Roatan compared to Cozumel?

[Sloeber]

kixy1,

Search for Roatan Man posts in this forum prior to departure to FIBR. He has many, many informational bits spread across the threads here with both info and detailed maps on how to make the most of your shore diving at FIBR and finding those critters.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[leadweight]

If you walk down the street in Cozumel taking pictures of the crowd, nobody will bother you. Do that in West End and the expats will get on your tail, make all sorts of threats, verbally abuse you, and your vacation will probably end early.

Also, Roatan is the buggiest place on earth. Bathe in DEET. Take it with you on the boat and apply as soon as you reach the dock.

 

[shawrg]

I have not seen a warning about photographing in West End before. Did you have an "encounter" that you can share? Agree with the DEET bath comment.

If you walk down the street in Cozumel taking pictures of the crowd, nobody will bother you. Do that in West End and the expats will get on your tail, make all sorts of threats, verbally abuse you, and your vacation will probably end early.

Also, Roatan is the buggiest place on earth. Bathe in DEET. Take it with you on the boat and apply as soon as you reach the dock.

 

[Doc]

................

Tourists- take all the pictures you want.
Residents with issues? Not so much.

 

[kixy1]

Thanks for the tip Sloeber. I will now commence cyber-scubaboard-stalking of Roatanman! But shhhh, don't tell. I hear he doesn't like to be looked at or get his photo taken lol

 

[BTravlin]

kixy1, now that you've chosen FIBR I have a couple of tips for you.

1. Go to the locker room at the dive dock soon after arriving and claim your "locker" space. The "locker" is really an open air vertical cubbyhole. The locker area is somewhat dark and can be crowded when everyone is gearing up in the morning. I like to grab a spot close to the door so I don't have to wade through all the other divers to get my gear. Usually requires at least two trips to haul everything out to the boat and easy access is a definite plus.

2. Bring your own wetsuit hangers and mark them clearly as personal property or they may wander off. Few if any hangers available on our two trips there. Marked ours and they still disappeared but were easy to find and reclaim. Dive gear itself is perfectly safe. I think some people just thought the hangers were resort property.

FIBR is a great value and believe you'll like it.

Have a great trip!

 

[Sloeber]

kixy1,

If you'll go to my website you will see literally hundreds of photos from around Roatan. I'm happy to report that at no time was I harassed for taking photos, and in many cases I had locales asking to take photos of my father and I. Don't be a drunken fool, and don't be a short tempered twit, and you'll have a fabulus experience in Roatan.

 

[kixy1]

Oh good night people, I was only joking! Sounds like we all need a good therapeutic dive I say ya'll meet me at the CCV wall, we'll dive, play with some critters and I'll buy you a beer after.

But, just to clear my name and intentions...

First off, I do not tend to be drunk, rude or short tempered. Probably because I'm lazy. Pissiness just takes way too much energy. I'm just saying...

Second, since it seems I may need to be more serious and clear. I was totally joking about the stalking thing Roatanman! really Although I would like to find the shore dive map Codman referred to...?

(Sloeber, I have to be honest... I did "stalk" you, and really enjoyed your reports and photos! I don't do uw photography (it's that lazy thing...) so I really enjoy it when others share. Thanks. You're info was very helpful.)

Lastly, please don't stop sharing your stories, your opinions and your experiences! I'm sorry if I offended anyone. Really. I enjoy your posts, your thoughts and your advice. Will I always take it? Uh...no. But I give full permission to say "I told you so!" As long as your laughing about it with me, you don't even have to PM it. Maybe I'm getting old, but even the bad times seem to mellow with time. There's usually some way to laugh about it. And as long as no one gets hurt. A bad dive?

As for my plans... I think we may be leaning towards CCV over FIBR. Although we've never had any trouble, as women travelers we need to be a bit more careful (mostly at the request of our SO back home). CCV seems a bit more secure, convenient, and consistent, but we'll see. CCV is about $300 more, and no free beer

 

[Sloeber]

Oh good night people, I was only joking! Sounds like we all need a good therapeutic dive I say ya'll meet me at the CCV wall, we'll dive, play with some critters and I'll buy you a beer after.

But, just to clear my name and intentions...

First off, I do not tend to be drunk, rude or short tempered. Probably because I'm lazy. Pissiness just takes way too much energy. I'm just saying...

Second, since it seems I may need to be more serious and clear. I was totally joking about the stalking thing Roatanman! really Although I would like to find the shore dive map Codman referred to...?

(Sloeber, I have to be honest... I did "stalk" you, and really enjoyed your reports and photos! I don't do uw photography (it's that lazy thing...) so I really enjoy it when others share. Thanks. You're info was very helpful.)

Lastly, please don't stop sharing your stories, your opinions and your experiences! I'm sorry if I offended anyone. Really. I enjoy your posts, your thoughts and your advice. Will I always take it? Uh...no. But I give full permission to say "I told you so!" As long as your laughing about it with me, you don't even have to PM it. Maybe I'm getting old, but even the bad times seem to mellow with time. There's usually some way to laugh about it. And as long as no one gets hurt. A bad dive?

As for my plans... I think we may be leaning towards CCV over FIBR. Although we've never had any trouble, as women travelers we need to be a bit more careful (mostly at the request of our SO back home). CCV seems a bit more secure, convenient, and consistent, but we'll see. CCV is about $300 more, and no free beer

I didn't mean to make it as if you were either a drunk or other. Just making the point that save the rare exception, your level-headed person not acting like a fool won't get into trouble.

As for finding the maps Codman and I have referred to, click the search button and enter "Roatanman" in the username search. Also choose the "Bay Islands" forum. Then read all the results. I never porperly thanked Roatanman myself, but I did save most aal his posts onto my laptop prior to leaving for Roatan this past trip. Good stuff.

Glad you enjoyed my stories and photos. Just trying to share the experience and knowledge to help others choose.

I have not stayed at CCV so I cannot compare but from reading the reports online it seems like it's only better than FIBR so you certainly cannot go wrong. That said FIBR gives you everything you need to have an excellent scuba vacation and at no time did I feel the resort was unsafe. There is a gaurd house one must pass through to enter the bridge passageway to reach the property of FIBR. You could probably see it if you used Google Earth. The diving experience should be near identical since you'll be diving the exact same waters from either operation and both employ quality DM's. Again, I haven't stayed at CCV, but I'm guessing you'll notice the biggest difference between the two resorts in the quality of food and overall appearance of the rooms and buildings (FIBR could use some TLC and better menu planning). For some people that's enough to warrant the extra cost. For me, I'm willing ot take that savings and make a few outings off the resort. $300 can go a long way in partying on the West End, taking some back country East End tours, souveniers, etc. I like to explore, but if you just prefer to stay put at your resort...

HTH

 

[Doc]

Although I would like to find the shore dive map Codman referred to...

Altho the two resorts, CCV and FIBR do reside on different shores of the same channel, the shore dive experience is quite different....

There is no scurrying needed to secure a good spot in the "wet rooms", most people don't use the hangars, instead using the clotheslines and "booitie trees". Gear up, and walk 100 paces on hard sand and begin your dive. Some of the best diving begins right from the shore at CCV.

See CoCoView Explained in Pictures pictures by Doc_Adelman - Photobucket for just that.