gregjohnson
Guest
If you are not staying at CoCo View can you use the dive shop and enjoy the shore dive? Do you need to be a guest to dive this site? Can not find clear answer here or on their web site.
Coco View Shore Dive
- Thread starter gregjohnson
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Yes, contact the resort when you are on Roatan. Call or eMail the Dockside Dive Center and ask for info on tank rental. They also have excellent rental gear.
The Shore Dive, also known as the "front yard' is my single favorite resort-based shore dive anywhere, and I have been to a lot of "anywheres"
In three feet of water out front of the resort, put on your flippers at the "dive platform" and slowly follow the anchor chain that lays out the path through the coral heads. You'll find the Wreck of the Prince Albert upright in 35fsw at the bow to 65fsw at the stern. She comes to within 25 feet of the surface and the DC3 aircraft lies 25' off of her port bow. Two lovely vertical walls line the channel as it goes seaward, breaking in 5fsw dropping down to the first sand level at 90fsw. The best stuff is above 40fsw.
Here's my description of this dive site:
The PA (Prince Albert) was a Nicaraguan tanker of 140' length, and in her last trip she carried many of her country's refugees from the conflicts that ended in the 80's. She was sunk intentionaly by Mr. Bill in late 1984, but she landed about 3' too far to the West- ask Mr. Bill and he will tell you that with real sincerity.
Resort guests dragged and laid out the heavy anchor chain (think about that for a moment), connecting the wreck through the cut in the reef to the dive platform- the wooden 8x8' deck that stands in 4 feet of water out in front of CCV's rooms. The chain connects to the wreck on the Starboard Bow (right front). Knowing these connecting points makes shore diving a very comfortable experience. If you stay to the wreck and the chain- you simply can not be lost.
On the foredeck, you will see the remains of something that looks like an octopus. Many years ago, a dive trip leader's wife hated her chandelier, so he disassembled it, catrted it down and hung it there for her to admire. There it still hangs off of the forward davit just as it amused the surprised lady diver.
Lots of growth has occured since the sinking, most notably on the upper structures and the starboard aft (right CCV side-rear) and stern (the round back end). Little seems to have grown on the port (left, FIBR side) so think about how light affects growth. Since many corals photo-flouresce under UV blacklight, that explains a lot.
Both tall flat sides of the bow walls are cluttered with cool stuf, but the port (left) is more active. Either side has clam shells that snap closed upon approach- and look for various bi-valves (heart shaped critters with dual orifices that open and shut). The underside of the bow in 35fsw has lots of hanging stuff, but enterance would damage it, so look from the outside!
Easy swim throughs after succesfuly mastering the adjacent buoyancy diamonds can be found in several spots. Penetration should only be attempted by those ready for those tasks. An easy starting place is the companionways located on either side of the pilothouse- the one on the right (straboard CCV side) is relatively free of delicate growth.
The various sections of the boat may be viewed, starting from the stern, as: 1) Stacks and aft deck, 2)pilothous, 3) amidships tanks, 4) the forcastle (foc'sle) which is the raised structure at the bow (or 'pointy end' in boat speak).
She sits with her stern in 65fsw with rudder permanently turned and lots of room underneath for stuff to hide and divers to explore. Starting from the aft (see Roatan and Utila gallery #11), on the starboard CCV side, note the intense growth on the side of the ship as you curve forward. Ghost along the deck at eye level, pay special attention to the decaying deck surface, as well as the larger more obvious hidey holes. Look with care at the edges of the 8x8 foot hole in the right side. Is there a Rough File Clam living in there or is his cousin in the 4x4" hole just below and aft?
That 8x8 foot hole is a great area to explore inside if you are so qualified. Your buoyancy skills will be tested as the trick is to not stir up any silt. If you leave it as clear as you found it- you have arrived! You can make 1, the 2 then the third room penetration... then down to the engine room to visit the big Green Moray... if you are ready for that challenge. Wreck classes are available thru the Dockside Dive Center (Welcome to Dockside Dive Center)
Just forward of the pilothouse are large sponges (esp starboard) that seem to be prime real estate for Brittle Stars and the like. These are easy to spot and quick faorites of 'newbies'.
