First trip to Roatan!

[driftwood]

Outside of the introduction's forum, this is my first post to ScubaBoard. Glad I found the place and am looking forward to the advice I will be getting. Forums like this have more good information than any guide book ever printed.

First, we have basically decided to stay in the West End and will probably be staying at Cocolobo for one week in late January or early February. If you have a better place or a good alternate if they are full, I want to hear about them. Thanks in advance for the tip to keep a flashlight with you when you return from an evening in the West End.

The dive shops we are looking at really boil down to two options. Having read so many reviews on this board, one is obviously Coconut Tree Divers (I had reached that opinion before I found this forum) and the other is Reef Gliders. All thoughts are welcome.

Now comes the question that I expect to take the most flak on. My LDS sponsored a trip to BIBR in August. One of my instructors, whose opinion I respect, said that the reefs had taken a pretty hard hit in the last couple of years and he was unsure if it was worth a trip back to Roatan. I have never been to Roatan, the island looks like it would be a lot more fun than Bonaire, but the word going around is that the island has slipped as a dive destination. Is Roatan still worth the time?

One last note, Will your site on the Roatan is the BEST that I have found. GREAT JOB and hope to see you in '08.

 

[Doc]

One of my instructors, whose opinion I respect, said that the reefs had taken a pretty hard hit in the last couple of years and he was unsure if it was worth a trip back to Roatan.

Methinks he is not well travelled, at least not in the Caribbean, or possibly he is comparing Roatan against the one or maybe two other South Pacific sites he wants you to understand that he has been to.

The North and West sides of Roatan have done wonderfuly with the initiation of the Conservation Zone. What this has done is to allow for larger fish, Baracudas, Groupers, Lobsters etc, repopulate this area. If you explore this as well as the South side, you will quickly see that the N&W takes the brunt of the force of storms and wave action- the underwater geographic terrain and and sparseness tells the story. But- if you want to see the best collection of larger fish in the Caribbean, that's the spot!

Your Instructor went to this side I would wager. The other side of the island is truly what seperates Roatan from the rest of the Mar Caribe. Scan a line from Mary's Place all the way NE to Oak Ridge. Along that reef line, the walls start in 5 to 35 feet, dropping down to sand flats at 90fsw. The reef is packed with minute critters, some juveniles, some just darned small beasties... easy even for an "instructor" to overlook.

Many dive professionals arrive at destination resorts and are so determined to practice their craft, to use their tried and true "back home" dive styles, and apply them to this new local environment. It doesn't work. A lot of the time, besides fussing with their technology, we don't dutifuly follow the DM like the puppy dogs that we visitors are! Sometimes egos get in the way, sometimes the visitor just gets so blind to the environment because of their fascination with high technology. When you look at good DM's from Roatan, they have your basic BC, SPG, with a console computer. Plain and simple. And they always come up with 1500psi when you are sucking fumes. Take a hint

To his point, yes, Roatan has indeed been hit hard in the last few years... by development that the rest of the Caribbean Islands saw 10+ year ago. Go now, before it gets any worse. An experienced Caribbean traveller might well relate to you what they witnessed as Cayman evolved from the late 1960's through this day. A lot of people go to Cayman even today and marvel at its wonders. I highly recommend it. It is, however, about 10% of it's heydey in the 70's. We know what we know.

I have never been to Roatan, the island looks like it would be a lot more fun than Bonaire,

The island itself, meaning the non-diving diversions? Bonaire wins hands down. Roatan is nowhere near the point in its frantic development that there is much to do other than dive and drink beer.... at least not when compared to Bonaire.

If you're saying that you have not been to Bonaire, put that on your short list as well.

but the word going around is that the island has slipped as a dive destination.

Once an island is "discovered", the decay sets in. That is a rule you can bank on.

Is Roatan still worth the time?

In the Caribbean, if not Roatan... then where? There will be some destinations that will appear on our radar screens in the next ten years, but for now- you really can't get to some of the final frontiers of the Caribbean. Soon enough.

One last note, Will your site on the Roatan is the BEST that I have found. GREAT JOB and hope to see you in '08.

That would be a good man to quietly follow and be very observant.

 

[Bay Island Diver]

What Roatanman said!

 

[driftwood]

He stayed at BIBR and I have no idea what sites that they visited. We have been to Bonaire a couple of times and if there is one type of land that I hate is desert. The diving there is GREAT but, I wouldn't give you two cents for the rest of the island. Reminds me of the worst that west Texas has to offer. Great for reefs but hard on my eyes.

I wasn't expecting to find undiscovered pristine diving on Roatan, but I was hoping that it would be in better shape than the reefs I have been to on the Yucatan coast. You have answered that question and I really appreciate your input. It seems that I might have to rethink staying on the north side of Roatan and start looking at resorts east of the airport. I love the small stuff.

