snorkeling in Roatan

[Sportsmom3]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this board but I have read through many of the posts - great information! I especially loved the cactus juice and nasonex tips. My hubby and I are planning a trip to Roatan, probably staying at Infinity Bay. I picked it because I'm an avid snorkeler and can just head out off the beach whenever I want.

I have a couple of questions on snorkeling in Roatan, first, can we go to Cocoview and snorkel in front of the resort on a day trip? Also, what about the Spooky Channel area that used to have the acquarium trail? I saw that the resort is closed now but can we access the area from the beach? Any other beaches that we should check out for snorkeling? In looking at various websites for this trip I came across the following site and thought it might be usefull for divers. Looked like good advice to me!

Its at curingseasickness dot com - can't post the URL yet.

 

[Doc]

Day trip visits? You'll need to contact either resort, but you can pretty much so just show up at FIBR and check in, pay a few bucks and go. CCV would like to know you are coming so they can show you around. Excellent places to hire a DM for a night snorkel.

It's a whole entirely different place, but look hard at staying at Fanatsy Island/CoCoView if you want real easy access to Roatan snorkeling. CCV costs more but gives you better access, right from the shore, but the few extra feet from the less expensive FIBR are not that big a deal.

You'll need a skiff ride to access the better snorkeling near Spooky Channel, but I will also tell you that the phrase "aquarium trail" was a bit of a marketing "stretch"... some folks there started using it about three years after I began referring to a location by that name on the other side of the Island. Somebody used it before me, too, so

Bottom line? Best snorkeling in Roatan, by far, is right here....

 

[Sportsmom3]

Thanks for the info and map! I've never snorkeled at night, I'm assuming you take a light of some kind - is it really cool?

 

[Doc]

Diving at night is very cool, and so follows snorkeling.

The truth about night diving is that the best stuff is very shallow. If you want to see an Octopus, search in shallow Coral rubble (broken, colorless rocks) and silted bottoms. They eat Crustaceans, and where do you think they are? Win, win.

Other shallow water night-time delights are Squidlets... they are kin to the Octopus, right? So your seeing connections here? They sometime remain out of sight, hiding 6 or 8' away right at the surface, using it as camouflage. If you shine your light on your outstretched hands and gently wave your fingers- they will likely come by to see what's up with that?

Also easy to spot- Eagle Rays... but only if you're quiet and obsevant.

Basket Starfish look like big sea-fans, some 24" across, and without you being aware, you'll likely swim right past this shy giant critter.

Sometimes, stinging critters ascend in the water column during the night time. It's a fact that even the most evil one can't zap through a pantyhose, so wear a little cover-up... you'll probably not have to be concerned.

Hire yourself a DM. If you are going to do this at CoCoView, try to get Patty at Dockside Dive center to set this up for you. Until I spent hours diving with her, I wasn't seeing much! FIBR and other places will also set you up with a DM. A very little money especially well spent.

You might likely see how easy this SCUBA thing really is. I have taken many snorkel trips out as I lead them on SCUBA gear. This way, I can stay at 5 or more feet of depth while the snorkelers bob up and down taking a peek. I have converted more than I could tell you!

Either way- for sure do a night snorkel. Any dive op should be able to rent you a flashlight for a few dollars!

 

[Sportsmom3]

Thanks RoatanMan - I think a night snorkel would be exciting - I will try it. As for scuba diving I'm afraid it would be like crack. Try it once - hooked for life and all of a sudden every vacation becomes about how many dives I would get in!

 

[Joe diver]

great map wish I had that 6 months ago

 

[seahorsey]

Sportsmom3, very astute of you to realize that diving is like crack! But what do you mean, "every vacation.."?! Your whole LIFE becomes a vehicle to find the next dive. I'm a settled, down-to-earth 49 year old Canadian that used to live for her horses. Look what happened to me: First dive: DR 2008, Open Water: Akumal March 2009, Advanced: Roatan, June 2009, Divemaster: Roatan, Oct 2009, Instructor: Roatan, May 2010. Our ranch is for sale now...Flickr: Singing Lands' Photostream .

So stay away from diving if you value your sanity . But I second the opinion that you absolutely HAVE to go night snorkeling!! It's magical. My personal favorite is the beaded sea cucumber. Looks like an alien being, or a slightly limp vibrator. If you go snorkeling, you can probably go out a little bit later than most night dives, who often depart shortly after dark, so they can set up their gear in daylight. You'll see more critters if you leave a bit later, I find. I was lucky enough to see Roatan's fabled String of Pearls this time (ok, that was diving, not snorkeling), and what a fairy light show that was! And with all due respect to diving, there is something so enchanting about night snorkeling, it's so quiet and you have all this time, there is no plan and no big group and no worries about orientation.

Both diving and snorkeling at night are like opening a series of scratch-and-win tickets: you are always in suspense about what the next second will reveal. As the cone of your light wanders to the next little patch of reef or sand, you have another chance at seeing something unique, things, species, colors and behaviors that you never see in daylight. Exciting!

Have fun!!

 

[Sportsmom3]

LOL seahorsey - I knew it would be addictive!

 

[alana890]

Hi, is this map housed in an area that accessible?

 

[Doc]

Hi, is this map housed in an area that accessible?

It is painted on a large table in the bar at CocoView, right in front of the dive site.

If you mean... is it on the Googles? Yes, look through these "albums" for more maps & satellite images of Roatan:

CoCoView Explained In Pictures Photos by Doc_Adelman | Photobucket

and patiently page through these: Group Images Photos by Doc_Adelman | Photobucket