Coming to Roatan

[Scuba.Steve]

Hi,

I’m planning on heading down to Roatan in about a month to finish my AOW cert and hopefully do rescue and DMT as well. Might even stay for awhile after DMT if I still have cash (the temp is in the single digits up here in Maine!). Before I get down there I was hoping to get a few questions answered by you good folks. Firstly, I was hoping for some suggestions on some cheap / clean accommodations in or close to the West End. Nothing fancy, just someplace I can stay for a week or two, until I find a more permanent place.

From what I’ve read here I’m leaning towards Coconut Tree for a dive shop since it sounds like they know what they are doing and have fun doing it, but I’d appreciate any other suggestions people might have. Also, when I get DM certified or maybe before I’ll likely be looking into buying some of my own equip, do many of the shops on the island stock much of a variety of gear? I remember from the last time I was on Roatan (Sept. ’05) that a lot of the DM’s and instructors wore wetsuits. Is that something I should buy and bring down and if so what thickness would be good for the tropics?

Lastly what about money? I think I remember reading someplace that you need to own land in Honduras to get a bank account, so that’s out of the question. I guess I could use a CC but from what I remember there’s a hefty fee that gets tacked on with CC’s. Are traveler’s checks a good option on Roatan?

Thanks for any info!

 

[undefined]

Traveler's checks worked well on our trip earlier this month. You also should bring an ATM card (VISA or other well known provider) to use the cash machines. Don't expect them to be functional more than 50% of the time.

As for dive shops - my wife and I dive with Coconut Tree and will be coming down there in May to dive some, followed by moving there in August of this year to go through DMT. If that doesn't express my feelings towards them, let me go further by saying they are one heck of a good operation, great people, incredible atmosphere, and overall my favorite place to be.

With regards to equipment - we just bought all of our gear that we will be using for DMT and IDC. Coconut Tree, or rather one of the senior instructors there, is a dealer for Oceanic and Dive Rite. You can get your gear from them if you'd like, or buy it before hand. Drop them a line if you want to compare pricing.

My wife and I both dive with a 3/2 in Roatan. Some of the instructors wear 5 mil suits, but it just depends on your level of comfort. I've also seen divemasters who wear only board shorts - the water is about 82F, so you decide what you need. I like my wetsuit and wear it out of comfort more than necessity. I end up pulling at the collar at least once per dive to let some water in to cool off. My wife, on the other hand, turns blue in a 78F pool - she is cold by the second dive even in a 3/2. I'm going to buy her (shh... don't tell her, it's a surprise) a 5 mil or 6/5 before we go through DMT.

Oh - as for places to stay, you can stay at Coconut Tree while you are taking classes. Dorm rooms (A/C included) are dirt cheap at Coconut Tree - all of $5 per night. They have cabins for $35 per night, and you can find places to stay in the $20 - $40 / night range, both with and without A/C.

I hope this helps. If you're still there in May we'll have to dive together.

 

[Bratface]

I lived in Roatan this past fall. I think you will find what you want with Coconut Tree divers. PJ, Gaye, Tree, and the bunch are very nice people. They will train you in DM as well as help you find everything you need on the island. Heck, you can even leave your laundry at the dive shop and pick it up a day or so later. You can hang out on the porch of the dive shop and make lots of friends. There's even coffee in the morning and Deco, one of the dogs to keep you company. It's an entire community in one dive shop.

As far as money, there are ATM machines you can use, or you can go into Coxen Hole and cash your traveler's checks at the bank or the grocery store. There is an ATM on West End that gives US dollars and Leimpiras. I found it easier to put my US money away and use all Leimpiras.

I'll be returning to Roatan in May but will be down at the other end of the island. I'm hoping to get up to West End to say hello to all my old dive buddies. Have fun and safe diving.

 

[SteveFass]

Yes, some DMs there wear 5mm, but the two I saw were thread bare. A reasonably new 3 mm is fine for most people.

Accomodations are priced all over the place but the values are amazing. What do you need (e.g., tv, air conditioning, private bath, view, location)? If you are going on an off-season, I'd recommend getting a few recommendations but holding off on reserving a room till you get there.

This tip will save you a bunch of $$ - Coconut Tree accepts Paypal. You pay once at the end of your time there. You can access Paypal on their office computer. If you pay with Paypal there you don't have to pay the high sales tax.

I thought Mark was an excellent instructor. Tell him you're from the northeast USA and he'll give you lots of info on diving there. He's a major wreck head from North Carolina, dives with a canister light (yes, in the Caribbean!), bp/w, etc.

Have fun!

 

[Doc]

Good advice all, but I have to add... what thickness of wetsuit?

Answers that specify 3 mil or 5 mil are irrelevant.

Know this: Water temps are 80-82 degrees quite predictably.

You yourself have to determine what that means to you. Your own tolerance mixed into an equation with how much/often you will dive on any given day.

There is no one answer. You must gain the experience yourself to understand what to do with the only empirical data: 80-82 degrees.

Wanna know about the bugs?

 

[undefined]

RoatanMan,

I think he needs a drysuit! Yep, I said it. Buy a drysuit. Boil on the surface, stay warm underwater. We all know how frigid 82F water can be....


J/K

 

[Scuba.Steve]

Undefined -

I planned on bringing down a credit card or two "just in case", but I'll certainly get some traveler's checks now too. Out of curiosity, did you use American Express traveler's checks? And yeah, I noticed Coconut Tree's great deal on dorm rooms for students, but I was hoping to spend a few days getting reacquainted with diving before signing up for a full class. Hope to see you in May!


Bratface -

The more I read about Coconut Tree, the more I like it. I was hoping to put away the gringo money for awhile too .


Steve -

I don't need anything fancy. A/c would be nice I guess, but not too important. Really, just looking for someplace to stay for a week thats clean and reasonably safe (low theft). The cheaper, the better!

Thanks for the Paypal tip, that should save me a lot of trouble. I'll make sure to say hi to Mark.


RoatanMan -

Yeah, I realize to each their own, but I have absolutely no experience with wetsuits. A rashguard / shorts worked fine for me the week I was down there in Sept. I did get a little cold on the deeper dives and longer dives, so I think I'm going to try out a 3/2 shorty and see how that works.


Thanks for all the useful info, can't wait to get down there.

 

[Goober2]

Hey Scubasteve,

My husband wears a 5mil and i wear a 3. We were both within our comfort zone while IN the water of Roatan but out of the water SUCKED in a 3mil (hot hot hot)
Admittedly i started the week off unzipped and by the end full zip. Your tolerance for the temp gets lower the more you dive and Roatanman is right, its a personal thing...