I'm suppose to pay on my reservation today for AKR, but I've also been reading here and now I have questions. I'm deathly afraid of bugs and I'll be going alone, does AKR get bugs in the rooms? Then my issue is I read somewhere here that AKR get's a lot of sand flies/fleas whatever lol and then really no breeze...is there a resort that's still high quality that doesn't have as many? At the same time, I don't want to have to take a boat to get to the resort, I don't want to be far from...whatever else there is to do in Roatan (from my reading, nothing lol), but I want to be able to catch a cab...I don't want a really small resort, but not a huge one either...I do like that AKR has a hammock on my porch, buttttttt will there be lots of bugs out that I wouldn't want to sit on the hammock? So should I stick with AKR or look elsewhere, if I need elsewhere please throw suggestions at me...also, doesn't know if it matters, but I'll be a new diver.
AKR or somewhere else
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robint
Contributor
The entire island of Roatan, along with all the other countries in that area of Central America have bugs, it is the jungle afterall. The sand fleas, noseeums are the big issue in sandy areas, around docks, etc. and they bite you and it hurts! Best thing to do is spray yourself with a protectant as soon as you get out of the water from diving. We love Cactus Juice (buy it online before you go). It smells good and isn't harmful for skin or the environment like DEET. Mosquitos are there, too, but the ocean breeze usually helps with them. The best thing to do is spray yourself with DEET around sunset (their feeding time), especially the leg areas.
All that said.... Roatan is wonderful diving, perfect for a new diver and well worth the bug hassle.
robin
All that said.... Roatan is wonderful diving, perfect for a new diver and well worth the bug hassle.
robin
Ok, because I was reading somewhere on one of these boards about AKR has more rotting vegetation so the fleas were worse there. Will I see bugs in my room that will be big enough to carry me away (like here in the south we have the flying roach and omg they are huge)
robint
Contributor
the flying roach you are talking about is called a palmetto bug, they are common in Florida and live out in the palm trees, only getting inside houses by accident. They are really harmless... and no, I don't think they have anything like that in Roatan. The noseeums are the worst thing you will have to deal with.
BTW --- we didn't go to Roatan for many years, even though we heard how great it was, due to the reports of bugs. Once we got there and used the Cactus Juice between dives, we realized we were so silly to have avoided the place! The bugs are a minor annoyance. We didn't stay at AKR but I am sure it is very similar to CCV regarding the bugs. Look at getting some Cactus Juice: Cactus Juice: Prickly Pear Skin Care for Naturally Healthy Skin it works really well with the noseeums. Just remember to apply it as soon as you dry off from diving, pretty much anytime you are out of the water, and you will be fine. Some people insist on using DEET, but it burns my sensitive skin and it is bad for the environment so I limited the use until the skeeters came out at dusk, and only on my legs and ankles.
robin
flying roach, palmetto bug, american cockroach...they are all in the south and I'm terrified of them, they're attracted to oak trees (possibly magnolia trees too)...glad to know they aren't down there since my kids won't be there to rescue me lol...if the sand fleas are the worst things to deal with, I'll be ok...
Now I'm second guessing my length of stay. I've never gone off by myself (never to eat, and just getting courage to go to movies by myself) and yet I'm planning a week by myself...would this be too long you think? As a new diver, do you think I'd get tired of diving for a week straight?
Now I'm second guessing my length of stay. I've never gone off by myself (never to eat, and just getting courage to go to movies by myself) and yet I'm planning a week by myself...would this be too long you think? As a new diver, do you think I'd get tired of diving for a week straight?
hdtran
Geography Police
Give yourself a mid-life crisis, just like I did. My family is non-diving, but it's my mid-life crisis, not theirs. I chose CCV. Second/third choices were FI and/or Reefhouse. The compromise is that we'll be in the Playa Miguel beach house (more secluded if they want to just vegetate while I walk 1500 ft to the dive shop, and gather 120-200 minutes of BT/day, but I suspect that they'll be snorkeling until their skin is like a raisin. My son may want a Jr OW cert; he'll be 12 at the time of the trip).
I, too, consider myself a novice diver. I won't get tired of diving for 1 week. As Doc puts it, I intend to find an interesting rock, hang out near it, and suck air while waiting for little critters to show up. (Or something like that) (and work on my buoyancy skills while watching the rock). Like watching a saltwater aquarium, I can do that for hours. (Not suck air, I mean watching a saltwater aquarium). (I mean, I can suck air, but the tank will be empty well before I hit 1 hr!!!! :shocked2: ).
I, too, consider myself a novice diver. I won't get tired of diving for 1 week. As Doc puts it, I intend to find an interesting rock, hang out near it, and suck air while waiting for little critters to show up. (Or something like that) (and work on my buoyancy skills while watching the rock). Like watching a saltwater aquarium, I can do that for hours. (Not suck air, I mean watching a saltwater aquarium). (I mean, I can suck air, but the tank will be empty well before I hit 1 hr!!!! :shocked2: ).
I guess you can say i'm having a mid-life crisis (at 30 lol)...I'm working on my bucketlist, and scuba is something I always wanted to do...I tried to do the jobs that require diving in the Navy but because I'm female and they are considered combat jobs, I couldn't, sooooooo I'm doing it now lol...I decided to stick with AKR and just sent my deposit for my room...If I get tired of diving (and I shouldn't, I hope I don't) I'll have my Nook...I'll sit on my porch with my hammock and some type of drink with an umbrella in it, and read....unless I meet some new friends then I can talk with them and then retire to my hammock and read lol.
DivingNole
Registered
Somehow I doubt you'll get tired of diving and instead will be wishing you could dive more. As a new diver, keep in mind that a lot of people do their 4 open water certification dives down there so there is the chance to dive to differing ability levels, you'll be fine. I traveled two years ago with a friend who never stuck a regulator in her mouth prior to the trip, she got certified and did an additional 7 dives the week we were there. Have fun!
And if you feel like venturing off, use the same common sense that you would here in the States, particularly at night. I had no problems wandering around West End during the day solo when I had an ear issue and couldn't dive for a day.
And if you feel like venturing off, use the same common sense that you would here in the States, particularly at night. I had no problems wandering around West End during the day solo when I had an ear issue and couldn't dive for a day.
There are small bugs and there are big bugs and lizards..You are in the islands and they are there.Yes they can at times can be found in your room.If you are truly so terrified of bugs either get over it or do not go to the islands.ANY island in the Caribbean has bugs.As for "sand fleas-no seeums"- they are there too.Take cactus juice or something as simple as Avon skin so soft diluted with water.Works great to keep the bites off you.There are no High End resorts on Roatan.
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