Just Back from CocoView (Full Report)

[cfelliot]

It's hard to decide where to begin describing our fourth trip to CocoView April 24-May 8. This time we decided to go for two weeks. We have always wished we had a little more time at the end of a one-week trip. It proved to be a wonderful experience although a bit exhausting.

On the first week we had the full group of 13 from our LDS, Aquadiving. This was our second and third trips with some of the people that were present. With a few additions to our boat we set out on CocoView III with Eddie and Jorge for a great week of diving. Seas were very calm during this first week and we visited most of the usual sites.

One special thing we did was an all day trip to the east end of the island. This included 3 boat dives and the kitchen packed us a lunch for the trip. This is something not to be missed. If you can get a consensus from the rest of your boat they only charge around $50 extra for this. The sites on the east end are gorgeous. We dived on Fort Cay Wall, Hole in the Wall and Lime Cay Wall.

Moya and I decided, with the two weeks, to do some training during this trip. We both had rescue certification and some specialties, so we decided to do the wreck class given that the Prince Albert provides easy access to a wreck. Two dive masters were with us from our LDS and did the training. We tailored the course to include penetration of the Prince. After a bunch of advanced buoyancy exercises, we ended up going through the focsle, cargo hatches, wheelhouse, engine room and most of the main decks. Very cool and went home with our Master Diver certifications too!

Seahorses! I have never seen so many at CocoView. Late April must be the season. We must have seen 15 during the entire trip. We saw 6 on one day. There was a large yellow one on CocoView Wall that was there most every day at about 40 feet. I suspect this may be the same one that I saw in August.

A big blue Parrot Fish had taken up residence at the stern of the Prince Albert. He was used to divers, so you could get pretty close.
We also looked each day for the green Moray on the Prince. We would find him on the stern most often, but one day he was hiding inside a pulley box on top of the wheelhouse.

A small juvenile Drum Fish had taken up residence in an old plastic bottle in the sand at the edge of the Prince. I suspect he may be lunch soon being so far away from a real hiding place?

On the second week all but four of us left CocoView. It was strange to be on the dock saying goodbye, but our turn was coming only a week delayed. The weather turned very windy on Saturday and we had some boat dives canceled due to this. There was a strange current in the path coming in to the dive table. We found ourselves swimming at a 45 degree angle on the lower part of the path in order to go straight. This was not difficult just different.

I did 1 night dive over to Newman’s Wall where we found a very cool octopus out and about. Moya joined me for 2 morning dives at 5:00AM. It is awesome to see the sun rising over CocoView Wall!

CocoView feels like returning to family. Although there were some people changes this time with both Liz and Lobo gone! They were replaced with Mitch and Deb a husband and wife team that has taken the reins. Eddie and Jorge were their awesome selves and we once again enjoyed being on their boat tremendously! Between Willie at the bar and Rebecca & team in the kitchen we were well cared for!

Problems, related to some observations:

The checkout dives on the second Saturday was a real circus. We saw several divers being towed back from the path with various problems, OOA etc. I suspect these were related to the previously mentioned current problems on the path.

The DM and captain on the boat are just that, not babysitters. On our second week a large part of our boat had a hard time arriving on time and getting their **** together.

“It’s not your seahorse!” - Quote from Tim in the dive shop. I am reminded of the old Disney cartoon where Goofy gets behind the wheel of a car and his whole personality changes. Just because you have a camera doesn’t mean you own the DM and/or the subject found.

On Friday of the second week we were hanging out at the dive table having a cocktail or two – no not in dive gear! One of the CocoView dive masters returned with a diver after doing a checkout. The DM was kindly trying to tell this diver that he had too much weight along with a few other tips. When I heard the line “I like to have extra lead and keep an air reserve in my BC” my head just exploded. Why argue with someone that is trying to help you out? I found out later this guy was a lawyer which explained a lot!

I don’t know how you solve the above issues and I know that CocoView is fearful of offending clients, but sometimes I wish they would be a little stronger.

Chuck

 

[Doc]

Problems, related to some observations:

And good observations they are- unfortunately not just specific to your one visit.

I think this perception might be magnified at CCV for a couple of reasons. (Besides that you can now sit back, relax and observe- as you know all the details after spending many weeks there)

First, it's the endemic DNA mindset of the Hondurans to not bring up critiques of guest behaviors that would offend. I no longer believe it is DM's protecting their tips, I think it's just part of their culture. On a sidenote- It took me a long time to see that altho CCV DM's like getting tipped, they are just hardwired to do their assigned jobs as well as they can (an unusual trait in paradise), and really can not be enticed to perform circus acts in anticipation of generating a tip. Most of them just give 100% as a DM and skip on grab-ass cut-up behavior that you may see elsewhere in the Caribbean... same goes for corrective advice.

