Best Dives on the West Side please

[Susiewah]

Hey there,

I am lucky enough to go with a small group to Roatan over Christmas Week. We are renting a house on the Westside, right on the water. We will be using Bananarama Divers.

My question is what are the best dive sites over there and why? Mary's Place looks good. Any other recommendations? We are a mix of open water and dive master divers.

Thank you in advance.
Only looking for dive site recommendations as our housing and dive op are locked in, thanks.

Scuba Susie

 

[Doc]

West End is what it is referred to as.

Bananarama, a good choice, will take you "to the best spots". Why wouldn't they? Like every dive op anywhere in the world, they have a route and schedule. There are no real "advanced" skill requirements as variables for West End dive ops unless you consider the two (placed wreck) dives that are at 90-110', additional point: they are located on the "North Side", a good ride away, but doable. If you don't want that, have them put you on another boat, but I'm betting you'll go on the dive.

Walking into a dive shop with a list of dive sites you think you must have? Nothing new for the operators, but it will likely cause eye-rolling and it will put you on the "watch list". Trust them, sign up, go diving. They are going to evaluate your abilities after you flounder through dive #1, and see how well you then do in 2 & 3....after that, they'll trust your skills a tiny bit more. That's why you should never get tired/lazy on Thursday and skip a day, by then, they might do some really cool stuff if you don't come off as a liability. Yes, they are judgemental, Rightfuly so.

Mary's Place is "more" interesting mostly because of its appearance in dive magazines. It is on the South side, quite a boat ride from West End, especially if the seas are rough around the West tip, which they often are. It is usually an extra fee from WE as well. It is an unusual structure, a deep slot, unlike the majority of other Roatan dive sites which are geographically similar and thus unremarkable- it is simply something of a different shape to perceive. Very very few divers notice the fauna within- they are extremely reclusive, camouflaged and your DM is not going to be at your side, literally. It does require an 85fsw bottom and a small diameter constriction/swim through at about 70fsw depth.

The cool stuff in Roatan does not require extra cost trips to dive hither and yon. The best diving is right there in front if you, wherever you are, certainly on WE. Have your DM show you the interesting macro that Roatan is well known for.

 

[diversteve]

Bananarama is on the beacjh in West Bay - not to be confused with the West End a couple miles farther east.

Where exactly is your house? Are they picking you up?

As Doc said - Mary's Place is around the point on the southwest side. On a Roatan map - see Barefoot Cay Resort? - Mary's is about 5mins.off their dock.

Off the west point of West Bay are some interesting dives - we liked Texas - a fast drift we did one morning. Bucho's something was another good one.

My shop was based in the West End so we did more diving east of there than in West Bay so I'm not as familiar with that area.

I agree - let them pick the sites. If you night dive - someone probably is most days of the week if your shop isn;t so ask around. Our shop set it up with a competitor the night we wanted.

If you do the shark dive - all the shops sell that and will provide transport - it's on the south side by the airport.

Also I enjoyed the Dolphin Dive at AKR - they take walk-ins - I think we paid $118? It's a shallow sandy bottom and you get about 45mins with 2-3 dolphins once they settle down. Our group of 7 was their whole trip one morning mid-week - they assign a boat, DM and sell you a video - watch their video guy - he picks up the dolphins sooner than the guests. They go by fast...At least at first till the trainer brings them in.

Vintage Pearl is a nice meal in West Bay. We also liked Argentinean Grille in the West End. Don't walk between them at night - there are robberies reported on that road. Cabs are cheap and the water taxi docks are convenient - the main dock in the West End drops you in the middle of everything.The water taxi dock a little farther west - in the main bar area. I don't believe the water taxi's run late at night but we could always get a cab - one taxi stand is at tne main entrance to the West End - the Grille about a block east. Also Sundowners is a good beach bar - they close early - across the street from the Grille.

If your house has a dock, I believe you can arrange to be picked up there. I know that works at the resorts nearby.