falcon:
Thanks RoatanMan. That information is very helpful. We look forward to diving there. If you have any other suggestions, your expertise is much appreciated. I did appreciate your response to my other post as well, although I since a bit of skepticism regarding our party arriving via a cruise ship.
If it was skepticism, you ought to see the condemnation I just posted about a newbie's planned trip to the advanced dive sites of Tobago.
I try to start out such responses by stating something you knew (but others may not)- that there are search engines that will provide this info. As much as dispensing my opinion, I always leave a trail to that of other posters- it is the spirit of the usenet.
Cruise ship diving is doable. It sure helps occupy your time positively whilst not chowing down on the 0200 ice cream buffet (my reason for NOT cruising!) Dive trips are bad enough with weight gain, I can't imagine a cruise ship.
Cruise ships are in business to keep you on the ship. The ports they visit, by sheer deffinition, are locations for limited diving. Roatan is the current partial exception. Do it now, for it will change. In a few years, development near the cruise ship dock will pollute the reefs and marine environs with run off from construction. Your trip to acceptable dive locations will be longer and longer!
The process in Belize is further complicated by the fact that the Government Dock for cruise ships is all that much further from the diving offered by the dive ops with fast boats. They can do it, but it's not the best option.
Now that we know that you are talking about shore diving after disembarking for a short period from a cruise ship- not just a week of driving around with rented tanks--- I would suggest CoCo View if you want to do a couple of shore dives with no muss and fuss. They can pick you up, get you into gear, and take you out with a DM. Call them at 800 282-8932 and explain what you want. You can also contact Erin at
www.cocoviewresort.com
BTW- several other ops promise shore diving. It is either marginal or a fantasy.
The other best quick charter option is SubWay. They're close to cruise ship locations and they're good it bears restating from the previous post.
Belize and Roatan are places where you look for little stuff, which can be much more exciting than seeing your fifth shark. Take a magnifying glass and hire (or stick with) a DM. Roatan might make you think twice about cruise ship diving, you might make a reservation when you're there!