Need helping picking where to stay on Roatan

[Doc]

great dive boat unlike COCO View.

And your basis for comparison is ______________ ?

(Other than your having been to Luna Beach twice? )

 

[undefined]

Doc,

You are always quick to jump on the new posters (and that is good, to a degree). Luna Beach is in a decent location, but in my not so darned humble opinion it is situated in the WORST of both worlds - not within West End for the access to food and variety of dive shops and not on West Bay for the incredible beach. Luna Beach is what it is - an AI that is neither a true dive resort (AKR, FI, CCV, BIBR) nor a pure hotel.

I base my comparison on having been to West Bay and West End, not nearly as many times as RoatanMan! In fact, RoatanMan (Doc) has me convinced to stop by CCV when we go in August. I won't be stopping there on our May trip, but only due to time constraints. I can't resist the call of yet another wreck dive...

 

[Doc]

Doc, You are always quick to jump on the new posters (and that is good, to a degree).

New posters intrigue me, especially when they make such "unusual" and unsupported statements.... with great zealousness. Ham handedness is a tip-off. I wonder... "are they selling something?" Kind of like the one you swallowed hook line and sinker at http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=176892. Remember- not everyone is making their best effort to convey the truest picture- sometimes quite the opposite.

I took the time to look at this poster's history. They have now been to Roatan twice, and in another thread (note post #16 & 17 at http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=45597) where his Roatan Trip Report of the weather diametricaly opposed an official observing station's entry. He was 180 degrees off.

The only thing I drew issue with was their odd characterization of another resort's boats. Boats that never go anywhere near where this poster spent their entire week, during both of their two visits. By their own statements, they have never been aboard those described boats. Hard to make a comparison... for most folks, anyway.

Simple math.

There is no one resort for everyone. Unfortunately, most Trip Reports are much like the old story of the 6 blind men and the elephant.

The tale of six blind men who travel to their prince's palace in order to meet his new elephant. Each blind man touches only part of the elephant. They go on to describe what the elephant feels like. For example: one blind men says "the elephant feels like a wall", another blind man describes the elephant as "the elephant feels like a snake".

Such is Roatan.

 

[undefined]

Doc,

You know I agree with you. Either the account we are discussing is a shill or a fool, but I try to give the benefit of the doubt for the latter.

 

[CODMAN]

Actually, I stayed away from this one! It concerned Luna beach again, and it smelled like the troll that hooked me last time!!!! yeah, the Cocoview boats are not cruiseships, but they are nowhere near his description... It didn,t smell right as a remark and made me suspicious...

 

[Gussy]

What if I'm looking for a place that also has a nice beach? My wife, a non-diver, needs a nice beach...and the two kids need a pool.

www.subwaywatersports.com list a resort called http://www.barefootcay.com and the resort looks really nice. Anybody know anything about them?

Does CocoView caters to new divers too?

 

[Dave Zimmerly]

Fantasy Island.

 

[CODMAN]

Yup, Fantassy Island has a decent beach... It isn,t Turks and Caicops nice... but it's a beach, and more than what most of the other resorts have from what I've heard. But I haven't seen many spots on the North side. maybe Doc could elaborate a bit on the nicest beaches of Roatan for you?

 

[Doc]

Beach + pool + kids + nondivers = Fantasy Island.

But... another place, the very nicest beach on Roatan has a third tier resort owning it, they have no reputation for any sort of service. Their dive op is marginal and sporadic. Today. But give them time. Paya Bay may come around- the beach is the best on Roatan- and it is about the only real, natural beach located at a resort.

All AI's cater to "new divers". Remember- it's your job to speak with the DM and let him know what your issues are. He can't read minds!

Barefoot Cay is a brand new development on a small key just off of the South Shore of Roatan. Many divers see it on their way back along the intercoastal waterway after diving Mary's Place. If Subway Watersports handles their diving- it might be a nice choice- but for the non-diving needs. Not much going on there!

CoCoView would be a non-starter for your needs.

 

[Gussy]

Yup, can't do CCV as my kids are 4 and 7...don't meet their 10 minimum. I would love to do CCV as I like snorkling right in front of the resort photographing critters.

My wife and kids don't care too much about things going on...just nice quiet beac, nice pool, and with good clean food nearby. I'm into vacation + diving so I'll probably only dive every other day no more than 2 to 3 dives on diving days. I'm perfectly happy going to the same dive sites taking pictures of critters.

Oh, I'm not a very experienced diver and will need a good DM...don't mind paying extra as I don't do too many dives.

Maybe I could split my stay between CCV and Barkefoot?

Thanks!

Beach + pool + kids + nondivers = Fantasy Island.

But... another place, the very nicest beach on Roatan has a third tier resort owning it, they have no reputation for any sort of service. Their dive op is marginal and sporadic. Today. But give them time. Paya Bay may come around- the beach is the best on Roatan- and it is about the only real, natural beach located at a resort.

All AI's cater to "new divers". Remember- it's your job to speak with the DM and let him know what your issues are. He can't read minds!

Barefoot Cay is a brand new development on a small key just off of the South Shore of Roatan. Many divers see it on their way back along the intercoastal waterway after diving Mary's Place. If Subway Watersports handles their diving- it might be a nice choice- but for the non-diving needs. Not much going on there!

CoCoView would be a non-starter for your needs.