Help... Shore Excursion Roatan Jan 2011

[DirtyHippieUteFan]

My wife and I are taking a cruise in January and we are looking to dive during our stop at Isla Roatan.

We are both certified but have only been diving a few times since certification (St. Maarten & Oahu)

I'm looking for help on what shop to contact and which dives to request.

We would like to find a reputable shop that will pick us up at the dock. My wife is not a fan deep dives (she prefers to stick around the 40 - 60' range).

Any suggestions?

 

[georoc01]

The only one I am aware of that picks up at the Cruise Ship dock is Subway Watersports..

Roatan Shore Excursions Tours Activities - scuba diving - snorkeling - kayaking

 

[Doc]

Here's a bunch of advice.... Try some of these prior threads:

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/324955-arriving-cruise-ship.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/326218-isla-roatan-cruiseship.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/ba...-ship-excursion-report-bananarama-divers.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/349640-roatan-oct-19th-suggestions-needed.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/349830-looking-dive-operator-roatan.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/313257-dive-co-accomodates-cruisers.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/312239-diving-roatan-cruise-ship-stop.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/274465-roatan-dive-operators.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/283850-dive-shop-isla-roatan-honduras.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/283557-cruise-stop-june.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/264086-roatan-cruise.html
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/243666-independent-dive-roatan-cruise-ship.html

Shark Dive: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/bay-islands/260032-shark-dive-waihuka-divers-roatan.html

 

[Davey Jonesen]

I think Anthony's Key picks people from cruise ships at the dock and shuttles them to the resort. They have a shark dive which I would recommend if the thought of sharks doesn't bother you. As far as sites, I would certainly want to go to Overheat Reef and Mary's Place, although Mary's place is a long boat ride from Anthony's and actually closer to the dock your cruise will come in on. The shark dive may be closer to the boat dock as well. There is one resident who guides all the shark dives no matter what resort you book through. He has his own shop as well but the name of it escapes me right now. Any local will know.

 

[farsidefan1]

I don't think anyone will let a Yewt fan on their boat :mooner: so the question is mute. Sigh, congrats on the win, good thing basketball season is next - go cougars

 

[diversteve]

With all due respect - a little clarity re the previous post:

The shark dive is done by Waihuka Adventure divers on the south side of the island - near the airport. AKR is on the north side of the island - a 30 minute shuttle ride from the cruise port. So it makes no sense to book it thru AKR. It's also a high current, crowded (can be) zodiac raft, live drop dive so is an advanced dive only. Really not for new divers. One of their booking agents - there's others: Roatan Shark Dive IIRC some cruise lines offer it as an option. Also from their booking form:

Cruise Ship visitors

We are currently only taking bookings for groups of at least 5 divers.

In order to participate in this dive you must have been diving within the last 6 months and we strongly recommend that you dive during your cruise on the stop prior to Roatan. It is an advanced dive.

Mary's Place is also on the south side of the island. About 5 minutes by cab from the Mahogany Bay cruise port. So again booking it with AKR makes little sense. Try Barefoot Divers - they have a cruise program and are the closest to the cruise port - Mary's Place is just off their location. And you need to be Advanced - otherwise you can follow along on top. As a second dive they took us to the Prince Albert wreck near Cocoview.

IMO Overheat Reef was one of the more tired looking sites we dove 3 years ago. Not the best on the North Side - but conveniently nearby for AKR to do two nearby dives and shuttle you back to meet your departure time.

The Dolphin Dive at AKR is at 60' - over a sandy bottom. But it's at 1:30 and probably takes at least an hour and a half so depending on when your ship sails...you might also need to take a cab back to the port afterwards. http://www.anthonyskey.com/en/dolphins/

 

[georoc01]

Also AKR has many of the contracts with the cruise lines. If you book with through the cruise, most likely that's where you will be. They have one of the largest boat fleets in the caribbean.

Because of these contracts, you can't book directly with them. But if you do, they do run shuttles back and forth from the port to AKR and back.

The shark dive from AKR when you are staying there is a little different as you go over in one of their large boats and dive from there, so no zodiac involved. AKR also uses their own videographers.

 

[LynnB]

We just booked with AKR through the cruise ship. Great dive but beware.. you will fall in love with Roatan and want to keep going back.. We have been back every year since. .LOL
Have fun.

 

[castaways01]

Barefoot Cay ( Roatan Dive Shop | 5 Star Dive Resort in Roatan - Bay Islands, Honduras ) is close to the dock -- so you can spend more time in the water rather than on the road getting to a crowded west island resort. They have a 2-tank venue for passengers that includes lunch. They will arrange transport but its not included in their price.

Castaways01
Dive - Snorkel - Kayak: Roatan's Best Waterfront Vacation Rental

 

[decojones]

DirtyHippie which ship will you be sailing on?

I suggest "reef gliders" its on west end about 10 minutes off the pier. Its a great place with nice food and a really friendly staff! We usually get 3 dives in before we head back to the ship and this is getting out a bit later and coming back a bit earlier.