drrich2
Contributor
When researching trips I compile info. generously provided by others on Scuba Board and other online sources and use it to analyze the pro.s and con.s of a destination, the options for where to stay and who to dive with, and how the offerings match up against the wants and needs of different kinds of dive tourists. After the trip (in this case to CocoView Resort in Roatan), I sometimes post a report of my research notes as a reference for others, especially when other members enrich the thread with more info.
Honduras is a Central American nation below Guatemala, with a predominantly Mestizo population > 9 million, a mainly agricultural economy, area 43,433 square miles, tropical in the lowlands and temperate in the highlands, high topside biodiversity, a reputation for crime and drug cartels, and categorized by the World Bank as a low middle-income nation (but 66% of the people lived below the poverty line in 2016). Per Wikipedia, Honduras has had very high levels of violence and criminality, homicides peaked at averaging 20/day in 2012 (with San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa having amongst the highest registered homicide rates in the world). Mainland Honduras is mainly Spanish-speaking, but the Bay Islands are mainly English-speaking.
You probably won’t spend time on the mainland. The Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila and Guanaja, plus the Swan Islands, Cayos Cochinos and small cays), pop. 49,158 in 2010, are removed from some of the problems of mainland Honduras (e.g.: they’re safer). Honduras’ bad reputation needn’t scare you off a Bay Islands trip. Fishing is the Bay Islands’ economic mainstay (with consequences for reef life), but tourism is also important. On Scuba Board, Roatan gets the majority of scuba discussion, Utila a distant (but favorable) second, and Guanaja a distant third. DiverSteve (Post #17) described Roatan as ‘a very good, low cost, 3rd world diving destination with a certain rustic charm in most places.’ The Bay Islands are subject to ‘hurricane season’ concerns (per KathyV (Post #17) runs June to Nov., peaking in Sept.), and a rainy season (that can get intense).
Roatan (pop. 29,636, most in the western half) is largest at about 48 miles long and < 5 miles max. width, with a mountainous ‘backbone’ of hilltops running west-to-east. Has an international airport (RTB) – with a less-than-stellar reputation, so don’t get in a hurry. Coxen Hole, to the southwest, is the capital and largest town. West End and West Bay are on the north coast (DiverSteve (Post #12) wrote there’s 2 miles between them, you can walk around either pretty conveniently; West End has most of the partying and West Bay is more ‘civilized’ and has more touristy stuff). MeganW89 (Post #33) opined West End has more of a backpacking, serious divers vibe; West Bay has a nice beach but is very touristy and gets packed when cruise ships are in (note: actual ports are Port of Roatan in Coxen Hole, and Mahogany Bay Cruise Center in Dixon Cove east of Coxen Hole). Roatan Marine Park aims to protect the coral reef system. The south is the windward side (but Doc (Post #21) noted Roatan is a long, thin island, a barrier to storms that track by on the north – so the south’s protected from storms yet you get a breeze; on the other hand, the south lacks sandy beaches). Roatan.online has downloadable maps. Roatan is on Central Standard Time but does not use daylight savings time. The Honduran currency is the lempira, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. They drive on the right side of the road and Americans can use their electrical outlets. Per CocoView Resort’s FAQ, island wide there’s a 4% service charge on credit cards where they’re accepted, but most island tours don’t accept credit cards.
Research Notes for Roatan Trip
Honduras is a Central American nation below Guatemala, with a predominantly Mestizo population > 9 million, a mainly agricultural economy, area 43,433 square miles, tropical in the lowlands and temperate in the highlands, high topside biodiversity, a reputation for crime and drug cartels, and categorized by the World Bank as a low middle-income nation (but 66% of the people lived below the poverty line in 2016). Per Wikipedia, Honduras has had very high levels of violence and criminality, homicides peaked at averaging 20/day in 2012 (with San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa having amongst the highest registered homicide rates in the world). Mainland Honduras is mainly Spanish-speaking, but the Bay Islands are mainly English-speaking.
You probably won’t spend time on the mainland. The Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila and Guanaja, plus the Swan Islands, Cayos Cochinos and small cays), pop. 49,158 in 2010, are removed from some of the problems of mainland Honduras (e.g.: they’re safer). Honduras’ bad reputation needn’t scare you off a Bay Islands trip. Fishing is the Bay Islands’ economic mainstay (with consequences for reef life), but tourism is also important. On Scuba Board, Roatan gets the majority of scuba discussion, Utila a distant (but favorable) second, and Guanaja a distant third. DiverSteve (Post #17) described Roatan as ‘a very good, low cost, 3rd world diving destination with a certain rustic charm in most places.’ The Bay Islands are subject to ‘hurricane season’ concerns (per KathyV (Post #17) runs June to Nov., peaking in Sept.), and a rainy season (that can get intense).
Roatan (pop. 29,636, most in the western half) is largest at about 48 miles long and < 5 miles max. width, with a mountainous ‘backbone’ of hilltops running west-to-east. Has an international airport (RTB) – with a less-than-stellar reputation, so don’t get in a hurry. Coxen Hole, to the southwest, is the capital and largest town. West End and West Bay are on the north coast (DiverSteve (Post #12) wrote there’s 2 miles between them, you can walk around either pretty conveniently; West End has most of the partying and West Bay is more ‘civilized’ and has more touristy stuff). MeganW89 (Post #33) opined West End has more of a backpacking, serious divers vibe; West Bay has a nice beach but is very touristy and gets packed when cruise ships are in (note: actual ports are Port of Roatan in Coxen Hole, and Mahogany Bay Cruise Center in Dixon Cove east of Coxen Hole). Roatan Marine Park aims to protect the coral reef system. The south is the windward side (but Doc (Post #21) noted Roatan is a long, thin island, a barrier to storms that track by on the north – so the south’s protected from storms yet you get a breeze; on the other hand, the south lacks sandy beaches). Roatan.online has downloadable maps. Roatan is on Central Standard Time but does not use daylight savings time. The Honduran currency is the lempira, but U.S. dollars are widely accepted. They drive on the right side of the road and Americans can use their electrical outlets. Per CocoView Resort’s FAQ, island wide there’s a 4% service charge on credit cards where they’re accepted, but most island tours don’t accept credit cards.