Carribeandiver
Guest
Hi all,
Just returned from 7 days in Roatan and thought I would post a note. The reefs are incredible, so many and all so beautiful. I stayed at Bay Island Beach Resort. Upon arrival at approximately noon on Saturday, I disembarked the plane and got in line to go through customs. Suddenly, someone called out my name and said come this way. It was Cam (owner of BIBR) who then whisked me past customs and into the van.
One other couple was already in the van (lucky stiffs must have had seats in the front of the plane) and off we went to the resort.
Upon arrival, I was greeted with a drink, smiles, lunch and showed the way to my bungalo. Now about 1:30 or so , I rushed to the boat going out at 2. I showed the DM my gear and he loaded it on a cart to be placed on the boat. I got my weights, walked down the dock and hopped on board.
I wore my 1mm thinking the water is going to be warm, but for me, it was a chilly 82 and a cold dive. The rest of the week I wore a 3mm. The dive group was me, a couple from wisconsin and the DM, a really great guy named Clyde who made sure we saw the things we probably would have missed. A rockfish, some eels and a teeny tiny seahorse.
My frist Roatan underwater dive was on the Green Outhouse Reef and it was spectacular. Fish everywhere, healthy coral, color, splendor, absolutely beautiful.
That night, we (that's me and the other guest that had since arrived) got a short orientation about BIBR. Then dinner.
I met some great people from very diverse backgrounds. A couple professional musicians, a violionist and a french horn player. Good divers, excellent musicians and good people. Also, some Canadiens, a couple from Montana, a couple from Washington DC -that I had convinced everyone were spies from the gov't and gathering dossiers on everyone. People from Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and me from New Orleans.
Because of airline travel, apparently most everyone arrives on Saturday and departs the following Saturday. This allows us to become a group with common experiences and made for a better week, at least I think so.
About half the people were divers and the other half were snorklers. The resort ran separate boats for the divers and snorklers. We could do all the beach dives we wanted but after 3 dives a day, not many rushed out for the beach dives. I did do a 4 dive day but I have to admit I was kinda tired after the 3 dives a day.
We all met the dive instructor - head guy of the dive shop - on Sunday morning and were introduced to the staff and given a briefing of our routine for the week.
I enrolled in the AOW/Nitrox combo course and after the meeting the dive instructor and I discussed the curriculum.
We spent some time on the beach to work on navigating. The the boats took off while the instuctor, a great guy named Shane, and I went off alone for some one on one instruction. We talked about my deep dive and he asked if I was ok with it or wanted to wait to do it. I wasnt comfortable going 120+feet but wouldnt be tomorrow either so l did it then.
He showed me a puzzle made up of pvc pipe with different length pieces and elbows and let me mess with it. He said we would go down where I would put it together and sign my name on a slate below where I would have already signed my name before the dive.
He explained it didnt matter if I did well with the puzzle, the purpose was to show the effects of narcosis.
We dove on a reef called Wayne's reef and it was absolutely beautiful. A long reef with several chutes. We went down one chute and I was in awe. At 127 ft, Shane opened his hands that held the pvc pieces and I began assembly. I then wrote my name on the slate and we began a slow accent. We passed two other chutes and I nearly gasped at the wonder of it all. We stopped occasionally to look at a lobster, crab or fish but mostly I stared at the wall.
The dive lasted about 40 minutes, I didnt feel any narcosis and did a good job with the writing and puzzle but still, I was very aware of the dangers presented by nitrogen at such depths.
We got up the ladder and on the boat and Shane offered more information while we were off to our next dive site.
After a surface interval, we did a dive where my assignment was navigation. I was instructed to swim a sqaure, going north, west, south and then back east to return to the starting point. I did this about 4 or 5 times. Shane obviously wasnt impressed with my skills but didnt say anything other than some instruction on navigation.
I then went out on the boat with the other divers for my afternoon fun dive. Of course, even though we were all not real close yet, I was razed some about my "special treatment" going out alone with the dive instructor and shunning the dive boat.
We had a great dive and came in to shower, get dry and sit around chatting before dinner.
That evening around dinner, one of the boat captains had a slide presentation on the indigenous fish. One of the G-men (the guy from Washington DC) and me nailed about every slide, naming all the fish. I was proud of me and figured the G-man guy was briefed before the trip so naturally I felt the smartest. We won a free drink from the bar and we got our beer to celebrate our knowledge.
We were told whalesharks had been seen in the area the week before and we probably would see at least one. But, alas, no luck and we (the divers) all gave the owners a hard time saying it was a ploy to get us excited.
All we had to do to prepare for a dive, was to take our gear out of the gear room and set it outside the door. It was loaded on carts and delivered by the boat captains or DMs and set up on the boat. They even hooked up our regs which I guess is good but I kinda like to do that myself so I did even if I had to unhook it first.
I did 3 fun dives with the group. Then when we got back from the afternoon dive, Shane says, leave your stuff on the dock, you are going out with me tonight.
