The reef around the Cayos Cochinos is in conspicuously better shape than the reefs around Roatán or Utila. Strict no-take zones, low visitor numbers, and active research have kept coral cover high, fish stocks healthy, and bleaching events comparatively rare. Visibility is generally good year-round but best between March and September.
Snorkelling is straight off the beach at most of the cays — there is no need for a boat once you arrive. Dive operators from Roatán and La Ceiba run day trips, and a few of the lodges arrange tanks and guides on site. Highlights include the Pelican Point wall on the north side of Cayo Menor, the shallow gardens around Chachahuate, and the deeper drop-offs near the smaller outer cays.