Grateful head
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Yes, I remember he was just kinda starting that about 6-7 years ago.Cleve (married to Jessica, Mariella's sister in law) is now running a very successful tour business; Cleve's Tours and Adventures.
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Yes, I remember he was just kinda starting that about 6-7 years ago.Cleve (married to Jessica, Mariella's sister in law) is now running a very successful tour business; Cleve's Tours and Adventures.
Price. Independence. Surprises. Diversity.Why do people choose an independent dive shop and hotel combo over an all-inclusive place like Anthony's Key Resort or CoCo View?
Edit: I know why one might do this elsewhere, but on Roatan I'm under the impression all dives are at marked spots in the marine park. So there must be other advantages of going independent.
Why do people choose an independent dive shop and hotel combo over an all-inclusive place like Anthony's Key Resort or CoCo View?
Edit: I know why one might do this elsewhere, but on Roatan I'm under the impression all dives are at marked spots in the marine park. So there must be other advantages of going independent.
Well stated, but there are some subtle variables.One is the cost. The AI's have a high absolute cost. They might be a better "deal" if you dive a lot and eat a lot but what if you don't? What if you plan to do 10 dives per week and are a light eater maybe eating one meal a day? At an AI, you're paying the same as the next person making 20 plus dives and eating 3 heavy meals per day.
Another is logistics. Some prefer AI because all the details have been pre-determined. I've heard AKR described as Disney Diving. Our 3 visits in 5 years were almost identical. But others don't like that and want things more spontaneous and varied.
Far and away, inarguably, here is the single best shore dive and access off the shore, it’s only doable from an AI called CoCoView. (That’s the Roatan Aggressor lying just offshore, spending 2 or more days doing CCV dives at 2.5x the cost)
When we go to Roatan, we stay and dive with Splash Inn. Rooms are cheap, dives are cheap, free breakfast, we know the staff, and it's conveniently in the middle of West End. It is not fancy.Why do people choose an independent dive shop and hotel combo over an all-inclusive place like Anthony's Key Resort or CoCo View?
I just got back and stayed at Splash Inn as well , Like above rooms aren't fancy but they are clean and its right in the middle of everything! Free Breakfast and then a 50 ft walk to the boat, Chris and Luka are top notch guys and were great to dive with! Highly recomended!When we go to Roatan, we stay and dive with Splash Inn. Rooms are cheap, dives are cheap, free breakfast, we know the staff, and it's conveniently in the middle of West End. It is not fancy.
If you go to AKR, you are kind of going to be at AKR and walking to other places is not super easy. By staying where we stay, we have a lot of dining, shopping, and drinking choices and we still get the ability to wake up and walk a few feet to the dive shop where all our gear is.
If we want to use another dive shop for a dive that Splash Inn may not be doing (Cayos for example), we can walk up and down the street till we find one. And there are two dive stores in the West End if you want/need to buy something.
So we feel we get the same "family" vibe one may get at AKR (diving with the same folks and staff everyday) and a free breakfast but with more options for other things.
I spent a week on Roatan (West End) last September (9/2021) diving with Coconut Tree divers. I stayed in the small hotel right across the street. My preference was to minimize costs and still be comfortable as well as dive as much as possible. I accomplished everything! The diving, hotel, and local food was excellent and will be going back!One is the cost. The AI's have a high absolute cost. They might be a better "deal" if you dive a lot and eat a lot but what if you don't? What if you plan to do 10 dives per week and are a light eater maybe eating one meal a day? At an AI, you're paying the same as the next person making 20 plus dives and eating 3 heavy meals per day.
Another is logistics. Some prefer AI because all the details have been pre-determined. I've heard AKR described as Disney Diving. Our 3 visits in 5 years were almost identical. But others don't like that and want things more spontaneous and varied.