Interesting comment about Honduras on ESPN this morning

[RTBDiver]

I can say with certainty that each and every one of the (maybe) 10 incidents that have been blasted all over this forum since its inception involved long term residents who were involved in commercial business dealings, love triangles (or lesbian quadrangles), or illicit drugs (dealer level/distributor weight/cartel level being the bulk of that single statistical group).
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Which one of these groups did Joe from Australia who was shot in the back in the middle of the day fall into? Oh wait, he was part of that bike gang (bicycle) that parked illegaly
Sure, Roatan is safer than San Pedro, So is every other place on earth as far as crime stats go.

 

[Hank49]

I was mugged on a night dive over the PA Wreck. I believe it was a "Jack" that hit me in the shoulder about as hard as a good closed-fist punch. Of course, at that moment, I was solo-diving and had my light off in a full moon, half asleep, just hovering above the wreck.

That's when I woke up.

No, I understand what is being referenced in the OP thread. But this is a SCUBA forum, and when we talk about Honduras here, it refers to a different place than the data offered.

“Rugby is played by hooligans and watched by gentlemen, Soccer is played by gentlemen and watched by hooligans”

Anyone planning a trip to anywhere can look up these crime statistics. A post on here isn't going to have any effect on diving tourism.
But it is a fact...this ain't Kansas. At least the Kansas (ok, it was SW Ohio) that I grew up in...although I left the US 25 years ago.
If we were in a bar and there was a fight, it would go out in the parking lot, a nose was bloodied or whatever, and everyone went back in and drank more beer. HERE, you don't want to get involved in a bar fight. People use knives and machetes. That's a fact.
And this region does have a high murder rate. Yes, it's mostly drug related gang type things and it's bad guys killing bad guys. But not always.
Growing up in Ohio I can't recall knowing anyone or family of anyone murdered or involved in a murder. Here, I know of at least 6 guys who's brother was killed or their brother killed someone. And this WASN'T drug related on a big scale. Local, valley stuff. People get drunk and ....go crazy. It's strongly believed that my wife's first husband was murdered in an act of vengeance. No proof but....
It may be like that in the States now too. I don't know....been a long time. Macho is more prevalent here. Hurting pride can be dangerous.

 

[laurenceh]

i've spent five weeks in san pedro sula (on business) in the last four months (and a dozen more times since 2010), as advertised its dangerous but in reality if you use common sense about where and when you wander and aren't in the drug business or a reporter pursuing a police/political corruption story its doable but so boring and characterless why bother.

 

[Doc]

Which one of these groups did Joe from Australia who was shot in the back in the middle of the day fall into?

Long term resident involved in commerce. He wasn't a vacationer there for a week. It is absolutely no excuse, but he knew that the shooter didn't want him leaning his bike on the fence~ he was angrily warned by this locally known lunatic on more than one occasion. Again, no excuse offered here.

Simply stated, if you don't want trouble with someone, do not engage in any personal interaction with them. If something isn't good, apologize, back away and then stay away. This involves some level of control over your ego, not a common trait in the Divemaster community.

This applies in your condominium association, your neighborhood, Tulsa, Moscow, even Paradise.

...Sure, Roatan is safer than San Pedro, So is every other place on earth as far as crime stats go....

Come to Chicago!

 

[RTBDiver]

Long term resident involved in commerce.

Come to Chicago!

OK So He was a Divemaster/ Instructor with a dream.. I Did not see that in your original choice as why people are killed or shot. Also, Come to Chicago?? Be Real, Chicago has what 16-20 or so murders per 100 thousand?? San Pedro Has One Hundred and Fifty Nine. , There is NO WAY you can twist it that Chicago with 16 per 100k is even in the same league as San Pedro at 159 per 100K .

 

[chillyinCanada]

Well, if you guys are going to talk about the Joe situation, then to my mind it bears mentioning that no one should book a stay at Crystal Beach Cabins. Which is a shame because it's well located in West End. Too bad the owners are nutso crazy kookoo.

 

[large_diver]

Before making the original post, I did think for a minute about whether this would be irresponsible or alarmist, since as mentioned above, the vast majority of divers reading it would not be spending time outside the airport on the mainland.....

In the end I just wanted to spur some debate/reaction to the comment.

BTW - Honduras beat the US 2-1. Having declared a national holiday due to the match, I am sure there was some celebrating going on....

 

[bbarada]

We spent the night at San Pedro Sula on the way to CoCo View last month. The Roatan airport was closed due to weather. We stayed at the Hilton Princess, and when we checked in the staff told us not to go outside the hotel. We heard gunshots about 11:00 pm.

 

[KevWind]

O
Now that we are done scaring all of the readers of this forum who were considering a trip to the Bay Islands, our work here is done.

Didn't work ! I'm going any way, a week from sat. to AKR. Like you I am flying direct to Roatan from Houston. My only deep abiding fear is noseeem's :bonk: because it's rumored that you can't see em but I'm packin heat in the form of Deep Woods Off couldn't find any Beach Resort OFF

 

[bbarada]

KevWind: We had a direct flight from Houston to Roatan too. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate and we were diverted to San Pedro Sula . . .