Moving out over the center of the ship, look between the deck partitions for the 6' Green Moray, Willie. (Check on the Port side, just under the large round valve wheel) Look inside the large tanks, explore with your level of ability, but always take a flashlight (on each and every dive)!
How she was sunk: http://www.roatan.com/downloads/princealbert.wmv
and a bit more of the shallows along the chain, The Front Yard:
A few feet from your room begins the shore dive. Maybe 50 steps across the hard, flat sand from the dive gear/wet-room it begins.
At the shore, notice all of the critters that skitter about the 'wash zone' at the beach. The land crabs that look like alien monsters- as well as the handsome critters. Just into the water- look for Sharp Tailed Eels and 4" Baracudas. On the way out to the dive platform in 4' of water, look hard and scan the turtle grass- look at where the walkway meets the grass. Lots of hidey holes for Mantis Shrimp and babies of all descriptions. Walk slowly and look carefuly.
At the platform, which looks like a picnic table 10" above the water (about 4-5fsw) peer underneath and see what has claimed the spot today. Lobsters, Octopus, Juvenile Drums?
Around the platform, look for Sailfin Blennies. They're 1/4" dark dots that stick their heads out of pencil sized holes in the pebbles and rocks at your feet. Find one, put your palm over the top of the hole (the only way to do it), then go and find another. Position them within 2" of each other, very close! They will soon pose, posture and mock fight. They will display miniature sailfins! Be sure to seperate them when you're done gawking or photographing. Did you get a magnifying glass at the Dockside Dive Center?
Just West of the platform, it's Jawfish country. Look for the tell tale 1" hole surrounded by a neat circle of rocks. Hope to find one aerating the eggs in his mouth, but settle for tormenting one by the simple placing of a twig across his neat hole. He will soon nudge it away. They seem to like depths of 10" to 8'. For whatever reason, they don't mind setting up housekeeping in the middle of the walkway- it must work for them.
Now it's time to spread your buddies out wide on either side of the chain. Have one diver swim right over the chain, and the others should be on his side, maybe 7-8' away, looking on the other side of the rock walls. Never go one-after-the-other on the chain. Spread out and increase your chances. Look up as well.
Along the chain, look closely at any structure- rocks, floaty bottles, buoys, etc. Critters love structure. It should be easy to spot several eels of various types along the route. Daytime Octopus look like the critter in the movie "Predator".
It is quite common in the 3 to 8' depths that you'll find Scorpionfish, and don't forget to look up above things to spot the lurking Squid. Try finger movements that mimic their tentacles to draw them closer.
As you follow the chain, you will next encounter a cylinder head that measures 30x8" in 8fsw. There are Banded Coral Shrimp, Corkscrew Anemone with its resident Pedersen shrimp (and did you find the other species of Crustacean at the bottom?), and a sedentary Rough File Clam. Many divers just ignore this Critter Condo.
A little further along you will find the dive flag buoy, anchored with chain to the two cylinder pump block for a weight in 12fsw. (This is NOT the strobe buoy to hang the night dive marker!) Look to either side in the coral heads, find big fish lurking here, as well as Scorpionfish and Squid.
Up ahead, the chain bends around two coral heads in 15fsw, finally dropping to 22' with a concrete anchor and stytofoam strobe buoy. Just beyond lie the 5" anchor chain lengths that take you deeper and West to the Prince Albert Wreck.
On your return, if you crawl the bottom and move very slowly, you do an automatic safety stop making your way in. It's on opportunity to practice Osman Gomez's famous slogan, "Go Slow, Seymour".
The return trip is pretty much so the same- but- when you get to the platform, remember your dive isn't over! Keep SCUBA until you bottom out in 10" of water. See all the little critters that others are stepping on! Look for Box Crabs and very exotic feeder worms. You will marvel at the variety and wonder why others gave up so early. Suck that tank dry! I have seen temps here go to 95 degrees! You can get overheated while in the water!
Many dives have been logged while never going past the 22' Strobe Buoy. There's so much to see, right in CCV's Front Yard Pool!
The Shore Dive, also known as the "front yard' is my single favorite resort-based shore dive anywhere, and I have been to a lot of "anywheres"
In three feet of water out front of the resort, put on your flippers at the "dive platform" and slowly follow the anchor chain that lays out the path through the coral heads. You'll find the Wreck of the Prince Albert upright in 35fsw at the bow to 65fsw at the stern. She comes to within 25 feet of the surface and the DC3 aircraft lies 25' off of her port bow. Two lovely vertical walls line the channel as it goes seaward, breaking in 5fsw dropping down to the first sand level at 90fsw. The best stuff is above 40fsw.
