The diving is the same as CCV, they are across the little bay and have the same dive sites.
Close, but no, not the same. CCV lies about 110' closer to the Prince Albert Wreck and the swim from CCV is through fairly clear water.
FIBR runs three dive boats during the day, 1 tank on each. You sign up for them much as the system is for any European dive operation. FIBR limits its moorings to French Key to First Bight, the one exception is Mary's Place. The average number of dives per guest day at FIBR runs about 1.8 each. FIBR's DM's usually feed fish on every dive, so you are assured of quite a good display and turnout.
CCV assigns you to a boat, you may ask for a different one. They leave at 0830 and 1400, you get two dives off of each. CCV does a few more dives East of French Key and often goes quite far West, Calvin's Crack is a guarantee among others. The average number of dives per day by a CCV guest is about 3.2
I did the above math over a several week period that had FIBR borrowing filled tanks when their compressor was down.
Actually, the
greater breadth of dive sites done by CCV is rather irrelevant. True enough, many divers marvel at the underwater geography of Mary's or Calvins, but the "good stuff" is everywhere in that zone~ if you can see past the quite noticeable differences in the wall shapes. Either resort will take you to the good places, CCV just has a wider range and more moorings. Again,
absolutely irrelevant.
One of the most spectacular vistas is an easy shore dive from
either resort, that is CoCoView Head, the Westernmost outcrop and overhang of CCV wall.
It is very hard to understand the differences between the two operations (or any group of choices) unless you have seen them all. I think the food is similar, but much more
reliably palatable at CCV. I actually like the stuff, as does my pick eater bride. FIBR has good and bad food weeks. FIBR used to get high marks for serving mediocre food, just because there was a waitstaff, an absolute anathema at CCV. Presentation means a lot, and FIBR usually has a pretty good presentation! At CCV, there is a sign; "So it aint home~ adjust". Many regular fans have.
I used to like the CCV rooms better
before they sealed them up and put A/C in them, but that's what people seem to think they want. I preferred their setting on stilts over the breezy crashing reef, but marketing demands superceded the reality of no need. But the rooms at FIBR, being far inshore, always needed the A/C. The rooms at FIBR are bright and tiled with TV, phone and quite comfy. The rooms at CCV are more like tree houses, but you still have a great porch and view. There are a few at CCV (the Oceanfront rooms) that are pretty similar to the FIBR rooms, but they have a much better view. They're all AC now with the exception of one or two of the Playa Miguel Beach Houses. In that CCV sealed up the Cabanas and Bungalows for AC, I jut get one of the (on shore) Oceanfront rooms instead.
You can't beat FIBR for a good time with a little diving. Being of a Euro based guest list, they get things cranking at 2100 hrs, and the party goes on until 0100 hrs when the crowd demands it. It has a pretty beach and when operation, they do have a pool. Again- it is usually the cheapest deal in town- and nowadays, that is a deciding factor in travel.
People that want to be wet go to CCV. No pretense of anything more than being a dive resort in the classic sense. It hasn't changed a lot from its first days. What sets it apart is quite intentional. The creator went out of his way to give it that Robinson Crusoe look, all quite intentionally. It was so well done, that it's architecture and design look absolutely accidental and blends into the jungle with its colors and textures. It was designed to cooperate with the environment, not resist it.
Which one is for you? Be really honest with yourself, a lot of people end up at one or the other place and find out that it really wasn't the best choice for their needs. I can absolutely tell you one thing, though:
If you like one of the two, you'll hate that other one. There's no way to know what you don't know, but you can make a wise informed decision in advance.
Decide what you really need and want from a vacation, Roatan's choices (as previously noted)
goes far beyond these two interesting All Inclusive Resorts.
