Coco View and Taca

[jbjclj]

We were at Coco View the same week as Laura (Sorrows) and family and echo her excellent report about the resort, dive operation and fabulous boats and crews. We dove with Jesse and Rueben and a group of excellent, seasoned divers.

We thought the reefs were in incredible shape (reminded me of Maracaibo in Cozumel), but were very disappointed in the number of fish. Everyone on the boat commented on the scarcity of fish and many were repeat visitors.

We did see the adorable juvenile drums in the bottle on the way back to the resort and many juvenile and adult drums. A yellow spotted eel was hiding in the grass at about 4 feet. On a dive at Coco View Wall, I spotted something hiding in a small hole and had no idea what it was ( about five inches long yellow and black stripe, long snout) I just looked it up in Humanns and it was a Harlequin Pipefish. 3 groups of squid and several scrawled filefish. But no turtles, very few angel fish, grouper etc.

We were not as lucky as Laura to come out unscathed on the bug situation. We applied Deet, but still got bit. After a few days, we figured out that you need to rinse off immediately and reapply right away and DO NOT stand in the grass/sand by the rinse tanks. Cactus Juice worked best for us

NOW TO TACA!!!!!!

We flew LAX/SAL/RTB on the redeye, arriving in RTB at 10:25 am. PERFECT!!!

On Saturday we arrived at the airport at 2:30, we walked immediately to the TACA desk and checked in while chucking about those poor souls waiting in line at the Continenal desk (only 1 clerk). We quickly went through departure tax and waited for our 4:50 flight RTB/SAL/LAX. We WAITED AND WAITED AND WAITED.

About 6:30 they tell us the flight will not arrive. Back to the counter, they cannot get any of us (a group of 18 from all over) out until Monday and will send a special plane. Back to the departure tax to retreive our payments and wait for Customs to return our green slips...one more hour. We finally left the airport at 8:30, bussed to the West End and stayed at the Pura Vida Lodge. Back on the bus at 8:30 am to the airport. Flew to San Salvador, and waited another 2 hours at the help desk. Finally on a bus at 2:00 to the Intercontinenal Hotel (beautiful!!!). Monday, back on the bus at 6:30 for our 9:00am flight. Back to LAX at 1:15

I say to friends our flight arrived exactly on time, just 2 DAYS late.

To be fair, TACA took care of all meals and hotels and gave each of us a $300 voucher for another trip. So I guess we will be back to Coco View.

We met the most wonderful people from all over. A great trip

Cheryl and Jay

 

[DiveMaven]

Thanks for the post about your experienced. I'm eating all of this up as we're heading to CCV in only about 10 days!! However, I must say that you make me glad we're flying Continental.

 

[Sorrows]

Well, at least it happened on the way BACK and not on the way down! Speaking from experience, that's much better!

We flew Taca to Utila two years ago--actually we were quite pleased with them. And since you already have a $300 voucher...

IT was a great week, wasn't it? So glad we met so many interesting and lovely people!

 

[Dive n00b]

With only five days to go before my first trip to Roatan, I've gotta admit I'm a little discouraged by the comments about the scarcity of fish.

Seeing an abundance of marine life (fish, not just the macro stuff) is one of our primary reasons for heading down to Roatan. I suspect that we will still be blown away by the diving... hope your opinion is just one of a very experienced diver who's seen it all.

So far the most marine life I've ever seen while diving was at Stuarts Cove in Nassau. I've heard others refer to that as barren as well... hope Roatan is better!

I know there is lots of cool macro stuff, and that if we take our time and pay attention we will find a lot of unique critters. Will do our best to take it all in, but truth is, as rookie divers, much of the macro will be wasted on us. A big school of fish will steal my attention every time over a cool little critter that I couldn't name if my life depended on it.

 

[Doc]

With only five days to go before my first trip to Roatan, I've gotta admit I'm a little discouraged by the comments about the scarcity of fish.

Seeing an abundance of marine life (fish, not just the macro stuff) is one of our primary reasons for heading down to Roatan. I suspect that we will still be blown away by the diving.

So far the most marine life I've ever seen while diving was at Stuarts Cove in Nassau. I've heard others refer to that as barren as well... hope Roatan is better!

I know there is lots of cool macro stuff, and that if we take our time and pay attention we will find a lot of unique critters. Will do our best to take it all in, but truth is, as rookie divers, much of the macro will be wasted on us. A big school of fish will steal my attention every time over a cool little critter that I couldn't name if my life depended on it.

Your post makes me smile!

You're primed and ready for this new experience! Compared to Nassau Stuart Coves, this will be Disneyland!

Don't worry about not being able to name the new macro stuff~ I know how and where to find most of it, almost like a local DM, and I have no clue what the names are! That's no requirement to enjoying it. Just follow the DM, bring a flashlight even on day dives!

The area you are going isn't as much biased towards Macro as the South Side dive ops would be. Your diving will be largely within the Roatan Marine Park which features more larger critters. There is less exposure to Sunlight, less lush coral, but on the North side there are deeper slightly cooler currents that support larger fish.

But, you can enjoy a Seahorse, I'll bet!

Diving is learning. Once we get past spending that fleeting 50 minutes underwater simply engaging in the act of diving, once we learn to relax and not only look around... but to see! Go slowly, study a 1 square foot area for 10 minutes.

Be amazed. And saying what you have, I think you will!

 

[robint]

TACA = take a chance airlines

 

[Sorrows]

Diven00b, please don't be discouraged! You'll see a school or two of something not-so-msall on every dive. Not to mention sea horses, eels, toadfish, lobster, and octopus--who doesn't love them? I think you'll be suitably pleased--there is even a shark dive during the week. But you don't go to Roatan for sharks; neither would I say it is a macro-specific location, either. More of a all-around dive location. Make sure you try a night dive.

BTW, rookie diver or not, you simply MUST get the Humann & DeLoach Fish I.D. book. It's more or less the diver's Bible. The Reef Creature one is equally important. Seriously, it will increase your enjoyment of coral reef diving tremendously. I would also strongly recommend (again! I swear I have no financial interest in these guys!) the Fish Behavior book. It just takes the diving to a new level when you begin to not just see, but observe and understand .

IMHO, of course, and YMMV, but I doubt it!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[robint]

I agree! The Paul Humann books should be mandatory for all divers. I especially like the Behavior book, too. When I got it and saw the photos, I kept saying "ooooh, I have seen fish do that, now I know what was happening!" It was a real eye-opener for me, a real fish nerd to begin with! Now I can find fish and critters better, too, as I understand them better. I know where to look!!!

robin