DStack
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wondering if anyone has booked direct flights out of O'hare to Roatan? Looking to go next year. Also, when is the best time to go for a chance of diving with whale sharks?
ORD-RTB? Direct flights?
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I doubt there is a direct flight ORD-RTB. You can however connect through Atlanta on Delta and be there by about 1PM. Or Continental through Houston.
It would be a fluke if you saw Whalesharks off Roatan. Contrary to what some websites lead you to believe. I asked an instructor about it when we were there last year and (after he stopped laughing) his advice was go to Utila. Another told me he saw one once off Spooky Channel - he's been there 7 years.
Whale Shark season on Utila is Feb-May. Although they have been spotted every month this year. We went to Utila the last week of March. Saw/Snorkeled with 6 Whalesharks on two different days. You can't dive with them unless you're a certified researcher. And they don't typically swim in dive depth waters, after our dives we headed out into deep water to find them. They appear to like to feed at depth, every one we saw was in deep water.
fwiw, you get about 10-15 seconds in the water with them before they either dive or swim away - a lot faster than you can.
We stayed at Deep Blue Utila, they're part of the Whale Shark Research Institute. We were there during one of the Research weeks, in addition to lectures and other activities, they make more of an effort to look for them during surface intervals. And use a spotter boat those 4 weeks. Just about every time we found one there were 2 or 3 other boats from different diveops nearby - once anyone finds one, they talk about it on the VHF.
Having done both Roatan and Utila now, I thought the diving was better off Utila also. Certainly a lot more interesting in the first 60'.
It would be a fluke if you saw Whalesharks off Roatan. Contrary to what some websites lead you to believe. I asked an instructor about it when we were there last year and (after he stopped laughing) his advice was go to Utila. Another told me he saw one once off Spooky Channel - he's been there 7 years.
Whale Shark season on Utila is Feb-May. Although they have been spotted every month this year. We went to Utila the last week of March. Saw/Snorkeled with 6 Whalesharks on two different days. You can't dive with them unless you're a certified researcher. And they don't typically swim in dive depth waters, after our dives we headed out into deep water to find them. They appear to like to feed at depth, every one we saw was in deep water.
fwiw, you get about 10-15 seconds in the water with them before they either dive or swim away - a lot faster than you can.
We stayed at Deep Blue Utila, they're part of the Whale Shark Research Institute. We were there during one of the Research weeks, in addition to lectures and other activities, they make more of an effort to look for them during surface intervals. And use a spotter boat those 4 weeks. Just about every time we found one there were 2 or 3 other boats from different diveops nearby - once anyone finds one, they talk about it on the VHF.
Having done both Roatan and Utila now, I thought the diving was better off Utila also. Certainly a lot more interesting in the first 60'.
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We fly that route twice a year. We fly direct, but it is not non-stop. Continental all the way down, with a stop in IAH. Or if you find yourself in Houston by whatever means, you can do the IAH>RTB portion on Saturdays via TACA. We have let Roatan Charter handle all of the arrangements for many years, seems to work well. There are two Southbound ORD Continental options that hook up with two different international flights.
As to Whale Sharks, they're being spotted almost all the time, but the hot season appears to be the second quarter of the year. Many say on full Moons.
Whale Sharks seem to be more often seen from Utila (the Westernmost of the Bay Islands), but the current Caribbean go-to-spot is Holobox, but no diving is available there between Whale Shark spotting trips.
Many people envision their Bay Islands plans to be a Whale Shark expedition and hoping to see the big one. Nothing wrong with high hopes, but there is so much more to see in the Bay islands before the holy grail of fishes.
It's like love- when you're looking for it... you likely not find it, but....
As to Whale Sharks, they're being spotted almost all the time, but the hot season appears to be the second quarter of the year. Many say on full Moons.
Whale Sharks seem to be more often seen from Utila (the Westernmost of the Bay Islands), but the current Caribbean go-to-spot is Holobox, but no diving is available there between Whale Shark spotting trips.
Many people envision their Bay Islands plans to be a Whale Shark expedition and hoping to see the big one. Nothing wrong with high hopes, but there is so much more to see in the Bay islands before the holy grail of fishes.
It's like love- when you're looking for it... you likely not find it, but....
robint
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yeah, like the others said..... if your goal is to see whale sharks, your best bet is to go to Holbox (stay in Cancun or Playa del Carmen) during summer months. They pretty much guarantee you will be able to snorkel with them. Check out the Mexico Forum for details... they should be seeing them there regularly right now.
Diving in Roatan is amazing, though, so I wouldn't discount going there just to dive without whale sharks.
robin
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Paste this link into your browser. It is dierect through Houston. Runs around $700.
Paste this link into your browser. It is dierect through Houston. Runs around $700.
parrotheaddiver
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Hi Chuck are you packed
12 more days...see ya in Houston.. woo hoo
12 more days...see ya in Houston.. woo hoo
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