where to stay in Roatan?

[susans]

I've just booked air reservations to Roatan for the week between Christmas and New Years. My 17 year old son is a diver--I am a cautious, but avid snorkeler. Our usual place to go for a once a year dive vacation is Bonaire-and I love the ease of snorkeling from the beaches at the hotels in Bonaire, but I decided to try something new. From what I've read I don't know if the snorkeling will be as good in Roatan but I think my son will enjoy the diving.

My question is: where to stay-and what is the best dive operation, where I know a 17 year old (who has only been diving for about 3 years) will get the help/or at least supervision that he needs. He is not a hot shot-and is fairly careful, but like many testosterone fueled boys-thinks he can do anything.

I tend to like laid back, quiet, out of the way places and don't need lots of amenities-(fancy hotels are not my cup of tea)-but I would like good snorkeling close to the hotel.

I have checked and know that Loat Paradise, Seagrape and Kefitos have rooms available, Anthony's Key does not, and CocoView has not responded to my email. Any help you can give-and suggestions for the dive operation I should hook him up with would be much appreciated.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

my vote goes to CoCo View....but they usually fill up at that time of year....you might try Fantasy Island....a little more hotel like but it is still on the south side and would be protected incase a norte blows in....

did you email Roatan Charters if not try them http://www.roatan.com/catalog/honduras/hframeset.htm

 

[H2Andy]

cocoview is a great place

 

[Doc]

I'll betcha CCV is booked, but it's always better to throw a call to Roatan Charters at 800 282 8932. They always have last minute drop outs. Can not beat the CoCoView "Front Yard" for snorkeling on Roatan. They may have alternate availablity in other properties.

Best dive op? I'll throw down on CCV or Subway Watersports. Relying on any DM for help/supervision is really outside the scope of their duties to a large degree. Sure, they'll help if they see something odd, but their duty is to find and point out all the cool stuff that the South side of Roatan has to offer. If you are truly concerned, consider hiring him a private DM and include the watchfulness in his duties list- maybe for the first two days?

Snorkelers, especially at that time of year- South side for sure.

 

[susans]

I'm not looking for anyone to give him special instruction--but jin Bonaire it seemed that the dive masters always made sure he had a buddy, he sucks air and they seemed aware of what was going on with him. Maybe this is standard operating procedure for dive masters and it wasn't anything special- he was diving from the Sand Dollar and the folks there just seemed really interested and on top of things-since I'm not a diver, I don't know what is usual to expect-but those folks did a nice job with relatively new divers and I'm just looking for something similar.

 

[Doc]

I'm not looking for anyone to give him special instruction--but jin Bonaire it seemed that the dive masters always made sure he had a buddy, he sucks air and they seemed aware of what was going on with him.

I think that's well within expectation of most any DM. It is up to the diver to advise the DM of both issues in advance. Maybe the DM will buddy up with him.

Either way- remind him that in Roatan, it's all in the details.... the small stuff ! Stick with the DM and don't wander off, go slow... you'll see more.

He'll have a ball. Roatan diving, especially at any of the larger resorts- its as easy as it can get.

 

[mjnansen]

Try BIBR (Bay Islands Beach Resort) They have a great snorkle set up and are closer to West End and what little night life the island has to offer (lots of back packing young adults). CoCoView will probably be impossible to get into at that time of year!

 

[HowieDean]

We are located on the North Side of the Island about 1.5 miles from the West End.
We are a small 35 unit All Inclusive Resort and our specialty is personal attention.

Our Lagoon is the perfict place to snorkel as it is protected by the reef and is a lot like a nursery for the small marine life - it amazes me sometimes the amount of cool stuff that can be found in it's proctected waters.

We will be happy to drive you in to West End and any time and then you can catch a cab back which will cost you about 5 bucks....

We do 3 boat dives every day and a night dive on Tuesday night - We dive both wrecks - the Agual and the Odessy as well as Spooky Channel and some other truely great sites........

The ocean on the North side can get rough that time of year if a Northern blows through - if it is too rough to dive on the North side so on those few days we make arangements to dive the South Side

Please check out our Web site at the link at the bottom of this post or you can also down load
a short video clip "3mb" from this link.... Inn Video

 

[rakayaker]

My son and I are staying at FIBR in a week and 1/2. I'm not sure that you can go wrong with almost any place - but you should look at the previous threads - there is a LOT of information about places to stay and the roatanman whose already responded has a lot of specific info that is very useful. (Doc, I found your blurbs about diving in CCV's front yard very informative) .

You can stay at any place and still use the DM from any resort, it's just that some resorts like CCV and FIBR are all inclusive including the dive costs, so they may be more expensive, but very reasonable for AI - meals, room and dives.

Any reputable dive company will insist that anyone diving off their boat have a buddy. You could do a thread to ask for a dive buddy - I'm relatively new here but if you search the forums, you will see that people are hooking up before they get down there. Here's an example: http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=160850&highlight=Looking+for+a+buddy

One question I have is why not get certified yourself? While he's out on a boat, you can get certified and then do some dives with him. You're going to the best place in the world to take a course!

 

[robj]

yah ill go with the bay island beach resorts... i had an amazing time back there in 98 where i got my advanced and nitrox cert.....