El Aguila Wreck

Spanish for “The Eagle,” El Aguila originally sank off the coast of Utila while en route to Haiti from Puerto Cortés, carrying a shipment of concrete.

After spending years underwater, the ship was salvaged by Rocky Jones of Utila and brought back to the harbor. However, a powerful storm dragged it onto the reef once again. The vessel was salvaged a second time and intentionally partially submerged to prevent further storm damage.

El Aguila is one of three main shipwreck dive sites along Roatan’s coast. Measuring 75 meters (230 feet) in length, the ship is now broken into three sections due to the impact of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. This creates an exciting dive site with plenty of areas, nooks, and crannies for divers to explore. The wreck rests at a depth of 110 feet and is just a short ride from Sandy Bay.

In 1997, AKR acquired the ship while searching for a new wreck site for divers, as the common wooden-hulled wrecks of the era were deteriorating and disappearing. The team spent five weeks preparing the vessel, which included cleaning, towing, and finally sinking it at its current location.