Madelines
Divers exploring Madeline's can expect delightful encounters with a variety of marine life. The elusive Southern Star Gazer may unexpectedly emerge from beneath the sand, while Peacock Flounders, Sand Tilefish, upside-down jellyfish, and Caribbean reef squid are known to frequent this location.
The captivating shallow white sand areas of Madeline's have also made it a popular choice for confined water training sessions. Scuba students have been pleasantly surprised by occasional sightings of the Southern Star Gazer emerging from the sandy depths. As students venture deeper along the gradual slope of the sand, they can observe the mesmerizing Peacock Flounder, Sand Tilefish, upside-down jellyfish, and even spot groups of Caribbean reef squid.
For more experienced divers seeking an exhilarating deeper dive, Madeline's also offers a fringing reef wall starting at around 15ft, and descending to depths of 50ft to 60ft before meeting a sandy bottom. The descent continues gradually to 90ft and beyond. Along this remarkable reef, keep an eye out for the vibrant Yellowhead Wrasse, the unique Scrawled Cowfish, beautiful Lettuce coral, bent sea road, and brain coral. And if you're lucky, you may even spot a majestic spotted eagle ray gracefully gliding through the deep blue waters.
With excellent visibility of approximately 18m and a maximum depth of 18m, Madeline's is a suitable dive site for both beginner and advanced divers. Located in the breathtaking country of Honduras, and in close proximity to David Beach in Útila, Bay Islands, 34201, this exceptional dive site offers a truly unforgettable underwater experience.
Diving Conditions Score for Madelines
Good diving conditions!
The score is based on a calculation of the current weather and sea conditions.
Dive Site Overview for Madelines
Depth
18m
Visibility
18m
Experience Level
Weather Conditions for Madelines
Wave Height
0.88m
Wind Speed
21.5 m/s
Water Temp
30.1°C
Visibility
30.22km
Cloud Cover
3%
Wave Period
5.5s
Air Temperature
28.8°C
Precipitation
0 mm
Dive Score Chart for Madelines
Best time to dive: 9:00 with score 7.781700000000001/10. Water conditions: Waves 1.12m, Wind 4.2 m/s.Best night dive time: 0:00 with score 6.963966666666667/10.
Chart showing hourly dive conditions including wave height, wind speed, water temperature, and visibility throughout the day.
Optimal diving conditions at Madelines are affected by daylight hours. Sunrise occurs at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, which impacts visibility and water temperature for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Score: 7.8/10
Waves: 1.12m (6s), Wind: 4.2 m/s
Score: 7.0/10
Waves: 0.84m, Wind: 22.4 m/s
Seasonal Analysis for MadelinesAlpha
Historical patterns and best seasons for diving at Madelines
The dive score combines all factors to rate overall diving conditions throughout the year. Higher scores indicate better diving conditions.
Monthly Dive Score Analysis - Seasonal Diving Conditions
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Seasonal DiveScore Chart
This chart displays monthly diveScore data throughout the year, showing seasonal patterns. The data is presented as a bar chart with an overlaid line graph.Dive scores range from 1 to 10, with 10 being optimal conditions.
Higher values indicate better diving conditions
Best Season for Madelines
Winter
Winter offers the best overall diving conditions with calmer seas and better visibility, despite cooler temperatures.
Best Months for Madelines
Ideal Conditions for Madelines
Water Temp
27.4°C / 81.3°F
July
Visibility
11.9m / 39.0ft
May
Wave Height
2.3m / 7.5ft
November
Wave Period
8.0s
January
Seasonal Insights for Madelines
Madelines shows typical northern hemisphere patterns with May being the warmest month (27.6°C) and January the coldest (21.4°C). The calmest conditions typically occur in November with average wave heights of 2.3m and wave periods of 8.0s. The most comfortable wave conditions are in November with a low wave steepness ratio, creating gentler swells. January offers the longest wave periods (8.0s), creating more comfortable and predictable conditions for boat entries and exits. Ocean currents are slowest in January (0.5m/s) and strongest in January (0.5m/s). April is usually the driest month with 0.1mm of precipitation. For beginners, the best time to visit would be during November to January, when ocean conditions are calmer with long-period waves and currents are typically weaker. Experienced divers might enjoy the challenges and potentially better visibility during the shoulder seasons, with moderate currents that can improve marine life encounters.
Last updated: 1 min. ago - Jun 18, 2026