Check out our Cayos Gallery for more pictures.

Cayos Cochinos are a group of two small islands and 13 small coral cays lying about 1.5 hours sail by one our dive boats. Cayos Cochinos has been designated a Marine Natural Monument and with the Honduras Coral Reef Fund as the managing agency responsible for the conservation of the islands for the next 10 years. The protected area covers almost 500sq Km of islands, reefs and seas.

Alton's Dive Center has been fortunate enough to obtain a license to dive in these protected waters and it has become one of our best and most popular day trips. Typically making our first dive on a sea bank, descending on the west end and then drifting the entire length of the bank in a little under an hour. Deep dives are possible to 40m/130ft whereas the top of the bank is around 12m/40ft. These banks are stuffed full of life, schooling barracuda, large grouper, nurse sharks, schools of horse eye jack and Atlantic spade fish abound. We find the biggest lobster we have seen in these islands, rays in the sand on the top the bank and in the sand at depth. Always keeping an eye out to the blue as we drift down the bank as you never know what you can see. Wahoo, king fish, and bigger are possible including sail fish, marlin and hammerhead shark.

We then have a choice of dives open to us - another drift along Pelican Point under the shadow of Cayos Mayor with a great collection of swim throughs. It is common to see Hawksbill Turtles and Eagle Rays during this dive. If conditions are right we may choose another open ocean dive on a sea mount that is rapidly becoming one of our favorite dives. Very similar to the bank drift dive but marine life concentrated in one single area so it can be a spectacular dive!

Our final dive of the day is done just off the shore of one of the thirteen cays that make up Cayos Cochinos. A  Piper light aircraft crashed here and the wreck lies in 18m/60ft of water right next to the mooring. Worth a quick 15 minute dive to take a look at this small twin engined plane still clearly identifiable although covered in corals and encrusting sponges.

After the diving we head to the Chachauate for some beach time, some snorkeling and sample some of the local Garifuna culture, food and the relaxing Caribbean atmosphere. We had some cold beers chilling on the boat all morning so with some local food and a cold beer or two we simply hang out and make the most of this beautiful Caribbean rarely visited island for a couple of hours. Check out some of the pictures below from our most recent trip to Cayos Cochinos.

Check out our Cayos Gallery for more pictures.

Dancing on the beach	Drums and dancing
Helping to launch the boat?	A cold beer sitting on the beach - perfect!