Here's my description of this dive site:
The PA (Prince Albert) was a Nicaraguan tanker of 140' length, and in her last trip she carried many of her country's refugees from the conflicts that ended in the 80's. She was sunk intentionaly by Mr. Bill in late 1984, but she landed about 3' too far to the West- ask Mr. Bill and he will tell you that with real sincerity.
Resort guests dragged and laid out the heavy anchor chain (think about that for a moment), connecting the wreck through the cut in the reef to the dive platform- the wooden 8x8' deck that stands in 4 feet of water out in front of CCV's rooms. The chain connects to the wreck on the Starboard Bow (right front). Knowing these connecting points makes shore diving a very comfortable experience. If you stay to the wreck and the chain- you simply can not be lost.
On the foredeck, you will see the remains of something that looks like an octopus. Many years ago, a dive trip leader's wife hated her chandelier, so he disassembled it, catrted it down and hung it there for her to admire. There it still hangs off of the forward davit just as it amused the surprised lady diver.
Lots of growth has occured since the sinking, most notably on the upper structures and the starboard aft (right CCV side-rear) and stern (the round back end). Little seems to have grown on the port (left, FIBR side) so think about how light affects growth. Since many corals photo-flouresce under UV blacklight, that explains a lot.
Both tall flat sides of the bow walls are cluttered with cool stuf, but the port (left) is more active. Either side has clam shells that snap closed upon approach- and look for various bi-valves (heart shaped critters with dual orifices that open and shut). The underside of the bow in 35fsw has lots of hanging stuff, but enterance would damage it, so look from the outside!
Easy swim throughs after succesfuly mastering the adjacent buoyancy diamonds can be found in several spots. Penetration should only be attempted by those ready for those tasks. An easy starting place is the companionways located on either side of the pilothouse- the one on the right (straboard CCV side) is relatively free of delicate growth.
The various sections of the boat may be viewed, starting from the stern, as: 1) Stacks and aft deck, 2)pilothous, 3) amidships tanks, 4) the forcastle (foc'sle) which is the raised structure at the bow (or 'pointy end' in boat speak).
She sits with her stern in 65fsw with rudder permanently turned and lots of room underneath for stuff to hide and divers to explore. Starting from the aft (see Roatan and Utila gallery #11), on the starboard CCV side, note the intense growth on the side of the ship as you curve forward. Ghost along the deck at eye level, pay special attention to the decaying deck surface, as well as the larger more obvious hidey holes. Look with care at the edges of the 8x8 foot hole in the right side. Is there a Rough File Clam living in there or is his cousin in the 4x4" hole just below and aft?
That 8x8 foot hole is a great area to explore inside if you are so qualified. Your buoyancy skills will be tested as the trick is to not stir up any silt. If you leave it as clear as you found it- you have arrived! You can make 1, the 2 then the third room penetration... then down to the engine room to visit the big Green Moray... if you are ready for that challenge. Wreck classes are available thru the Dockside Dive Center (Welcome to Dockside Dive Center)
Just forward of the pilothouse are large sponges (esp starboard) that seem to be prime real estate for Brittle Stars and the like. These are easy to spot and quick faorites of 'newbies'.
Moving out over the center of the ship, look between the deck partitions for the 6' Green Moray, Willie. (Check on the Port side, just under the large round valve wheel) Look inside the large tanks, explore with your level of ability, but always take a flashlight (on each and every dive)!
How she was sunk: http://www.roatan.com/downloads/princealbert.wmv
and a bit more of the shallows along the chain, The Front Yard:
A few feet from your room begins the shore dive. Maybe 50 steps across the hard, flat sand from the dive gear/wet-room it begins.
At the shore, notice all of the critters that skitter about the 'wash zone' at the beach. The land crabs that look like alien monsters- as well as the handsome critters. Just into the water- look for Sharp Tailed Eels and 4" Baracudas. On the way out to the dive platform in 4' of water, look hard and scan the turtle grass- look at where the walkway meets the grass. Lots of hidey holes for Mantis Shrimp and babies of all descriptions. Walk slowly and look carefuly.