Second, the DNA in the guest of CCV since 1984. Although the staff has completely turned over since inception in 1984, for many years CCV was considered "the place for divers". If you managed to get there at all in the early years, it could be well assumed that you knew what you were doing underwater. Times change. Not only did it get easier to get there (the diving was never that difficult, but travel arrangements got very easy), but the diving public has changed in its expectations. (how about a water slide off the boat and into the water?) CCV, however, did not change its expectations of divers... "we treat you like the adult divers that you are". Thus the absurdity of the question, "Can I solo dive?". I supopose that merely asking that question means that you shouldn't, but at CCV Solo is an accepted practice, among others~ staff doesn't raise an eyebrow... unless you are a danger to yourself or others, ergo: running out of air (OOA) on the orientation dive is a very indicative sign. I am old, dive in a cotton jumpsuit, a porker, smoke cigars and have managed to lead the standard orientation dive using 1100 psi, assuming no-one started to drown. Most DM's use 800. Running out of air? Houston, you sent us a problem.

Third, the lost principle of the first day CCV Orientation Dive. It was always designed to give one guided tour of the Front Yard shore dive, to show you the ropes and guide posts underwater. With the arrival of more and more divers with first day equipment assembly confusion, buoyancy issues, and as you point out- lack of mastery of basic conditions skills- it has turned into a bit of an unavoidably necessary nightmare. Many people bridle at this as being a dreaded "checkout dive", and for those- I would be very suspicious and watch like a hawk (If not for safety considerations then just for pure amusement). It is the safest place for most visitors to start their vacation- in 3' of water, plus it allows them to understand the resort shore dive- which is the #1 reason you should be at CCV.

Other observations become apparent. CCV offers you a simple way to advise your DM that you wish your dive gear to be taken from the dive deck storage and loaded on the boat for the dives. I find it one less thing for me to fool around with. You can easily and simply opt out of this service. I find it thoroughly amusing when some (almost always) young man goes bull-goose looney if and when a DM "touches my stuff". At CCV, you have a choice, but you can always look it over after the DM has gone through the hard part of fussing with the tank bands.



Accepting assistance from the DM is the smartest thing you can do. When they put out their hand, trust me- accept it graciously.

I don't want to go on a led dive following a DM.

Too bad for you, fella. I'll show you my pictures when we return, maybe you'll change your mind next time. This is their back yard.

Photographers and ownership of Seahorses? This is another dispute without end. Fortunately, I have seen it very seldom.

The grabby, poke-stick crowd? Way too much. "I have to wear gloves, because ______ "

 

[cfelliot]

Pictures on Web Site version:

Roatan IV 2010

 

[Pelagicsal]

That beautiful little guy out on the sand in the bleach bottle is a jackknife fish. They live out on the sand - as opposed to the reef-dwelling spotted drum.
I hope that bodes well for his surviving to become a big jackknife fish! I believe I visited him every single time I was in the front yard!

Check this link to learn more about them. Species Identification - Family: Sciaenidae - (Jackknife-Fish)

 

[Didje]

Great report and pictures, thanks a bunch for sharing!

 

[farsidefan1]

2 weeks till Cocoview. Thanks for the appetizer. I'm a bit nervous as this will be my first dive vacation since my chamber shortened Coz trip. Doc, I'm gong to do the nitrox thing you mentioned and I might limit myself to 3 dives a day (that one is going to be the toughest), and move up a bit toward the end of the dive. I hate this - I wanna do my 5 dives a day dangit. Sigh.

 

[Doc]

... and I might limit myself to 3 dives a day (that one is going to be the toughest), and move up a bit toward the end of the dive. I hate this - I wanna do my 5 dives a day dangit. Sigh.

"Moving up" at the end of the dive, and in general maintaining a shallower overall profile has multiple advantages. Yes, you are exposing yourself to less Nitrogen loading... in fact, off-gassing during these last 20+ minutes. That kind of profile can be planned on almost any South side Roatan Dive Site.

The added benefit, as you well know after multiple visits lies in the truth of the mantra: The cool stuff is shallow. You already know all of this, but I add it for those who may not have been diving in this specific locale.

The Front Yard dive site, including the Prince Albert Wreck can be planned-out to be a zero-sum Nirogen profile. You can have a great 1.25+ hour dive and be off-gassing all the while. :doctor: If you get bent doing this, you'll get bent in a hammock... pretty much so, anyway.

Roatan's South side is the Caribbean's greatest example of the fact that the number of critters in the water column increases with ambient light. Most of my dives there are no deeper than 50'. It is also very easy to temper your ascent rate by the use of landmarks on the vertical wall structures. Not too hard to see if you are sinking or ascending.

We have had brilliant dive experiences in the Front Yard never exceeding 15fsw~ most especially at night. True enough, some of the dives logged-out at 2+ hours, but that's what made us quit... we just wanted a cold one.

 

[cfelliot]

I agree!

On our first trip we would come up the drop off walls at 60-80 feet! This is fun to do to see the structure of the walls.

But, we now do these at 30-40 feet and sometimes 15. There is just more to see!

Another point is that there are a lot of critters that live in the sand of the front yard. I always make long sweeps for at least 10-15 min. across the sand and work my way up to the path. You never know what might be in that hole!

Another^2 point: look to the left and right over the grass when coming up the path. Many things to see!

 

[tridacna]

What happened to Liz? Wow. That news is a shocker. Retired? I thought that she would be there forever. Glad to see that Willie is still making popcorn though. I presume that Doc is still around?

 

[scubafanatic]

....running out of air during the orientation dive ? WTF ??? Those divers must have the physique of a jellyfish...