Doc can add to this but I believe the head of Security at Cocoview was a former LEO. And his guards are armed. Plus the only access is by boat.
The guy that organized them was the director of all airports (mil & civ) security in Honduras. They are a very functional group, most guests never see them, but they are there.
Coco view has hard core security but as guests we don't really see it.
At CCV, they give us room keys, but very few people ever lock their doors, mostly first-timers. I have left IPads in the dining room, all sorts of shiny stuff on my room's porch. I toss my dive watch, camera and computers in the "wet room" area without a worry or concern.
CCV is on it's own island. In the business, with the physical location and the security staff, it is what is known as a "hard target".
If it concerns you, CCV reps meet you at the airport, load you on their shuttle to the resort and return you back the next Saturday. So you never have to leave. But you'll really miss a lot if you do.
I have always gone to Roatan for the diving. Even today, there really isn't all that much you would miss on the island if you never left CCV.
There is no real "island culture", per-se. Most people refer to the faux Jimmy Buffet scene when they say that, so sure- that's all available in a quaint Hooterville kind of style. Other real-deal culture? You can not find as a tourist. On a sad note, I believe that the miniature golf course went bust.
As far as other things Roatan, I would not concern myself all that much with safety.
Be a tourist, do the normal tourist stuff. Do not rent any kind of vehicle (for a dozen reasons) and drive off into the woods... or anywhere. Bad idea. Hire a driver for the day and have a good time. Stay out of bars- good advice anywhere. Nothing good happens after midnight in the States, in the case of Roatan I would say 9pm. You have no "tourist immunity".
Coxen Hole visit? I suppose if you must, but in the full light of day. You will not return next time. West End is well patrolled (Policia Touristica), but cops can't be everywhere, and if you are looking for trouble, you'll find it (women, drugs, things that devolve into robberies or mortal threats). The well-known "local clowns" lurk just off the sandy main drag, in the darkness of the jungle growth. Don't be fearful, but do not be ignorant, act stupid, be lost, do illicit business, be drunk, or think that you are in Ohio.
As far as US State Department warnings, understand two key points: 1) The mainland is an absolute madhouse. You're not going there, and other than staying inside the mainland airport if you must- that would be it. 2) Our current State Department politic has had a recent historical and serious hard-on for Honduras since the citizens ran the left-wing president out of town to stay with his pal in Venezuela.
I teach
fear management as a skill set in my day job. When I am at CCV, my alert factor is
zero. On the rare occasions I do find need to leave "the rock" (as CCV is known to it's permanent residents), it does escalate, but appropriate to the destination. A night out to a restaurant, it is about a
seven. On a planned day-trip with one of CCV's drivers, about a
four. If I am a passenger in a local buddy's car, even during the daylight, back to
six. Take the mini-bus to the Canned Shark Rodeo or AKR for the Friday Dolphin Pester:
two.
Of the several very exciting and salacious crimes featured in Cruise Forums and even some US Newspapers- in reference to ugly interactions of Roatan, after the headlines and sensational stuff gets blurted out, most never hear of the follow-up details that led to these very negative outcomes. Three of the most recent "big stories of innocent visitors" involved personal drug dealings, and two recent headline grabbing murders ended up as love triangles gone icky-bad. Speaking ill of the dead always brings derision, but some people are just "risk takers". Who are you? What's the pay-off, the benefit? Your call.
But you're a tourist, you're there to dive.
Many resorts have varying levels of "security". CCV is about as
hard a target as it gets for a resort.