Waterfront Accomodations in West End

[smsacumen]

Hey everyone, any information you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I'm making my first trip to Roatan and am planning on diving with Coconut Tree. I'm still hunting around for accomodations and am looking for something right on the water, cabin / cabana with kitchen and bath, within a short walk from CTD. Cost isn't a huge issue as everything in the area seems to be very reasonable. Though I'm leaning towards staying in CTD's cabins, if I can find something right on the water it would really make the trip for me. I've tried to find some detailed info, including photos, of Half Moon Bay Cabins but there ain't much out there. I'm not looking for upscale by any means, but rustic and on the water would be perfect.

Thanks for any recommendations!

[RoatanMan]

It's all pretty close by. "On the water/right on the water"? Most everything is at least a quick trot across the sandy main road from the water. Maybe these satellite images will assist....

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/3809/Picture_33.jpg
..............http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/3809/Picture_34.jpg

The local experts here will give you the details.

[diversteve]

Actually the image above is the West End just west of Half Moon Bay. HMB is the next bay east. The dock in the very top corner of the picture might be Coconut Tree's - I can't tell. Half Moon Bay Cabins would be about 1/4 mile further east (up) - not shown in the photo. Attached is a Google Earth view that puts things more in perspective.

Coconut Tree's cabins are behind the main building so have no view to the water across the street. My friends stayed there last spring - one of the cabins had no kitchen, the 2BR had a full kitchen. As I recall the third 1BR did also but I'm not sure - I was only in it once. One of the good things about CT is that their generator always worked reliably when the power went out daily.

I walked by Half Moon Bay Cabins daily on the way to our rental house farther out on the point. This is totally a guess, but I would say that at least some of them have water views - since I only saw the backside, I can't confirm this. Most are set back a little distance from the water in the trees - I think their restaurant/lounge area is right on the ironshore.

You might also look at Seagrape or Cocolobo. Each is farther east past HMB but definitely ocean view. A little pricier also. Under a 10min walk to Coconut Tree Divers, there's a road in the trees that goes past HMB and then out east to the end of the point, it's not visible in my image.

I highly recommend Coconut Tree Divers. They're good people, a fun group post-dive and I believe have the biggest boats on the West End. Not crowded though, we never had more than 10 divers, a couple times it was just our group of 6.

[smsacumen]

Thanks much for the info. Diversteve, the labeled satellite image is very helpful in getting specifics about the layout of the area. Seagrape has been second on my list with CT, they've just been rather slow replying to inquiries. But CT seems to be right up my alley and I probably will just go with them for the full package (diving / lodging). Unless somebody drops me a line saying the HMB cabins are worth the split.

[RoatanMan]

Actually the image above is the West End just west of Half Moon Bay. HMB is the next bay east.

Thanks- I got all fuddled trying to make the images match. Here's one like yours but a close-up with no labels:

http://www.scubaboard.com/gallery/data/3809/Picture_32.jpg

[diversteve]

But CT seems to be right up my alley and I probably will just go with them for the full package (diving / lodging).Gay - cocoloca (http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/members/cocoloca.html) here on SB owns it with her husband PJ. They're great people to dive with.

[smsacumen]

That seems to be the rep of these folks, haven't seen anything but very positive reviews. Roatanman and diversteve, thanks again for the info and images. If you have any other recommendations of things to check out on Roatan / in West End (eats, drinks, last day afternoon topside excursion) please feel free to fire away. Hiking / photography are my other outdoor interests..

Have a good one fellas.

[smsacumen]

PS - why doesn't my pic pop up on the posts like yours does?

[scubamork]

Foster's in West Bay had a great Lobster dinner special for $10 not sure which day it was. You can take a water taxi down from West End before sunset for a couple bucks pp and a taxi back for around $5. We stayed there, nice beach and snorkeling near the east end was pretty good. My wife got some great eagle ray pictures.

[marcoa]

55835

Another view of Half Moon Bay.

[Ben_mtl_canada]

I went in Roatan with my wife, and we lodge at the MAyan Princess. Just Perfect!!! Nice clean, near the beach, etc.

This is not a dinvingfreak place. It is one of the nice place to stay, aswell as the Island pearl.

The dive operator of this hotel is good, but we have seen better.

About the diving in Roatan, It was not up to our expectation. The reef are very nice, colorfull, but there is no marine life, very few fishs, and very fews noticeble things.

We did 13 dives, and we have seen almost nothing.

It was the first time in my life that a jump in the baot with NOTHING TO SAY! except an angel fish. A good dive was a turtle.

Maybe i was'nt lucky, but as we spoke with other divers, it was unanimous.

By chace we did a Dive with Anthony's key with there Dolfins: Unforgettable!
We also did the Shark dive ont the others Side of the Island: very very nice.


Tha Island is very nice, nice peaple, very differant than Cozumel. Only small hotel, no All inclusive..


If you go, try the Island pearl Restaurant, it is magic!!!!

By the way, near the Mayan Princess, the snorkling is very very nice, even better than tha scuba diving..


For me, Roatan and cozumel just can't be compare for the diving experience.

[rleslie]

Take a look at Lost Paradise Inn. We will be staying there starting March 9 (if I can find my passport). Stayed at Sea Grape last year. Clean and comfortable, but very basic if that is what you are after. It is ocean front, but no beach.

[Bay Island Diver]

It was the first time in my life that a jump in the baot with NOTHING TO SAY! except an angel fish. A good dive was a turtle.

It is always depressing to hear this, but to be honest i think that reflects more on your Divemasters than it does Roatan's reef. I can't remember the last time i didn't see three to four turtles on a dive, large grouper, pipe fish, neck crabs, you just gotta know the reef. Having said that the owners of Mayan divers have been here for years, if Anja or Liber were leading the dives I take it back, they would have found something if there was something to find.

The best option, on the water, and a short walk from CTD - Cocolobo, West End, Roatan, Honduras. Hotel and dive packages (http://www.cocolobo.com)

Regards

Will