While the bulk of backpackers and travelers experience diving only within the SBWEMR, (which encompasses Sandy Bay, West Bay and West End) a large number of visiting divers who prefer all-inclusive resorts dive elsewhere on Roatan. These resorts are primarily located on the southern shores of eastern Roatan between Brick Bay and Oak Ridge, with several other locations on the northern side around Big Bight.

Roatan’s southern shores have some of the most well-known dive sites on the island, including world famous Mary’s Place and Shark Dive (Cara a Cara). The reefs on the southern shores differ from those on the northern shores as they are closer and easier to access, very good for snorkeling and diving, generally have strong currents for drift diving and have the Cordelia Banks close by. There are approximately 30 dive sites on the southern shores, each offering different attractions to divers.
In May 2006, after numerous reports of people conducting illegal activities on the southern shores, the RMP decided to send a Park Ranger with a policeman once a week to patrol the waters between Brick Bay and Oak Ridge.

Much of the problem the region is facing concerning environmental issues is due to the failure of enforcing rules and regulations, and the majority of the laws enforced within the SBWEMR are appropriate for the rest of the Bay Islands.  While the RMP has patrolled the SBWEMP with the help of the National Police since January 2005, other areas around the island have been less monitored.

With unsustainable fishing practices, unregulated development, mangrove clearing, and a lack of proper infrastructure, the list of anthropogenic threats to the reef is endless. While these problems are island-wide, the presence of patrols has helped curb the frequency of some of these threats.

After months of patrols and several meetings later, resorts and dive shops including: Coco View Resort, Dockside Dive Center, Barefoot Cay, Fantasy Island Beach Resort, Reefhouse Resort, and Subway Watersports, came together to agree on solutions to stop illegal poaching and to protect both the reef and their livelihoods on the southern shores.

In November 2006, the above mentioned businesses introduced the voluntary “User Fee” to their divers to help raise money to finance the purchase of a patrol boat and pay staff. While in the process of raising funds, bi-weekly patrols took place to monitor the area. Prior to the formation of the Roatan Marine Park South Side Chapter, participating business owners agreed that their priority was to hire a manager to oversee its implementation.

After more than a year and a half since its conception, with manager Licario Zepeda in place, the RMPSSC office finally opened in April 2008 in a space donated by Barefoot Cay Resort. This office operates a plethora of projects similar to the RMP including: marine infrastructure maintenance and renovations, on-water patrols coordinated with the Frontier Police, an environmental education program with area schools, a recycling program, and a beach cleanup program.

The accomplishments of the RMPSSC, the RMP’s sister organization, have been made possible through the support of local businesses and their guests. Without the help of Coco View Resort, Dockside Dive Center, Barefoot Cay, Fantasy Island Beach Resort, Reefhouse Resort, and Subway Watersports, our vision would still be just an idea, and not the successful reality that it is today.