Might there be interest in putting together a low budget trip to Roatan?

[Didje]

Out of curiosity, since not everyone's on the same budget, what are you referring to as "low budget" for Roatan?

 

[sololady]

And a great one . Do you have a date planned yet? We might bump into each other.

 

[sololady]

Deba and I have yacked a few times previosly....

I think SoloLady was just interested in getting together in Roatan for some cheap diving and a meet-up of some like minded folks. Her knowledge of the many available options of the West End could be useful if people's desires better suited one place over the other. She has a very broad based experience versus the advice from an occasional tourist that only knows one place or dive-op very well.

The West End is an ideal place for such a "happening". Several different characters of lodging and dive ops combine to make a 2/day dive schedule and the opportunity to intimately gather for leisurely group lunches or dinners that could move from place to place.

Actually, 4/day can be pulled off pretty easily with a night dive, Though I tend to usually do 2 or 3. But yea...that's what I'm suggesting.

She and I seem to share at least one perception in common. Roatan is changing at an accelerated, exponential rate. The sooner you make your first trip, the more likely you are to return to this- one of the last bastions of dwindling reef health in the Caribbean. You will very soon be able to say, "I remember Roatan back when..."

What she's proposing is similar to herding cats. Nothing sinister or self serving in it, but when you are trying to organize the anarchy that is itself the typical of the West End visitor~ good luck on that one!

It would be fun to watch the videos!

jajaja! (that's spanish for hahaha!) what he said. So much is changing so fast, I never know when the "we need to pave that" crowd will have their way and I'll find myself walking on asphalt instead of barefoot on the West End sand "road." They are so often jabberin about the inconvenience of it all. After all, those stupid bumps are hard on their SUVs for Pete's sake, and they have to slow down! They should have right of way, of course, not the tank toters crossing from the shops to the boats!

Herding cats I think would be easier than trying to "lead" the sort of divers who would want to be part of this. It will have to be a no firm group schedule, no firm group rules sort of group, or maybe a non-group would be a better tag. More like a friendly, "We'll be there, come join us and book your spot on the boat" sort of plan. If you want to bunk up with a roommate, say so here on the string and PM. How much room do you want; as-available-free-bunk or full kitchen? Will you melt without AC?

Maybe a few would want to descend on my favorite digs, with one or two taking a cabin with a kitchen to share with the rest.

Maybe somebody wants to bring the kidos somewhere other (and cheaper) than an AI and doesn't know how to do that. It's not as hard as you might think. It would be really easy with a non-diving spouse, but not especially difficult if both parents dive. Or maybe somebody would love to include grandma and grandpa on a rustic tropical island dive vacation. Would that really be possible with the economy like it is? What would they do while I am diving?

These days, much is possible if you know where to look. Don't know how long it will stay that way. Like Doc said, I'm one of those "I remember Roatan back when..." people and my experience is many, many years less than than his.

It was just a thought, if you aren't interested in this sort of non-group, don't follow the string. No hard feelings :chuckle: :doh:

 

[wrybosome]

What she's proposing is similar to herding cats. Nothing sinister or self serving in it, but when you are trying to organize the anarchy that is itself the typical of the West End visitor~ good luck on that one!

Thanks RoatanMan. I guess I don't actually know anything about the west or east end of Roatan, need to read up.

November or December of 2010 might work for me if anyone is interested in getting together on this.

 

[scc135]

I'll be there 6/18 - 6/25! Definitely be interested in getting to know others if they're going to be there in the same timeframe.

 

[sololady]

Got nothing to sell. Just thinking about putting together a "friendly" if you will.

 

[wrybosome]

Got nothing to sell. Just thinking about putting together a "friendly" if you will.

My apologies for the skepticism then.

Definitely interested in a 'friendly', especially if staying on the island can be done inexpensively!

 

[sololady]

Depends on where you are flying from. I'm looking too. You need to be creative and open minded to get your best deal.

For a while there was a route for me that at first glance I thought was totally nuts. Opening up my mind a little, I realized that it would be a hoot! Now it's not available anymore. I could have flown from New Orleans to New York (6 hr layover) to Houston (1 hr layover) and then to Honduras. I dismissed that idea until I realized that it would be the perfect way for me to have a great meal and spend a little time with a buddy who lives in NY and pay $100 less for my ticket than if I flew from New Orleans to Houston to Honduras without the NY leg.

I'll post here what I am finding.

 

[sololady]

My apologies for the skepticism then.

Definitely interested in a 'friendly', especially if staying on the island can be done inexpensively!

Pretty much as inexpensive as you like with the exception of hanging a hammock between two Palm trees on the beach. I can dive Roatan cheaper than I can dive Florida with my LDS and I'm in south Louisiana.

 

[sololady]

Thanks RoatanMan. I guess I don't actually know anything about the west or east end of Roatan, need to read up.

November or December of 2010 might work for me if anyone is interested in getting together on this.

December sounds good. I will definitely be wanting some wet time around then. Note that air fares seem to be higher later in the month, at least they are for now.