Last minute Roatan advice

[anastasiasofia]

I've found myself unexpectedly agreeing to taking a trip to Roatan on Wednesday (2 days time), and am hoping someone with dive knowledge of the island could give me a bit of quick information.

I'm looking to dive on Thursday and Friday this week (3rd and 4th), and hoping to visit some of the better sites over a couple of days. From the few e-mails I've sent, I get the impression each centre only visits the sites in their area, though I'm travelling without a computer and having trouble working out which companies actually dive at which sites.

I would consider diving on each day with a different centre to get a good range of sites. I'd love to visit Mary's place, one of the wrecks, and possibly Swiss cheese, Hole in the wall or any others you could recommend. Any advice and suggestions on sites amd centres appreciated, cheers!

 

[diversteve]

Since it's so soon, here's my opinion. Most of the AI resorts work on a Sat-Sat schedule - actually so does a lot of Roatan due to flights. And they don't really sell few day options except at a rack rate which will be high - if at all. It's because they structure everything - boat loading, activities etc. around their weekly guest load. Plus somewhere like Cocoview is likely booked solid.

Dive with someone in the West End - there are dozens of accommodation/dive shop choices. Many of the restaurants, nightlife etc. also. A couple small food stores and they sell nice fruits/vegetables off trucks every morning.

My short list of operators would be Coconut Tree, Reef Gliders, Native Sons, West End based on experiences/what others have posted, but others have their preferences. Some idea of the West End, accommodation choices etc. can be found here: Roatán Accomodations | Scuba Diving | Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras | PADI If money isn't a factor Cocolobo is nice.
However it is a few minutes walk on an unlighted road for dinner nightly. If you're traveling on a budget, both hostels are in the West End also. Chillies and Native Sons are owned by the same people.

Then book a dive at Barefoot Divers - they are literally 5 minutes from Mary's Place and a good, smaller, valet dive operation. From the West End you'll need to get there - it's probably under $20 via cab if you negotiate. They have very nice rental gear also if you don't have your own.

Barefoot will want to see an Advanced card or some recent dive equivalent experience for Mary's Place. Another dive almost as good but without that requirement is Spooky Channel. Hole in the Wall is near Spooky also so most of the West End shops should go there on request. You've also got the two wrecks (Odyssey and El Aguila) off the north side. Our 2nd dive with Barefoot after Mary's was the Prince Albert wreck off Cocoview - it was put down for divers.

Dive sites are often chosen based on conditions. This time of year most of the sites around Roatan should be open - it's only in the winter when some of the north gets shut down for a few days by storms. We sort of left site selection up to our shop but we did have a pre-list of Mary's, Spooky, the Dolphin Dive at Anthony's Key and the Shark Dive on the south side. If the last is of interest, that's booked thru any dive shop but not directly. Most work out transportation also. Hole in the Wall was just an added bonus we enjoyed after it was suggested. A good drift dive of the west end of the island is Texas also. To give you some idea of flexibility - we did both Spooky and Texas with Coconut Tree although they're opposite directions. 3 dives/day is the norm - a few do 4. And they return to the dock at least for lunch - sometimes between every dive - nothing is too far.

 

[Yoda-X]

Diversteve hit the nail on the head. If you hit the North Side go dive Dolphins Den! Really cool dive through a coral tunnel. Lots of critters and just ...... Well, cool!