Halliburton Wreck

Overview: Utila’s Premier Artificial Reef Shipwreck

The Halliburton 211 is a 30-metre (100-foot) decommissioned oilfield supply vessel intentionally scuttled in 1998 off Utila’s south harbour.

She rests completely upright in a natural sand channel at a maximum depth of 30 metres, with the bridge and wheelhouse rising to 18 metres.

Detailed Dive Route

• Descent: Down the mooring line directly onto the stern deck at 20m.
• The Wheelhouse & Bridge (18m–22m): Swim through the open bridge, adorned with yellow encrusting sponges and glassy sweeper fish.
• The Cargo Deck & Bow (24m–30m): Explore the open flat cargo deck, where green morays hide inside pipe conduits and yellowtail snappers school overhead.
• Seabed (30m): Inspect the propeller and rudder resting in the sand before ascending to the shallow reef at 10m for a 5m safety stop.

Certification & Gas Rules

• Certification: Advanced Open Water (30m).
• Nitrox 32%: Highly recommended to maximize bottom time at 24m–30m depth.

Technical Dive Profile & Navigation

1. Entry & Descent Mechanics

• Descent Method: Direct giant-stride or negative back-roll from the boat, descending along the shot line to prevent surface drift.
• Ear Equalization: Equalize continuously every 1 metre during the descent phase to prevent sinus or middle-ear barotrauma.
• Compass Heading & Navigation: Set a primary heading toward the main reef structure. Maintain buddy contact within 2 metres throughout the descent.

2. Deep Section & Gas Management (14m to 30m)

• NDL Discipline: At depths of 30m, your No-Decompression Limit ticks down rapidly. Monitor your dive computer continuously.
• The Craig Rule: Divers certified to Open Water level (18m maximum) must stay on the upper reef shelf and never follow advanced divers down past 18m.
• Turnaround Gas: Signal your buddy and start your ascent when the first diver reaches 110 bar (or one-third of usable cylinder capacity).

3. Ascent & 5m Safety Stop

• Ascent Rate: Ascend along the reef wall at a controlled rate not exceeding 9 metres per minute.
• Mandatory Safety Stop: Complete a strict 3-to-5-minute safety stop at 5 metres (15 feet) before deploying an SMB and surfacing with a 360-degree overhead scan.

Marine Life & Habitat Zones (Biologically Verified)

• Apex & Pelagic Predators: Migratory Whale Sharks (Rhincodon typus), Caribbean Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus perezi), King Mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla).
• Reef Fish & Keystone Species: Creole Wrasse (Clepticus parrae), Midnight Parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus), Black Groupers (Mycteroperca bonaci).
• Macro Biodiversity & Benthic Invertebrates: Yellowhead Jawfish (Opistognathus aurifrons), Slender Seahorses, Caribbean Spiny Lobsters (Panulirus argus).
• Elasmobranchs & Marine Reptiles: Hawksbill Turtles, Southern Stingrays, Spotted Eagle Rays.