen beds and additional seating and a large bath area.

• Large seating area with comfortable couches
• Indoor picnic table for party snacks
• Sliding glass doors open for amazing views
• Separate bedroom with 2 queen beds
• Refrigerator stocked with local beer, soda and water
• Oversize shower area
• Second entry available to bypass the sitting area

FOOD & DRINKS

Foodies are in for a real treat when staying at the Villa. Sumptuous, gourmet meals, and exceptional service await. Inspired drinks get created daily thanks to our talented bartenders. All thanks to the combined efforts of Jenny Izaguirre, Director of Food & Beverage and the entire culinary team. Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a snack provided around the cocktail hour. There is one entree prepared for each meal, announced on a blackboard in the dining area. If what you see is not for you, just let the staff know. The Chef and the talented kitchen staff will happily create an alternative! Enjoy 3 hearty meals plus a happy hour snack between - guaranteed to tantalize any palate.

Dive Overview

There are 50+ named Guanaja dive sites, another 6 or so kept secret by the Dunbar Rock dive staff for their guests only. More dive sites are being discovered every day along the barrier reef off Guanaja and around the numerous cays that surround the island. Below is information on a few of our favorite Guanaja dive sites.

Dive Sites

Nearly all of the sites offer lively shallow terraces that are perfect for snorkeling as well as scuba diving. Separate snorkel tours are offered to ensure you are taken to a site that is guaranteed for good snorkeling. When joining the scuba divers, we also do our best to accommodate sites that work well for divers and snorkelers.

• Michaels Rock: This site is famous for its cracks & crevices. The maximum depth reaches to 70ft/21m. This is also a good practice dive before you do Black Rock Canyons.
• The Pinnacle: This pinnacle is located in a channel, close to Guanaja Island. It stands on a sandy bottom at 135ft/41m, very close to the channel wall, & rises 80ft/24m to a point about 55ft/17m below the surface. Several varieties of black coral are attached to the pinnacle. The wall of the channel has some really beautiful coral, bluebell tunicates and crinoids at depths of only 10 to 30 feet (3 9 meters.)
• The Jado Trader: The 240-foot Jado Trader was a refrigerator freighter sunk in 1987 to form one of the richest artificial reefs in Guanaja. The Trader rests on a sandy bottom, completely intact and in waters between 80 and 110 feet (24 33 meters), suitable for experienced divers. The wreck is now nicely encrusted and the marine life around it excellent. It is one of the most photogenic wrecks in Honduras. Near to the wreck are several coral pinnacles that can be explored as well.
• Black Rock Canyon: Created by volcanic action, this conglomeration of caves, tunnels, and deep cracks & crevices is one of the most exciting dives around Guanaja. Its common to turn a corner, or come out of a tunnel and come across a sleeping shark or a big moray eel lounging in a hole. Expect to see plenty of silverside sardines, glassy sweepers, groupers, and barracudas.
• Vertigo: This is a site along the barrier reef wall that has some spectacular drop-offs. As is true along the entire barrier wall, the beauty here is truly unbelievable. The top of the wall is at about 35ft/11m then drops down to about 160ft/51m. From here, a sandy shelf juts out 60f/18m or so before the wall drops off to oblivion. Black crinoids are found here.
• Jims Silverlode: Jims Silverlode presents a tunnel along the wall at a depth of 70ft/21m which will bring divers into a sandy-bottomed amphitheater-like area populated by huge groupers, yellowtails, moray eels, and swarms of silverside sardines. This is an intermediate-level dive.

Dive Center Information

VILLA ON DUNBAR ROCK Dive Center Overview

The PADI 5 Star Dive Center operates two custom dive boats: the 45 Freedom and 40 Endeavor each have the capacity for up to 20 divers. The boats have wide platforms for giant stride entries and sturdy ladders for exiting the water. They are provisioned with drinking water, fruit for snacking, freshwater showers, towels, camera rinse tanks, dry storage, shaded areas, and all required safety equipment.

Boat rides vary from 20 30 minutes for dives along the south to up to 45 minutes for dives along the northern coast. Boats generally depart at 8:30 am for the morning 2-tank dive, returning for lunch with the afternoon boat leaving a reasonable time after lunch has concluded.Practical Information

• Electricity: 110 V
• Time zone: UTC-6
• Languages: Portuguese, Spanish & English
• Accept Credit Cards?: Yes (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)