I compare the entire island of Bonaire to the small resort of CoCoView all the time.
People often ask, "Which should I do?" The easy answer is, both.
If you are looking for the exact same thing a Bonaire, you will find that it is unique in this world. Most dive resorts there have a fair shore dive, a good dive operation,
plus the really unique feature being the multitude of marked shore dive locations. Then, you have many, may options for dining- the well known places with neon signs and the simple (and arguably better) joints along the roadside.
When I am in Bonaire, I usually get 4 dives in each day. Even though the shore dives are very nice, I still prefer the diving around Klein Bonaire with a dive boat.
As far as Roatan goes, I do believe that CCV is the comparative winner so far, hands down. It has maintained a consistent product for 27 years. It is the best shore dive on Roatan~ a smidge better than FI just across the channel. Reef House (RHR) has a nice shore dive
if the weather is cooperating and I agree with the description of AKR's as being kind-of imaginary- as a previous post mentioned. As far as there being "ten shore dives" on Roatan- I'm
not seeing that- at least not as being
accessible by
the usual visitors.
I manage to get 5 a day at CCV without a sweat. You are never told what to do or how to do it. And, as in many things in life- you get what you pay for- that's why the place is never discounted.
Also don't care much for doing the same house reef dive more than twice (one day dive, one night dive) on a trip.
At CCV you will indeed get the "same house reef" for one of those dives, each day. If you really think that it is
"the same old dive", many observant divers would take issue with that. If nothing else, do it at a different depth. Otherwise, slow down, way down, and look for the critters that hide in plain sight. Both of the two drop-off dives from CCV (over Newmans Wall or CCV Wall, selected by the time of day that Sun will be striking them fully)- both of these dives finish up at the Prince Albert Wreck before you head in to CCV. I ask the Boat Captain to
just drop me on top of the PA Wreck all the time.
Talk about redundant! But it is absolutely different each time. It's all in what you are ready to see.
These images:
http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd106/Doc_Adelman/2007 Roatan Bay Islands Honduras/ are mostly from the shore dive,
the same old redundant dive.
Having this incredible artificial reef of a
140' upright ship (in shallow 35>65fsw) all of 5 minutes flipper (
through an aquarium) from your room, how can you beat that? That room is on stilts over an active reef... let me think about that.
Here's more of the Prince Albert Wreck
http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd106/Doc_Adelman/Prince Albert wreck of Roatan/
I have found that "night boat dives" are usually a cluster. They usually moor at a 55' deep spot- far too deep for anything good. The best stuff is at 45' and shallower (at least on the S side of Roatan). This is what makes the shore dive from CCV so perfect-
night diving. And, it is at night when the
shore dive from neighboring FI reaches an equal level of "great". I urge you to avoid paying for a night boat dive if at FI or CCV~ money poorly spent... better experience to shore night dive, plus it's free. RHR has a grand night dive, if the weather is cooperating. At any other resort, you are locked into paying for a night boat dive- no other way to get to a live reef. AKR's purported night shored dive being a restrictive and marginal exception.
Bonaire gets a bad rap in reference to vehicular break-ins. I think if Roatan had similar drive-to shore dives, they would be stealing your entire car, not just your sunglasses. Bonaire gets a lot of bad press for infrequent events that would be largely avoided if we used our heads. Bonaire, as have some resorts on Roatan, has more than a few thefts from the resort properties. CCV is on it's own private island, you can leave computers and cameras lying about without a care- people do. It is not a party hang-out for locals or in a transit path for a village- as are the other two big AI's on the island.
I love the option to pick my own restaurant when I am in Bonaire. This does add to the price over an AI such as CoCoView. Remember, I am getting a max of 4 a day in Bonaire, but I am getting 5x at CCV. Thus, when you are diving that much, you might look at food as if it was fuel. I have never walked away from the buffet line at CCV hungry, and my beautiful bride believes that the food at CCV is directly responsible for her wetsuit shrinking.
To all readers, I say
be sure to do both Bonaire, an island nation, as well as the resort of your choice that sits on the South shore of Roatan. This Southerly region is absolutely unique in the Caribbean- this short shoreline (about 15 miles wide) is bathed in bright Sunlight all day long. It is shallow and vertical, making it a lush environment for all sorts of babies and small critters.
As far as non-divers coming along, in terms of Roatan, you are doing the smart thing by leaving them home alone. Roatan is a lot of things to a lot of people, but it's a long way off from being entertaining to a non-diver... and CCV is in a dead tie with RHR as far as being the very worst place on Roatan for a non-diver. The other resorts really aren't much better unless that non-diver likes to drink a lot and lie in the Sun (if slathered in DEET with an SPF50 component)
The local liveaboard spends a great deal of it's itinerary moored to cans along the South side of Roatan, often within easy view of CCV or FI.
Compare the costs.
Bonaire? Similar? It's all different, it's all good, try them all, but as far as a liveaboard experience, if you can tolerate the Sand Flies of Roatan, I have found CCV exclusively to fit that bill.
Bonaire or Liveaboard it is!
