Thinking of Roatan for newish divers

[nldunn]

Hi all!
We aren't really new divers because we were certified NAUI in 1989 but we didn't dive after certification and didn't dive again until 2023. We did a refresher in Cozumel and an informal one in Curacao. Went back again so we have abotu 8 to 10 dives since the refresher. We are going back in November to get our AOW. I know, I won't be advanced and certainly won't dive like I'm advanced, but I want to do the course for the added skills. The more learning, the better is my belief.
I have a vivid imagination and I'm also a chicken, so I am looking for diving similar to Curacao - places where you don't have to go deep (like you do in NJ, where I may dive this summer) and where there are no currents that can turn into downcurrents, which terrify me! Does Roatan, or any dives on Roatan, fit that description?
Any information on easy dives or dive shops greatly appreciated!

 

[USdiver1]

Roatan should fit your needs. There is plenty to see at shallow to medium depths [70 - 80ft]. The north coast is more sloping bottom while the south coast is more wall oriented. Both are nice. Currents are light and should not be an issue if you have tried Cozumel. My favorite time of the year for Roatan is February through May.

 

[yn37605]

I spent a week in Roatan at the beginning of May with only 12 logged dives (just got certified last summer) and you should be fine. As USdiver1 mentioned, there is plenty to see without going to deep. Currents were minimal.

 

[NothingClever]

Hello, @nldunn

You might consider another approach.

Rather than take a watered down course that doesn’t really train you, hire a reputable, proficient instructor who can walk you through some select tasks in a crawl, walk, run methodology that helps ingrain appropriate muscle memory and develops confidence so those skills are repeatable after a long surface interval. A high performance diving coach will make good use of video to help you see yourself and zero in on areas for improvement.

Good luck in your training journey.

 

[scubadada]

My wife and I went to Turquoise Bay in 2017 and had a very good, relaxing time. Subway Watersports, now Turquoise Divers, was a very good operator. The diving was extremely easy and reasonably good. They are a big enough operation that they may be able to put you on a boat with likeminded divers. You might communicate with them regarding your wishes.

Trip Report Thread 'Turquoise Bay Resort/Subway Watersports August 2017'

Aug 20, 2017

Undercurrent narrative from our August 5-12 visit:

Reservations: I was the high bidder on an auction to support Sea Save Foundation for this trip. Reservations were handled expertly by Caradonna Adventures. I had several changes in the base vacation that were handled perfectly by Cammie. Communication was flawless.


Travel: My wife and I decided to leave from our home in Florida as there is a nonstop to Roatan on American Airlines from Miami. We would have had a connection if we would have left from Philadelphia. The flight was perfect in both directions. We were picked...

• scubadada
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Bay Islands

• 

 

[Allen-1]

I've been to Roatan 3 times, stayed twice at CocoView and most recently at Mayan Princess. The only thing I can compare it to is diving in Florida, (West Palm Beach and Jupiter).

Roatan was warmer. I dove there wearing shorts and a rashguard, (October and April). That was okay for August in Jupiter but I needed a 3mm wetsuit when I dove WPB in February.

Current in general in Roatan was significantly less, I did a few "drift" dives, but most were moored drops. Visibility was in general good, (except for right after a hurricane), and there are plenty of walls to swim along with lots to see above 60 feet.

CCV has often been referred to as "dive camp". If you're diving, it's great - if you're interested in anything else, not so much. For me it was perfect, minimum of four dives a day, sometimes more. They have morning and afternoon boats, each drops you on a site, then you stay on boat for surface interval, and they drop you again and you swim in following a wall. You can shoredive any time, walk out and there's a wreck in their "front yard".

Mayan Princess was more suited for me traveling with my non-diving wife. All-inclusive resort, multiple dining options, alcohol, entertainment, and a lovely front beach to suntan on.

There are lots of postings in this forum about resorts/operations I haven't been to and can't speak to, Anthony's Key comes to mind immediately.

You might want to look into nitrox certification, it works well for extended dives at medium depths.

 

[lexvil]

Curaçao is very similar to Curacao why not go back and see more of the island?

 

[nldunn]

Curaçao is very similar to Curacao why not go back and see more of the island?

I've been three times since November, twice for diving!

 

[lexvil]

I've been three times since November, twice for diving!

So you’ve seen everything?

 

[nldunn]

I've been to Roatan 3 times, stayed twice at CocoView and most recently at Mayan Princess. The only thing I can compare it to is diving in Florida, (West Palm Beach and Jupiter).

Roatan was warmer. I dove there wearing shorts and a rashguard, (October and April). That was okay for August in Jupiter but I needed a 3mm wetsuit when I dove WPB in February.

Current in general in Roatan was significantly less, I did a few "drift" dives, but most were moored drops. Visibility was in general good, (except for right after a hurricane), and there are plenty of walls to swim along with lots to see above 60 feet.

CCV has often been referred to as "dive camp". If you're diving, it's great - if you're interested in anything else, not so much. For me it was perfect, minimum of four dives a day, sometimes more. They have morning and afternoon boats, each drops you on a site, then you stay on boat for surface interval, and they drop you again and you swim in following a wall. You can shoredive any time, walk out and there's a wreck in their "front yard".

Mayan Princess was more suited for me traveling with my non-diving wife. All-inclusive resort, multiple dining options, alcohol, entertainment, and a lovely front beach to suntan on.

There are lots of postings in this forum about resorts/operations I haven't been to and can't speak to, Anthony's Key comes to mind immediately.

You might want to look into nitrox certification, it works well for extended dives at medium depths.

Thank you for that information. Wall dives get me nervous because of downcurrents - do they occur where you were diving?