At the platform, which looks like a picnic table 10" above the water (about 4-5fsw) peer underneath and see what has claimed the spot today. Lobsters, Octopus, Juvenile Drums?
Around the platform, look for Sailfin Blennies. They're 1/4" dark dots that stick their heads out of pencil sized holes in the pebbles and rocks at your feet. Find one, put your palm over the top of the hole (the only way to do it), then go and find another. Position them within 2" of each other, very close! They will soon pose, posture and mock fight. They will display miniature sailfins! Be sure to seperate them when you're done gawking or photographing. Did you get a magnifying glass at the Dockside Dive Center?
Just West of the platform, it's Jawfish country. Look for the tell tale 1" hole surrounded by a neat circle of rocks. Hope to find one aerating the eggs in his mouth, but settle for tormenting one by the simple placing of a twig across his neat hole. He will soon nudge it away. They seem to like depths of 10" to 8'. For whatever reason, they don't mind setting up housekeeping in the middle of the walkway- it must work for them.
Now it's time to spread your buddies out wide on either side of the chain. Have one diver swim right over the chain, and the others should be on his side, maybe 7-8' away, looking on the other side of the rock walls. Never go one-after-the-other on the chain. Spread out and increase your chances. Look up as well.
Along the chain, look closely at any structure- rocks, floaty bottles, buoys, etc. Critters love structure. It should be easy to spot several eels of various types along the route. Daytime Octopus look like the critter in the movie "Predator".
It is quite common in the 3 to 8' depths that you'll find Scorpionfish, and don't forget to look up above things to spot the lurking Squid. Try finger movements that mimic their tentacles to draw them closer.
As you follow the chain, you will next encounter a cylinder head that measures 30x8" in 8fsw. There are Banded Coral Shrimp, Corkscrew Anemone with its resident Pedersen shrimp (and did you find the other species of Crustacean at the bottom?), and a sedentary Rough File Clam. Many divers just ignore this Critter Condo.
A little further along you will find the dive flag buoy, anchored with chain to the two cylinder pump block for a weight in 12fsw. (This is NOT the strobe buoy to hang the night dive marker!) Look to either side in the coral heads, find big fish lurking here, as well as Scorpionfish and Squid.
Up ahead, the chain bends around two coral heads in 15fsw, finally dropping to 22' with a concrete anchor and stytofoam strobe buoy. Just beyond lie the 5" anchor chain lengths that take you deeper and West to the Prince Albert Wreck.
On your return, if you crawl the bottom and move very slowly, you do an automatic safety stop making your way in. It's on opportunity to practice Osman Gomez's famous slogan, "Go Slow, Seymour".
The return trip is pretty much so the same- but- when you get to the platform, remember your dive isn't over! Keep SCUBA until you bottom out in 10" of water. See all the little critters that others are stepping on! Look for Box Crabs and very exotic feeder worms. You will marvel at the variety and wonder why others gave up so early. Suck that tank dry! I have seen temps here go to 95 degrees! You can get overheated while in the water!
Many dives have been logged while never going past the 22' Strobe Buoy. There's so much to see, right in CCV's Front Yard Pool!
deco_martini
Contributor
During the day the ship is so-so, stick to the reef. The ship doesn't really come alive until nighttime.
scottydawg
Contributor
I just got back from spending a day at CoCo View. My girlfriend and I did two dives with a dive master, had lunch at the dining room and enjoyed a walk around the area. We had a great divemaster named Lobo. I really can't wait to go back. Total cost was $72 each.
One bit of advice I can give is bring some kind of insect repellent because the no-see-ems are on full combat duty.
One bit of advice I can give is bring some kind of insect repellent because the no-see-ems are on full combat duty.
Lobo was our DM for a day of diving while on a cruise, he did a really good job and was a pleasure to dive with. If you have just a day, or are on a cruise stopping in Roatan, CoCoView is the way to go!
pelan-pelan
Contributor
Just caught up with this post. Major big thanks to Roatan Man for the tour of the back-yard. Wish I'd had that with me when we first visited CCV. We saw lots of this stuff, but when you're only there for a week and you're out of practice then this kind of info helps. "Explore" for yourself with some kind of guidance.
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