Need help picking a travel destination

[jbird71]

Hi all,

I am traveling from December 24th until January 8th (16 days), and the primary purpose is to dive. I would be very appreciative of any advice you could offer! A bit about me:
- Traveling solo
- Based in Toronto
- 50 logged dives, PADI AOW
- Dives in Thailand, Mexico, Belize mostly
- Diving interests: wrecks, reefs, interesting wildlife, caves/swimthroughs, (warm water a big plus!)
- Budget: Its more value than an absolute $ amount, although somewhere that a solo traveler can find good basic accommodations is preferred. Since I'm traveling the high season, flights and hotel are my biggest cost concern.

So far I am thinking about Philippines (Boracay) or Roatan.

 

[diveprof]

Roatan is offering great deals at Fantasy Island resort. Great shore dive, food has improved this year, and marine life is good. A friend of mine went there last week and they offered to extend his stay and diving for $350 for another week.

 

[dmoore19]

Hi all,

I am traveling from December 24th until January 8th (16 days), and the primary purpose is to dive. I would be very appreciative of any advice you could offer! A bit about me:
- Traveling solo
- Based in Toronto
- 50 logged dives, PADI AOW
- Dives in Thailand, Mexico, Belize mostly
- Diving interests: wrecks, reefs, interesting wildlife, caves/swimthroughs, (warm water a big plus!)
- Budget: Its more value than an absolute $ amount, although somewhere that a solo traveler can find good basic accommodations is preferred. Since I'm traveling the high season, flights and hotel are my biggest cost concern.

So far I am thinking about Philippines (Boracay) or Roatan.

Though my dive trips are limited, The diving at Roatan was fabulous. Others can add to this but I think staying at West End may be just what you are looking for. There are several AI resorts but I thought for a solo maybe West End would fit your desires. Others I am sure will comment as to the validity of that statement. Our trip to Roatan was excellent and I would return again. We were there over New Years last year. The diving was easy and very interesting with plenty of things to look at. There are a few wrecks around lots of corals and fish. I am not aware of any caves or swim throughs though but for me it was an excellent trip. The Phillipines would be great and I would like to go someday but that would be quite a bit more money. I think flights to Roatan are relatively inexpensive when compared to Philippines.

 

[diveprof]

At Fantasy Island you have an airplane (remains), a ship, and 2 walls to choose from for your shore dive.

 

[jbird71]

My only concern about Roatan is the weather - I hear it can be quite rainy the last couple weeks of December.

 

[jbird71]

There are several AI resorts but I thought for a solo maybe West End would fit your desires.

Thanks, as a solo traveler I tend to stay away from AI resorts. I like staying somewhere that has a bit of night life and variety for food. When I was in Ambergris I liked how small the downtown was and ended up hanging around with some divers.

 

[dmoore19]

My only concern about Roatan is the weather - I hear it can be quite rainy the last couple weeks of December.

It was nice while we were there but I understand it can be rainy then. Others can confirm this but what I understand it can mess with visibility but if you are diving on the south side of the island, you can still dive. Storms come in from the north and north side diving can get blown out but south side is (from what I understand anyway) usually possible.

We stayed at Anthony's key which is on the north side and is an AI. We really enjoyed it. There, if the weather comes up, they move the boats to the south side and will bus you over to the southside for the days dives. The day we left, the weather was moving in and they were moving the boats over the night before. We spent a day in West End and really had a great time it looked like it would be a great place to hang out and stay for a few days or more.

 

[LynnB]

Thanks, as a solo traveler I tend to stay away from AI resorts. I like staying somewhere that has a bit of night life and variety for food. When I was in Ambergris I liked how small the downtown was and ended up hanging around with some divers.

I think you would probably be happiest in West End as well. There are lots of young people from all over. My son stayed down there one night hanging with the locals and had a great time.
We did not do our dives there as it was just easier to do them where we stayed in West Bay. We did meet a lot of people from one dive shop in West End.

 

[Bigmac1]

We went to Fantasy Island at the end of January and the diving was good. The coral formations are amazing and even though there are not a lot of large fish we did see some big morays, lobsters and I got to take 2 pictures of the first sea horses that I ever saw.

We went to west end on a day trip and talked to others there who agreed that the diving was good. I have some nice pictures of Roatan if you want me to send them to you.

The diving was easy at Fantasy Island as it was all wall dives and you dropped over the wall to the selected depth and then worked your way along the wall looking at everything and when you reached your turn around point, I went up 10 feet on the wall and worked my way back to the boat.

K.

 

[Doc]

... Dives in Thailand, Mexico, Belize mostly....Its more value than an absolute $ amount....Since I'm traveling the high season, flights and hotel are my biggest cost concern.

So far I am thinking about Philippines (Boracay) or Roatan.

Value, meaning... what? Most dives per $$$, or did you want "night life" or _____ ?

"Flights and Hotel are your biggest concern" in terms of... money or availability?

I've been to Batangas, the next island North of Boracay. It is a little different than Roatan, kind of.

My only concern about Roatan is the weather - I hear it can be quite rainy the last couple weeks of December.

Yes it can be rainy. If that was the bit of information that decides it, there you have it, no doubt.

In Boracay, December falls in the Amihan, which is in the slightly cooler of the two weather periods (Amihan and Hagabat) and also less prone to Tropical Storms. It pretty well rains there (like Roatan) and awful lot year round, but it's impact on diving is as diverse as the longitudes. If you are on the surface hanging around with divers, you will get equally moist in either.

Thanks, as a solo traveler I tend to stay away from AI resorts. I like staying somewhere that has a bit of night life....and ended up hanging around with some divers.

In terms of bottom time value for your dollar, an AI (anywhere) is the way to go. You are also quite likely to wind up hanging around with some divers, maybe even diving with them.

ScubaBoard is an excellent resource, but you have to be real clear about your needs, wants and desires.

If you want an inexpensive trip, non-AI, with two dives a day and some modicum of Caribbean nightlife, you really can't do better than the west End of Roatan.

I've been diving extensively in the Philippines and Roatan. I think I would rather throw down for a 10 day trip to the Philippines. My wife prefers spending a week on an AI on Roatan. I value my relationship, so we go to Roatan. (I go to the Philippines)

Depends upon what it is that you "value". Be very specific.