Traveling to Roatan...(doesnt this look like something you have seen before?)

[Ntino]

Sorry for posting somewhat a repeat question however I just found out on a rather short notice that I will be traveling to Roatan with my GF and need to make the best of it - so I need to book everything tomorrow and as much as I would want to read through all the posts on the subject I dont have time to so please bear with me and help a diver out.

Me -
Tec Deep Certified but i dont really like going all that deep cos there is usually not much to see and getting high on N got old real fast. - Read not much of a wreck diver. Rather do extended dives with mixes getting into deco or non deco extended, or pretty much anything not involving a wreck.
Like - going slow, staying down long, being the last one out and the first one in. Also like diving in currents cos you get to do even less and see more.
Dont like - diving in a group of 10 divers. Having to spend an hour to get to a dive site.
Good at - your basic diving and a bit more than that.
Want to see - anything I havent seen before, that includes the little things.

My GF -
Padi Scuba Diver or whatever its called when you are not OWD. Never finished OW, doesnt care to, hope that will change some day but for now she is a non diver.
Likes - some scuba diving but mostly just lying on the beach and having breakfast, bruch, lunch and dinner and a couple of margaritas in between.
Also likes - sleeping.
Doesnt like - Diving, getting up early(tho she will if leads to something she might like to do)
Good at - doing stuff she likes.
Wants to see - restaurants, locals, scenery and stuff you can take pictures of.

I want to do some diving and not have to disappear for the whole day as it sometimes happens.
I would rater avoid crowded dive sites(doh)... actually I would do ANYTHING not to have to dive with a lot of people in the water, thats the biggest turn off for me.

What would be the better location for me geography wise and maybe someone can recommend a resort? I would rather go out to eat/have access to restaurants than eat at resorts, not sure how that works in Roatan but I am guessing that might depend on the area?

So basically I need to stay somewhere where there is stuff to see without sacrificing my diving activities.

Dive operators recommendations are very welcome as well as any other advice you guys have!

Thanks
-Constantin!

Revision - Forgot to mention - I am 28 and she is 32 so while we are not party animals, and have no interest in staying up late partying(this is a RELAXING vacation from stressful work), we dont want to be stuck with 55+ y.o. people at the same resort for the whole 7 days, so definetly need to be able to go out and see stuff. Reason why i posted this is when I went over to CCV, ALL of their pictures only had older people in them hanging out in the same room, and as much as I like their diving options I just cant imagine being stuck there with nothing else to see. Saying all that - their front yard might actually get my GF to dive!

 

[diversteve]

Most of the better beaches are in West Bay. I don't have any specifics except I've heard Bananarama resort and Las Rocas mentioned here regularly. Both are beachfront. Many of the restaurants/nightlife are nearby (+/- 2mi.) in the West End. Half Moon Bay beach in the West End is nice but it's across the street from all the accommodations. Possibly look at Luna Beach resort also, it's sort of in the middle between the two.

Also you might look at Barefoot Cay resort. They have a nice beach and pool area. It's a little more upscale also. It's on the south side, not particularly near anything except French Harbour (small town) and is an AI. But their diving might suit your needs, they do small groups on smaller boats.

None of the dives off Roatan are that far out. Many of the boats return to the dock between dives since they're so close. So 3 dives/day is pretty typical unless you stay at certain AI's - Cocoview being one of them.

Interesting dives on Roatan:

The Waihuka Shark Dive
The Dolphin Dive/Encounters at Anthony's Key
Mary's Place on the south side.
The Prince Albert off Cocoview
Texas near the West End
Spooky Channel near Anthony's Key

Other things of interest:

Zipline tours
There's a local Garifuna village somewhere
Lots of dining options in all price ranges in the West End
Lots of bars/shops in the West End along the main road.

Depending on where you stay Coconut Tree Divers, Reef Gliders and Native Sons all might be good options. We dove a week with CTD, I recommend them if you're nearby. Reef Gliders uses pangas which pretty well guarantees small groups. We did a drift dive off the very west end of Roatan - can't remember the site. Other than that most dives were pretty low current.

Bring serious bug spray for the beaches. Sand flies are prevalent - mosquitoes in some areas at night.

 

[Doc]

Non diver girlfriend, going to Roatan?

You got some good advice above from diversteve to a very difficult question (for the Bay Islands)
The place is a great Caribbean dive destination, but as much as people try to make it all things to all people,
it simply is not there yet. As non-diving diversions increase, diving degrades. A universal truism.

You? You're describing the South Side. All are AI resorts there, fairly isolated. BFK, FI, CCV, LBR, RHR. I prefer CCV hands down for diving, you might get away with diversteve's suggestion of BFK.

Her? West End/West Bay. Diving is totally different, not what you are describing.

not sure how that works in Roatan but I am guessing that might depend on the area?

Never the twain shall meet.

