Things we learned during our dive month in Roatan

[Cornbread O'Malley]

Absolutely, nobody would dispute that. However, many don't want to be on a remote resort that is so far from anything else. Great place if you just want to eat, sleep, dive though.

Does CoCo View provide water taxi service for those who want to leave the resort for a bit for activities on the main island?

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

Does CoCo View provide water taxi service for those who want to leave the resort for a bit for activities on the main island?

Yep. I think. Certian hours or on advance request? Maybe?

 

[JossRincon]

Where else have you dived in the Caribbean? I'm always looking for ideas for future trips.

I certified a few years back in Antigua (online course and then we were visiting a friend, so I took the pool/open water sections there) - we were on the west side of the island for those dives, and they were beautiful and full of life. Eagle rays, etc. were everywhere. Haven't been there for about 10 years or so, though, but hoping to go back. We used a little beach shop called "Jolly Divers" and they were great.

Puerto Rico is our home during the winter, and the SW area (Parguera/Lajas), Vieques and Culebra Islands to the east, and Desecheo Island are all really fun and beautiful dives.

We dove the Exumas with the Aggressor out of Nassau and OH was it sweet. Huge coral heads, ample life, and more dive locations than we'd ever be able to do in a lifetime. Ended with a trip to one of the blue holes there and it was really amazing.

For the future, we are beginning to research the Virgin Islands (both US and British) to see about spending some under water time there, as we've heard good things.

 

[JossRincon]

I've been in July as well - hot, quiet. There seemed to be a bit more crime, perhaps because there are so few tourists at that time.

That's sad to hear. Our friends here on the island run a transport/day tour guide company, and they basically said that after the high season ends, they (and most other islanders) are basically living on what they make during that time until it starts again. I can imagine that would really impact the folks who make their money walking down beaches selling things.

 

[34109411]

Writing this while we are still here - just 6 days to go before we head out. But while it's fresh:

1. A month on Roatan is an awesome way to get to know both the Island and the Barrier Reef. So many dive spots! If you have the time, take it.
2. Jan/Feb are BUSY times in Roatan, but you can still get plenty of good diving in if you are there for more than a week. Give yourself as much time as you can, though - we had almost a week of rain and incredible winds. However, our local dive shop (see below) was able to get us to good water on the south side for a few of those days.
3. The West Bay is a wonderful area to stay and have your pick of dive operations that can take you to where the water is best. We will likely come back to this area next year. Or sooner.
4. The West End (just a few minutes up from West Bay) is similar, and has some really good dive equipment shops, including MARES and CRESSI if you need something specific or a repair. Also, cheaper restaurants than West Bay. Mostly, though, it's a single strip with restaurants/tourist locations and some excellent off-street finds.
5. If you find a good dive shop.... stick with 'em! We dove with West Bay Divers for the entire month. (We went out of the beach shop, but they opened a location at the Kimpton as well that's a 10 minute walk down the beach.) Originally, we planned to do more all-island exploring, but many factors led to us deciding to forgo the car (driving here = nah, thanks tho.) It also helped that we are a 5 minute walk from a huge number of dive shops, and chose West Bay divers to start due to what we saw of their shop and boats. Organized, well staffed, great boats and smaller groups with each dive master. Plus, we'd seen some comments here on the forum giving them good reviews. We made the right decision! They are super professional, safe, organized, knowledgable, and accommodating. Over the month we've not been to the same dive site once (although a couple of them we wish we could go back to!!) They are well staffed and we've been paired with three excellent dive master throughout our stay: Gaby, Emil, and Sean (sp... will correct if needed!) where all amazing. Barny in the shop keeping us laughing and also getting us spots on boats... Edwin, Alex, and Anthony on the boats, and all those who we interacted with but didn't dive with. Y'all rock, and make it so easy to just have a good time. Thank you.
6. Bring chilly-temp gear with you for the winter.
7. If you have a dive camera or GoPro or whatever.... PLEASE look away from your viewfinder and make sure you're aware of other divers.
8. If you are in Valley of the Kings and you find a random Akaso E7000 way deep in the bottom somewhere.... it's mine. (from 2023... I have a lanyard now...)
9. Don't buy groceries in local tourist stores unless you need just one thing. Go to Eldon's in Coxen Hole and just buy enough to get through your trip.
10. If you need transport: Nahomy Roatan Tours and Transportation is THE way to go for getting around if you don't have a car. (and we really didn't need a car. We were diving!) Cristhian and Gomez and Darbie will make sure you not only get to/from where you want to go on time and safely - you'll decide you want to bring them into your family. Our entire stay here was made amazingly easy with their company.
11. TIP YOUR HOSTS. TIP YOUR Dive Crew. TIP your BARTENDERS, your transportation, your restaurant servers. Reach out and be kind, polite, make an effort to connect and be friendly. In return, you'll dive into a whole new world just as beautiful as the reef that you'll never see if you come from a place of entitlement. BE GENEROUS.
    
    Last: STAY SALTY, friends! Dive deep and safe.

i kept good memories from Utila.. Miss it so much Freezing my butt in the northern hemisphere l.

 

[KatieMac]

Does CoCo View provide water taxi service for those who want to leave the resort for a bit for activities on the main island?

I'm not sure about water taxis from Cocoview. But where would you want to go from there? If the goal is to go to West End or West Bay, I would think the better option is a taxi. That would be a very long boat ride.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'm not sure about water taxis from Cocoview. But where would you want to go from there? If the goal is to go to West End or West Bay, I would think the better option is a taxi. That would be a very long boat ride.

You need to book a time for the small Cocoview boat to take you off their little island over to the parking lot where a taxi should be waiting.

 

[Sure Squintsalot]

Having dived back-to-back West Bay and Cocoview, I'd heartily recommend West Bay over Cocoview, for both diving and food. I was not impressed with Cocoview's US midwest-skewed menu, and the diving is far more exposed to summer trade winds that made for murkier diving and rougher water. I don't understand what makes people go back year after year to a place like Cocoview, or even Roatan for that matter. Many of the dive spots were choked with algae and replete with dead coral.

 

[wlecyt40]

Does CoCo View provide water taxi service for those who want to leave the resort for a bit for activities on the main island?

Yes. Just need to coordinate with the office.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

I'm not sure about water taxis from Cocoview. But where would you want to go from there? If the goal is to go to West End or West Bay, I would think the better option is a taxi. That would be a very long boat ride.

I was thinking in terms of getting you off the tiny island (peninsula, really) and back to the street-side dock where you could get a taxi. Sorry if I misspoke.