My Research Notes from Planning Roatan Trip

[Doc]

that was decidedly a bold statement.

“”The reefs were outstanding, vis was great, and that area has the flattest seas I have ever seen“”​

Seasonal variations, along with my prior comments, here are the “seas” today, rather reflective of the 4th Quarter > 1st Quarter, a different circumstance?

Weather influencing sea conditions- highly transitory.

Yet another snapshot, a frozen moment in time….

Today, West End:

And at the same time, an image of the South Shore- the Roatan Aggressor seeking calmer moorings there on the horizon:

 

[Kimela]

I've heard that during covid the locals were overfishing (to eat) and it has negatively impacted the diving. Do any of you have updated thoughts to add to this? We really like Anthony's Key in February of 2020 and are thinking about going back.

@drrich2 - outstanding information - AGAIN! Thanks!

 

[Doc]

I've heard that during covid the locals were overfishing (to eat) and it has negatively impacted the diving. Do any of you have updated thoughts to add to this?

Where does one “hear” of such things? Just curious.

 

[tridacna]

Where does one “hear” of such things? Just curious.

I heard it here. Just now. From Kimela. It’s on the Internet so it must be true.

 

[boulderjohn]

And at the same time, an image of the South Shore- the Roatan Aggressor seeking calmer moorings there on the horizon:

What time was that picture taken?

We started that day with a shark dive, then off to Mary's Place for a couple of dives, finishing at a site called 40 foot point. It was already dark at the end of that last dive. I did not do the night dive--never do any more. They absolutely insisted on doing them at night, and after a day of diving, I prefer to be relaxing with a glass of wine around that time. That's what happens when you get old.

The weather was indeed rough that week, and we did travel for safer harbors at times. One night we went in to shore to escape the weather. On my last dive that week I was shivering, and my teeth were chattering--during the pre-dive briefing.

 

[Doc]

What time was that picture taken?
…They absolutely insisted on doing them at night, and after a day of diving, I prefer to be relaxing with a glass of wine around that time. That's what happens when you get old.

I would say 0900 since it was a Sunday and that looks like the orientation dive happening.

As to missing a night dive? I’m not that old. Only 70. I do ‘em all.

 

[boulderjohn]

I would say 0900 since it was a Sunday and that looks like the orientation dive happening.

I thought you said it was 11/23, which would have been Tuesday.

There was no orientation dive. The site would have been Valley of the Kings if it was Sunday.

 

[pri123#]

Parting Thoughts.​

My May 2021 CocoView Resort 7-day stay is a limited 'sampler' of Roatan diving, but my personal impressions from diving that region:

1.) Lush reefs (more so the offsite boat trip sites), could've been fishier but a decent array, and while not a 'big animal' destination (though I saw a Goliath grouper!), I saw black, yellow fin and tiger grouper, eagle and southern stingrays, a large dog snapper on a night dive, green moray eels...so I was content with the sea life.

2.) Often vertical walls, at times dramatically so. Quite a contrast from diving Bonaire.

3.) Total trip cost with airfare roughly conquerable to other solo dive trip destinations I've tried. You can have a variety of different vacation styles on a decent budget in Roatan.

Judging from Scuba Board discussions, I consider the mainstream greater Caribbean region dive destinations to be (in approximate order of 'mindshare'):

1.) Cozumel.
2.) Bonaire.
3.) Roatan, Belize, the Cayman Islands.
4.) The Bahamas, Curacao, Turks & Caicos.

If we expand to the U.S., I'd add the upper Florida Keys (mainly Key Largo) to #3, and Jupiter/West Palm Beach to #4. I wanted to round out my basic exposure to the regional mainstream destinations, which leaves me the Bahamas on the bucket list. Roatan was well worth a trip, and has many repeat visit fans.

Hopefully done...unless I made mistakes to fix. One thing I'd like to see more of, in this thread or others, is topside photos and descriptions of places divers stay at West End and West Bay.

Thanks for the great report. I am considering Roatan for 2026 but am wondering how busy it gets with divers. I like more quiet areas where I am not diving with other groups.