Following the local DM's is the only way to go. Its their waters. I lead dives at Spring Lake in San Marcos and am constantly amazed at just how clueless most of the divers are. Even when I point out some very cool critters, they fail to see them.

Thanks for the advice and see you in Roatan in '08.

 

[Doc]

. We have been to Bonaire a couple of times and if there is one type of land that I hate is desert. The diving there is GREAT but, I wouldn't ive you two cents for the rest of the island.

I was talking more about the terrestrial infrastructure... most notably the restaurants! I like Bonaire because of the variety of places to eat. "Pick your own goat" places were not the norm, but they did exist. You can find Indonesian Risjtaffel (Rice Table) and many other unusual cuisines! Yes- Bonair is indeed a desert, complete with constant convection oven winds, prickly thorns and insects to match. But is is a great overall experience. I am told that they have a topless beach but I really don't know about that. :wow_2: To some extent, I say this jokingly, but trust me- Roatan is just slightly a lot bit way more lots conservative than Bonaire.

It seems that I might have to rethink staying on the north side of Roatan and start looking at resorts east of the airport. I love the small stuff.

There are fewer places to pick from on the South side. Reef House, Fantasy Island, CoCoView as well as day dive services from Subway Watersports, their link is: Roatan Scuba Diving - Dive Sites- Wall Diving - Wreck Diving - Bay Islands

...constantly amazed at just how clueless most of the divers are. .... point out some very cool critters, they fail to see them.

A great thing to use? A small flashlight and finally- the use for a Laser Pointer. They really work! (Don't forget that glass magnifier!)

 

[CODMAN]

Hey, Doc, there are waterproof laser pointers??? That's a great idea. Any brands you know of? Are they specifically for diving?

Cheers!

 

[Doc]

Hey, Doc, there are waterproof laser pointers??? That's a great idea. Any brands you know of? Are they specifically for diving?

Sure. The best deal is on the one from Trident- they're the parts line that almost every dive shop carries $24. You can spend more for the aluminum types ($59+), but there's really no reason to do so.

Try eBay, search with words: laser scuba.

They are really only good for one thing. If you can spot some invisble critter, you hit it with a flashlight, then outline or circle it with the laser. It has to be done from 18" or so, I don't care what the advertisements say. Your "student" has to be just as close, for any number of reasons. At this point, you should have coached them (before the dive) as to how to use the glass magnifier that you'll share.

The laser aint good for much more.

You can pay more money for green lasers with greater range, but again, think about it- they only really work if the diver is close enough to see the little speck, anyhow.

The magnifiers? The same deal. There's some guy out there selling magnifiers for SCUBA for over $100. Buy a $2 glass 10x magnifier at the flea market.

 

[Bay Island Diver]

Coconut Tree carries laser pointers as stock items.

If you are there during rainy season you will find most of the west end dive operations diving the south side about 50% of the time. The marine park has been spending time this summer putting south side moorings to support this demand. I like to vary my diving between North and South side to get the best of both worlds.

 

[Aspendiver]

I dived for a month with Sueno del Mar. Great Folks!

 

[driftwood]

I was talking more about the terrestrial infrastructure... most notably the restaurants! I like Bonaire because of the variety of places to eat. "Pick your own goat" places were not the norm, but they did exist. You can find Indonesian Risjtaffel (Rice Table) and many other unusual cuisines! Yes- Bonair is indeed a desert, complete with constant convection oven winds, prickly thorns and insects to match. But is is a great overall experience. I am told that they have a topless beach but I really don't know about that. :wow_2: To some extent, I say this jokingly, but trust me- Roatan is just slightly a lot bit way more lots conservative than Bonaire.

The best place we found to eat was City Grill and we loved the fact that you would always get a pitcher of ice water every place you sat down to eat. Water seems to be the national drink for the island. Our biggest disappointment was Casablanca. We went on their "all you can eat night" and it was a real let down when we remembered the food on our previous trip. BTW, the best "pick your own goat" place is Miaky Snack, half the fun is finding it and the clothing optional resort is Sorobon (sp?) by Lac Bay.

A great thing to use? A small flashlight and finally- the use for a Laser Pointer. They really work! (Don't forget that glass magnifier!)

I carry all three when I am leading dives. The laser is ok out to about 4 or 5 feet in bright sunlight. The little magnifier is an absolute must. It really allows you to keep a safe distance without missing anything. The one we use is made by Carson and is about 3 inches square. We used to get them at Hobby Lobby for $3 but they don't seem to carry them anymore.

Unfortunately, we just heard today that the couple who would be going with us has to drop out due to health concerns. Ken just had knee replacement surgery and his Doc doesn't want him to travel to the area (or any other 3rd world location) due to the chance he could catch some things that would cause him to reject his implants. Its hell getting old and breaking down.

It looks like the trip to Roatan is off for quite a while. We may look at either the Virgin Islands and I think that the Caymans are on his OK list. Thanks to all for their input and advice.