Diving off Roatan.

[Aeolus]

You ship may not visit the Bay Islands, as the general trend for now TD Beta is northward. But the ship probably has good stabilizers - to reduce the motion sickeness factor, so it might?

I posted earlier "Doesn't look like a big threat for the Bay Islands, unless she heads more north. " but since she is drifting that way, it would be wise to watch her closely. NOAA http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml? is currently giving Roatan only a slight chance of a hit, but we all know how fickle these storms can be.

Our original itinerary was to go to Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, then Cancun. They were having trouble with one engine, so they dropped Roatan and changed Cancun to Progresso. Then came Wilma - Now we are down to Roatan and Belize. If Beta should decide to turn North, we might have to drop both of those, as well. Hopefully, it will continue Westward and not effect the cruise anymore. We still have several days until we are in that part of the world. At least I will have the casino at night and my deck chair during the day and more food that any three people need to eat.

DSDO

 

[DandyDon]

Our original itinerary was to go to Cozumel, Roatan, Belize, then Cancun. They were having trouble with one engine, so they dropped Roatan and changed Cancun to Progresso. Then came Wilma - Now we are down to Roatan and Belize. If Beta should decide to turn North, we might have to drop both of those, as well. Hopefully, it will continue Westward and not effect the cruise anymore. We still have several days until we are in that part of the world. At least I will have the casino at night and my deck chair during the day and more food that any three people need to eat.

DSDO

And a lot of divers generally fly to Belize and Roatan on Saturdays, but I see that Continental has but one flight to RTB tomorrow, the earlier of the usual two? Anyone know why...?

The current NHC predictions show that Beta is still going to spare the Bay Islands with the brunt of its force, but it's always iffy with these storms...?

AT 11 PM EDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BETA WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 13.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 81.4 WEST JUST NORTH OF THE
ISLAND OF PROVIDENCIA. THIS IS ABOUT 155 MILES... 250 KM...
SOUTHEAST OF CABO GRACIAS A DIOS ON THE NICARAGUA/HONDURAS BORDER
AND ABOUT 135 MILES... 220 KM...EAST OF PUERTO CABEZAS NICARAGUA.

BETA HAS BEGUN TO MOVE TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHWEST NEAR 5 MPH
... 7 KM/HR. A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST AND WEST TOWARD CENTRAL AMERICA
IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...
WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS...AND BETA COULD BECOME A HURRICANE AT ANY TIME SOON.

The Russian Roulette possibilities map (far right) even shows it could hit Florida with about the same path as Wilma. :11: Just no telling - wishing tomorrow's travelers and everyone in the area now the best...!!

 

[DiversMom]

It's Hurricane Beta and we here in the central highlands of Honduras have been getting the rain from the outermost feeder bands since 8 this morning. San Andreas Colombia and the Corn Islands, Nicaragua have been taking a hit. The projected path puts the eye of the stom over my town on Tuesday and it should be downgraded to a tropical depression by then. Meanwhile, the SO and kids are at the lake preparing the sailboat for mega rain and higher than usual winds.

 

[DandyDon]

Sandi, some forecasts show H.Beta will make Cat-3 before it hits your homeland. Best wishes to you and your neighbors.

 

[Aeolus]

WE are leaving on a cruise (NCL Dream) to Roatan and Belize on Saturday 10/29. We are scheduled to dive with AKR on Tuesday 11/1. I will try to post a report when we get back 11/5.

Edited to include - Hopefully, Beta will also cooperate and be out of the way before we get there, without leaving behind any more damage.

DSDO

Murphy works overtime yet again. The storm was still in the area as we approached. We were diverted to Progresso, MX and Veracruz, MX rather than Belize and Roatan. There was no diving available at either location. I am unable to comment on the diving from AKR since we did not go there.:11:

 

[Dee]

I was at CCV during Beta's journey around the area. We had heavy rains from the feeder bands, strong winds but not nearly what we expected. It rained all week but the diving was superb.

 

[amcarlson4]

how about Tropical Storm Gamma?
We just returned from Roatan, 11/26/05... we got in 11/19 (a day or 2 after T.S. Gamma...) the diving cleared up progressively each day... to where it was fantastic by last Thursday... clear vis, sunny and warm...

I recommend Fantasy Island Resort (on the South shore)... or Anthony's Key (on the north shore)

I do not recommend Bay Islands Beach Resort

In General... the South side of the Island was much calmer, although there are more dive sites on the North side of the Island
The Diving: given our arrival just following Tropical Storm Gamma (Saturday 11/19/05)... No diving Sunday. We began our diving Monday on the South side of the island, as the wind, surge, and visibility on the North was un-diveable at first... progressively calming, and clearing as the days went by... by Thursday we were able to dive Spooky Channel and a couple other dive sites on the North Side.

Recommendation: Dive Roatan! But stay away from the BIBR resort.
__________________
Annette

 

[Doc]

I recommend F___ (on the South shore)... or A___ (on the north shore)

I do not recommend B____

In General... the South side of the Island was much calmer, although there are more dive sites on the North side of the Island

Really?
Recommendation: Dive Roatan! But stay away from the B____ resort.
__________________
Annette

Annette, I read your other post thread relating some very few details of your displeasure with that one resort. Now you have tagged this old thread and used it to provide even less information as to the basis of your displeasure.

First, let me say, I have never been a big fan of the B____ resort you found to be a negative experience. I read your post (http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=1374346&postcount=1), misplaced on the Trips & Local Marketplace Forum, which only mentioned Canned cafetria taste food and Management that was rough on the troops in front of guests. That was the sum of complaints against B____.

Get out much?

Now you tell us of F___ and A__. What is the sum total of experience with these AI resorts? "A couple of dives" at F___?

It's good that you noted that F___ was pictured on a two page spread in Sport Divers Top 100. Did you happen to notice that this authoratative source shows the dive sites of Valley of the Kings and Calvin's Crack located between CoCoView and Mary's Place? Whoopsie. (among other obvious errors)

To any and all reading- there is no one resort for everyone. It is unfortunate that Annette saw B___ at what she imagined was its worst.

I think that a casual search here on SCUBABoard might have given you substantial pre-trip information. Use SCUBABOard as a resource, not as a tool of vengance for your displeasure in your capricious selection.

And, trust me, a "couple of dives" with any given resort doesn't form much of a basis of comparison.

 

[amcarlson4]

Well thank you Roatan man... afterall, I love to be flamed and slammed for sharing my diving vacation experience. I can't wait to be flamed for my Belize trip as well!

 

[1fastcat]

FWIW, So Soory you had a bad experience at BIBR. I have vacationed there two of the past three Aprils, and am spending another week this April with 20 of my diving partners (arranged by my LDS). Perhaps you would like to elaborate on your experience? Do you go as a diver or tourist first? Are you an adventurer/explore type, or structured and everything in its proper place? Do you want five star restaurants and nightlife, or would you like to kick back at Deep Ted's, have a nice piece of wahoo (2nd's are available for the asking), and soak up a couple of beers with your friends (new and old)?
I usually vacation 3 times a year. Twice with the family, and once with the boys (fellow dive mates). For our purposes. BIBR fills the bill. Laid back, good food, good dive ops, great shore diving, and AC rooms.
There are more elaborate hotels (AKR) is next door, but what is the point? Go to Tahiti for exotic and expensive hotels. Diving is great, hotels are superb, and it only cost us an average of $790 per night with the kids (sorry food/wine/champagne was another $200-400 a day). Amazing vacation, but not what I want in Roatan.