Cayos Cochinos

[Joe Seven]

I'll be on Roatan from April 24-May 2, and was thinking of spending 2-3 days on Cayos Cochinos afterwards.

It seems that Plantation Beach Resort is still the only commercial dive op there. Their rates seem pretty decent, EXCEPT for the transfer fees. $125 per person from Le Ceiba?! Why is it that other tour operators charge $50 or less to go to Cayos Cochinos for the day, while PBR charges nearly 3 times as much?
And just out of curiosity:

-are there other options for diving in CC?
-is snorkeling just as good? I'll be coming from 10 days of diving off Roatan, maybe some snorkeling would be a nice change of pace. (?) OR maybe I'll be craving more dives!

Cheers,
Joe

 

[Doc]

The diving on Cayos Cochinos, at least what it is known for, is not shore diving or snorkeling. It is on the "sea mounts" which rise from the offshore depths of the deep blue and do not top out within snorkel range of the surface.

What options did you finally select from your list of options on Roatan?

You're going to owe us a major trip report.

btw~ take a look at the related threads located way at the bottom of this page!

 

[Joe Seven]

Thanks.

I will be staying at AKR for 1 week, then Infinity Bay Resort for 3 or 4 days. I don't have much experience with resorts so this should be interesting. I have a feeling AKR will be more fun, while IBR will be silly pampering... not my particular style but can I really complain?

Trip report with pics to follow

 

[Joe Seven]

Oh, looks like AKR does day trips to Cayos Cochinos... that could be a good option.

 

[sand diver]

Its been a couple of years since I've been on Cayos, but its fantastic if you really want some seclusion! Plantation Beach is small and homely (the keylime pie is delecious), and I agree, the sea mounts,Roatan Banks, are amazing dives and don't miss out on those if you have the opportunity. Other good sites around there- Cayo Tiomon and El Avion (a cessna which went down during a research flight in the 80s or 90s- i think, anyway, thats the story I've heard about it. this site is often quite algae dominated but i've seen some pretty good and little stuff there) and the end of the Pelicano Wall where the Aggressor moors. There are probably some other good sites around here, these are the ones i dove and enjoyed frequently when working at the research station there. One of the reasons Plantation Beach may charge so much for a transfer as they usual have very small groups or just couples there whereas tour operators are taking bigger numbers.

If you're looking for another way to do Cayos why don't you sail. Vern Fine (vfine@hotmail.com) often runs day trips on his cat which includes snorkeling and lunch on one of the smaller island- Chachawatea. You can also arrange with him to overnight and dive. I took a group of friends when they visited and it was there best day here!

Have fun!