I will speak more to social issues. I would dump her now. This has no future. Get one of these:

 

[Ntino]

Thanks steve!
I forgot to mention - I am fairly spoiled as far as diving goes, been in all kind of places so not very interested in sharks(unless it also happens to be a whale) morays etc.. definetly more about scenery and the overall experience...
I could look at clowns in an anemone for a long time though.
That being said I like a challenge or anything that would make me a better diver but as far as I understand the diving is mostly fairly easy around Roatan?
Idealy i would want to dive with just a dive master and me (some places i have been to offer a private dive master for an additional fee - this is especially true for places with local dive sites and Roatan seems to fit). It makes sense because it usually means longer bottom time, and more fun for me.

 

[Ntino]

I will speak more to social issues. I would dump her now. This has no future. Get one of these:

Well, more like a wife than a girl friend at this point... going on 6 years now so i did learn to appreciate the non diving side of her.

To her credit, she did try twice, but i think the first time in costa rica with 7ft waves and everyone vomitting on the boat (dumb ass captain couldnt moor for 30 min)on her first open water skills dives killed it for her

On a more serious side.. I understand its not going to be the busiest time right now, can i get a decent dive shop on west side? I too like to see the locals, and do a bit of tourism, that being said that whenever i am forced to pick I just stay in the water doing 4 dives a day.

 

[Ntino]

Spooky Channel near Anthony's Key

Spooky Channel - YouTube
NOT WHAT I WANT TO SEE WHEN DIVING
also not the kind of divers i want to dive with

 

[Doc]

Spooky Channel - YouTube
NOT WHAT I WANT TO SEE WHEN DIVING
also not the kind of divers i want to dive with

Spooky Channel was an interesting dive... at night.

It is, unfortunately, quite a hump from shore. It's best access was from IoLR which is now closed down.

On any dive experience, you may dive to avoid such divers, even from the same boat. Or... you might just tuck in behind them and complain~ like so many people do. You can find dive boats that take 14 people and feel completely alone and free, basically doing a solo dive. You can also get on with 4 other divers and feel crowded. The highly vaunted Mary's Place is a great example. Almost every diver, I don't care how experienced they might believe- they will go through MP at 2x the speed they should have, usually bunching up behind a well paced leader.

see the locals,

West End

and do a bit of tourism,

Can be done from anywhere on the island

that being said that whenever i am forced to pick

Consider cutting your losses at six years or ask Newt for some advice

I just stay in the water doing 4 dives a day.

On Roatan, that my friend is CCV.

In my wild bachelor playboy days I had occasion to go to CCV with two different "I don't dive" GFs. By the end of the week, they were certified by their brilliant female PADI instructor. Noobs (and the experienced) love the shore dive and boats. So much for lying about in a hammock reading.

A visit there could change her entire perception and level of desire to dive.

 

[Mike]

Stay at West Bay Beach - Mayan Princess, has great pool, the hotel sits on the best beach on Roatan, she can hang out all day on the beach/pool, you can dive with one of the ops, either Mayan Princess at the resort or Bananarama right next door... you get the idea. You walk 100 ft to go on your morning dives that leave at 8:00am, boat rides are 5-10 minutes, you're back at 11:00 ish, you have lunch together, you can go back out for the afternoon dive at 2:00pm, come back by 3:00ish and have the rest of the day. Diving will be okay, not blow your mind diving, but there isn't much blow your mind diving on Roatan anyways, however you have a different set of priorities to balance which is the girl friend. The diving there will be very easy, very, very easy, and that might get her hooked if you are lucky.

The beach bar the Thirsty Turtle is 2 minutes down the beach, they will have crab races and fire dancers, Mayan Princess puts on a little entertainment at night some times. Also there is a beach disco right next door to the Mayan Princess, you may find a more energetic crowd there at night. Most likely the bar on a barge will show up in the bay at some point and you can party on that if you want. Rent a car if you want to explore. There are about 5 places to eat in walking distance of the Mayan Princess, and a few more over next door in West End, which you could get there by easy water taxi and avoid the rental car, but the rental car will let you explore the island, go do a zip line, go see the iguana farm, go pet a monkey... etc...

 

[billmosel]

Check out my trip report from December West Bay Trip Report I think you will find it useful.

 

[Ntino]

Spooky Channel was an interesting dive... at night.

It is, unfortunately, quite a hump from shore. It's best access was from IoLR which is now closed down.

On any dive experience, you may dive to avoid such divers, even from the same boat. Or... you might just tuck in behind them and complain~ like so many people do. You can find dive boats that take 14 people and feel completely alone and free, basically doing a solo dive. You can also get on with 4 other divers and feel crowded. The highly vaunted Mary's Place is a great example. Almost every diver, I don't care how experienced they might believe- they will go through MP at 2x the speed they should have, usually bunching up behind a well paced leader.

Well yes... on most of my dive trips i end up going solo behind the pack once the DM realizes he can relax. Most DMs though are clearly not confortable with anyone being not in view on the first several dives.
A good exception is in Koh Tao thailand, has some TEC diving but on the rec diving you sometimes have 12 people following a DM with 6-7 DMs at the same site - doesnt matter what you do, no one cares or can possibly track you. Sounds horrible I know but its so fun watching the whole thing while snorkling up top relaxing after a 2 hour deco dive