We did a long snorkel to the beginning of spooky channel where I had to bob on the surface for a while to catch my breath. Then down we went where I had to do some more navigation tricks. This time a straight line out and back with Shane turning off his light so I couldnt cheat. (this I thought was pretty sneaky of him)
And after I went north, south, east and west and back again, we were off on a fun dive. WOW, we saw this monster green eel. A 10 footer at least with a girth of about 2 or 3 feet around. A head the size of a horse head. This guy was enormous. I didnt even know they got that big. Shane and I saw him on Sunday during the day but wow, seeing him again at night, he was big, BIG. I named him Big Boy and of course, the other divers all thought I was exaggerating but they secretly knew I wasnt and everyone was envious of my good fortune.
I promised to take them all out Friday morning to see Big Boy and they were appeased.
For excursions, some of us suckers did the shark dive- most thought it was great but I thought it was big ripoff. A 15 minute tease and a 10 second feed. The sharks were big and plentiful and CLOSE but I personally liked the shark dive I did with Blackbeards in the Bahamas a whole lot better.
Most of us also did the canopy ride which was fun but really exhausting. A one time experience for me, for sure. Of course, I was the only one that walked this long cable that really wore me out. Everyone else zipped it and that left me with the privilege of calling them woosies and not manly like me.
And some did the dolphin dive but I passed on that.
Anyway, Wednesday afternoon I took the Nitrox test, Shane did the lecture on Monday afternoon and I studied the book for about 2 days between dives, BSing with the other guests and meals. I passed, yeah, I am a certified Nitrox diver and I can promise you this, it aint very likely I will ever dive Nitrox again. I see NO advantage, no difference at all and the book boldly states there is no proven benefits of Nitrox.
I made about 4 or 5 Nitrox dives and of course, felt special cause I had this tank with the green and yellow decal but really I felt no difference at all.
The next day, Shane and I worked on PPB and presto, I am now a certifed AOW diver too.
EVERYONE at the resort bent over backwards to accommodate us. All smiles from the staff from cooks, housekeeping, dive staff and owners. I recommend BIBR, I can promise no one got better treatment upon arrival at the airport either coming in or going out. When we were taken to the airport yesterday morning, we again were whisked through customs by Cam and her co-owner husband Ted. We got royal treatment and it was appreciated.
Roatan had great diving, great fun. There is so much I left out in this lengthy report, things like the Thursday night pig roast where everyone on the island is invited and it turns into a rip roaring good time. Or the hermit crab races where we buy 3 hermit crabs for 10 bucks with all the money going to the schools.
Friday morning it rained and the current was rough so we didnt do the dive where I would point out Big Boy for everyone but I know where he hides out and next time I bringing my camera. I only used my camera on about 2 dives since it is a pain to carry around and I stink as a photographer anyway.
THE END.
Just returned from 7 days in Roatan and thought I would post a note. The reefs are incredible, so many and all so beautiful. I stayed at Bay Island Beach Resort. Upon arrival at approximately noon on Saturday, I disembarked the plane and got in line to go through customs. Suddenly, someone called out my name and said come this way. It was Cam (owner of BIBR) who then whisked me past customs and into the van.
One other couple was already in the van (lucky stiffs must have had seats in the front of the plane) and off we went to the resort.
Upon arrival, I was greeted with a drink, smiles, lunch and showed the way to my bungalo. Now about 1:30 or so , I rushed to the boat going out at 2. I showed the DM my gear and he loaded it on a cart to be placed on the boat. I got my weights, walked down the dock and hopped on board.
I wore my 1mm thinking the water is going to be warm, but for me, it was a chilly 82 and a cold dive. The rest of the week I wore a 3mm. The dive group was me, a couple from wisconsin and the DM, a really great guy named Clyde who made sure we saw the things we probably would have missed. A rockfish, some eels and a teeny tiny seahorse.
My frist Roatan underwater dive was on the Green Outhouse Reef and it was spectacular. Fish everywhere, healthy coral, color, splendor, absolutely beautiful.
That night, we (that's me and the other guest that had since arrived) got a short orientation about BIBR. Then dinner.
I met some great people from very diverse backgrounds. A couple professional musicians, a violionist and a french horn player. Good divers, excellent musicians and good people. Also, some Canadiens, a couple from Montana, a couple from Washington DC -that I had convinced everyone were spies from the gov't and gathering dossiers on everyone. People from Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and me from New Orleans.
Because of airline travel, apparently most everyone arrives on Saturday and departs the following Saturday. This allows us to become a group with common experiences and made for a better week, at least I think so.
About half the people were divers and the other half were snorklers. The resort ran separate boats for the divers and snorklers. We could do all the beach dives we wanted but after 3 dives a day, not many rushed out for the beach dives. I did do a 4 dive day but I have to admit I was kinda tired after the 3 dives a day.
We all met the dive instructor - head guy of the dive shop - on Sunday morning and were introduced to the staff and given a briefing of our routine for the week.
I enrolled in the AOW/Nitrox combo course and after the meeting the dive instructor and I discussed the curriculum.
We spent some time on the beach to work on navigating. The the boats took off while the instuctor, a great guy named Shane, and I went off alone for some one on one instruction. We talked about my deep dive and he asked if I was ok with it or wanted to wait to do it. I wasnt comfortable going 120+feet but wouldnt be tomorrow either so l did it then.
