Airport Caves
Airport Caves
Location
Utila, South East
Highlights
Shallow Caves and swim throughs
Visibility
20metres
Currents
Caribbean Light
Site Depth
0metres
Difficulty
Easy (Open Water)
Duration
15minutes
Sight-seeing
Scorpion Fish, Yellow Stingrays, Glassy Sweeper, Shy Hamlet, Longlure Frogfish, Queen Angelfish, Northern Stargazers, Green Morays, Rock Beauty, Measled Cowries
Hotspot Watch
Channel Clinging Crab, Sea Walnut, Caribbean Spiny Lobster
DIVE BRIEF: Airport Caves was named for its proximity to the island’s old airport and its caves and sand channels. The reef’s wall starts at 15ft and descends to 40 ft where the sandy bottom gradually goes down to more than 120 ft. In both directions there are sand channels that lead you to the entrance of different caves. Going West at 15ft, a diver will discover one of the site’s interesting points, a U- shaped sand channel that takes you to the entrance and exit of the site’s biggest tunnel.
Sea Walnut
Size
10.00cm
Genus
Mnemiopsis mccradyi
Avg. Size
5.0cm
Depth
0.0metres
Endangered?
Low
Local Hotspots
Bay Islands: Ron's Wreck - Moon Hole, Airport Caves
Diver Interaction
If there is enough cloud cover during a night dive and a swarm of sea walnuts are in proximity, divers can switch off their torches and see the blue-greenish bioluminescence spark around them in the dark.
Habitat & Lifestyle
They often appear in large groups over reefs, in bays and harbours especially during the summer months. Bioluminescent; when disturbed at night produce a greenish blue light.
Distribution
Common Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean.
Unique Physique
Walnut or occasionally pear-shaped, with large oral lobes and some lateral compression. Often bespeckled with numerous small warts. Opalescent or translucent, frequently with a greenish amber cast.
Abundance
Abundant - At least several sightings can be expected on nearly every dive.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Size
61.00cm
Genus
Panulirus argus
Avg. Size
15.3cm
Depth
0.5metres
Endangered?
Low
Local Hotspots
Bay Islands: Airport Caves, Blackish Point
Diver Interaction
Wary, when approached retreat into their protective recesses.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Live in reefs and hide in protective recesses during the day, and forage in the open at night. They can swim backwards rapidly when disturbed, using powerful strokes of their tails. Females, during reproduction, should be left alone and not disturbed, since they carry clusters of tiny orange eggs under their abdomens. Occasionally after winter storms, mass migrations of up to 50 individuals move in single file across-open terrain.
Distribution
Common Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean. May be abundant in areas that have not been harvested.
Unique Physique
The abdomen is brown and tan banded with some light spots, while the carapace has shaded areas of brown and tan with a few dark spots. Above their eyes they have a sharp ‘horn’ and a pair of long, conical antennae. JUVENILE: Dark brown body with lavender markings, brown and white banded legs, and a whitish band on tail.
Abundance
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.
Channel Clinging Crab (a.k.a. King Crab)
Size
153.00cm
Genus
Mithrax spinosissimus
Avg. Size
61.0cm
Depth
3.0metres
Endangered?
Low
Local Hotspots
Bay Islands: Airport Caves, CJ's Drop Off
Diver Interaction
Relatively confident; when approached retreat for their safety.
Habitat & Lifestyle
Found in rocky areas and coral reefs, often in caves or under ledge overhangs during day; forage in the open at night. Frequently covered with algae and debris.
Distribution
Common to occasional throughout the Caribbean.
Unique Physique
Largest species of Caribbean Reef Crab,they have a reddish brown carapace and walking legs, with smooth purplish grey claws with blunt claw tips. Around their outer edge a single row of nodules can be found whereas numerous short spines and nodules cover their legs.
Abundance
Occasional - Sightings are not unusual, but not on a regular basis.