He showed me a puzzle made up of pvc pipe with different length pieces and elbows and let me mess with it. He said we would go down where I would put it together and sign my name on a slate below where I would have already signed my name before the dive.
He explained it didnt matter if I did well with the puzzle, the purpose was to show the effects of narcosis.
We dove on a reef called Wayne's reef and it was absolutely beautiful. A long reef with several chutes. We went down one chute and I was in awe. At 127 ft, Shane opened his hands that held the pvc pieces and I began assembly. I then wrote my name on the slate and we began a slow accent. We passed two other chutes and I nearly gasped at the wonder of it all. We stopped occasionally to look at a lobster, crab or fish but mostly I stared at the wall.
The dive lasted about 40 minutes, I didnt feel any narcosis and did a good job with the writing and puzzle but still, I was very aware of the dangers presented by nitrogen at such depths.
We got up the ladder and on the boat and Shane offered more information while we were off to our next dive site.
After a surface interval, we did a dive where my assignment was navigation. I was instructed to swim a sqaure, going north, west, south and then back east to return to the starting point. I did this about 4 or 5 times. Shane obviously wasnt impressed with my skills but didnt say anything other than some instruction on navigation.
I then went out on the boat with the other divers for my afternoon fun dive. Of course, even though we were all not real close yet, I was razed some about my "special treatment" going out alone with the dive instructor and shunning the dive boat.
We had a great dive and came in to shower, get dry and sit around chatting before dinner.
That evening around dinner, one of the boat captains had a slide presentation on the indigenous fish. One of the G-men (the guy from Washington DC) and me nailed about every slide, naming all the fish. I was proud of me and figured the G-man guy was briefed before the trip so naturally I felt the smartest. We won a free drink from the bar and we got our beer to celebrate our knowledge.
We were told whalesharks had been seen in the area the week before and we probably would see at least one. But, alas, no luck and we (the divers) all gave the owners a hard time saying it was a ploy to get us excited.
All we had to do to prepare for a dive, was to take our gear out of the gear room and set it outside the door. It was loaded on carts and delivered by the boat captains or DMs and set up on the boat. They even hooked up our regs which I guess is good but I kinda like to do that myself so I did even if I had to unhook it first.
I did 3 fun dives with the group. Then when we got back from the afternoon dive, Shane says, leave your stuff on the dock, you are going out with me tonight.
We did a long snorkel to the beginning of spooky channel where I had to bob on the surface for a while to catch my breath. Then down we went where I had to do some more navigation tricks. This time a straight line out and back with Shane turning off his light so I couldnt cheat. (this I thought was pretty sneaky of him)
And after I went north, south, east and west and back again, we were off on a fun dive. WOW, we saw this monster green eel. A 10 footer at least with a girth of about 2 or 3 feet around. A head the size of a horse head. This guy was enormous. I didnt even know they got that big. Shane and I saw him on Sunday during the day but wow, seeing him again at night, he was big, BIG. I named him Big Boy and of course, the other divers all thought I was exaggerating but they secretly knew I wasnt and everyone was envious of my good fortune.
I promised to take them all out Friday morning to see Big Boy and they were appeased.
For excursions, some of us suckers did the shark dive- most thought it was great but I thought it was big ripoff. A 15 minute tease and a 10 second feed. The sharks were big and plentiful and CLOSE but I personally liked the shark dive I did with Blackbeards in the Bahamas a whole lot better.
Most of us also did the canopy ride which was fun but really exhausting. A one time experience for me, for sure. Of course, I was the only one that walked this long cable that really wore me out. Everyone else zipped it and that left me with the privilege of calling them woosies and not manly like me.
And some did the dolphin dive but I passed on that.
Anyway, Wednesday afternoon I took the Nitrox test, Shane did the lecture on Monday afternoon and I studied the book for about 2 days between dives, BSing with the other guests and meals. I passed, yeah, I am a certified Nitrox diver and I can promise you this, it aint very likely I will ever dive Nitrox again. I see NO advantage, no difference at all and the book boldly states there is no proven benefits of Nitrox.
I made about 4 or 5 Nitrox dives and of course, felt special cause I had this tank with the green and yellow decal but really I felt no difference at all.
The next day, Shane and I worked on PPB and presto, I am now a certifed AOW diver too.
EVERYONE at the resort bent over backwards to accommodate us. All smiles from the staff from cooks, housekeeping, dive staff and owners. I recommend BIBR, I can promise no one got better treatment upon arrival at the airport either coming in or going out. When we were taken to the airport yesterday morning, we again were whisked through customs by Cam and her co-owner husband Ted. We got royal treatment and it was appreciated.
Roatan had great diving, great fun. There is so much I left out in this lengthy report, things like the Thursday night pig roast where everyone on the island is invited and it turns into a rip roaring good time. Or the hermit crab races where we buy 3 hermit crabs for 10 bucks with all the money going to the schools.
Friday morning it rained and the current was rough so we didnt do the dive where I would point out Big Boy for everyone but I know where he hides out and next time I bringing my camera. I only used my camera on about 2 dives since it is a pain to carry around and I stink as a photographer anyway.
THE END.
