scarus
Registered
Hello well-travelled divers,
My husband, who is a relatively new diver but an otherwise experienced waterman and has spent a lot of time trekking around Mexico, El Salvador, and northern Guatemala, and I, who worked as a divemaster at a marine science facility in the Bahamas for several years, and also have dived in Mexico, Belize, and the Pacific Northwest (yikes, drysuit PLEASE before I do much more of that!), are going to Honduras to dive the last two weeks of June (well, we'll dive one week, and do whatever strikes our fancy on shore between La Ceiba and Guatemala City for the other).
So, our big question-- Which island? :06:
Price is a factor only in that we are ruling out the very high end (yeah, I know, that's vague). Dive quality is extremely important (competent, safe dive leaders & boats, interesting & varied sites, small groups, etc.). We'd also like to snorkel from shore wherever we end up staying (and yes, will check for sewage discharges on the beach first!). We would like to do a little fishing (flats? bonefish? tarpon?) also. We'd maybe like to bike around the island in our topside hours if possible (maybe Utila is too small for biking?). We're not hardcore partiers and want to avoid that scene, although we do enjoy a cold beer with a few other interesting folks, be they local residents or other travellers. (We're in our early-mid thirties). We'll probably ferry from the mainland to wherever we end up going.
Since it should be the low season, I don't feel especially compelled to book a whole week somewhere in advance, although I would if I felt confident in any one particular place. I'd love lodging recommendations. I'd also take dive operator recommendations, although that I figure we'll scope out after we get there. Hey, I'd even take dive site recommendations!
Thanks in advance for any and all input, and to anyone headed to the Exumas, lucky you!
My husband, who is a relatively new diver but an otherwise experienced waterman and has spent a lot of time trekking around Mexico, El Salvador, and northern Guatemala, and I, who worked as a divemaster at a marine science facility in the Bahamas for several years, and also have dived in Mexico, Belize, and the Pacific Northwest (yikes, drysuit PLEASE before I do much more of that!), are going to Honduras to dive the last two weeks of June (well, we'll dive one week, and do whatever strikes our fancy on shore between La Ceiba and Guatemala City for the other).
So, our big question-- Which island? :06:
Price is a factor only in that we are ruling out the very high end (yeah, I know, that's vague). Dive quality is extremely important (competent, safe dive leaders & boats, interesting & varied sites, small groups, etc.). We'd also like to snorkel from shore wherever we end up staying (and yes, will check for sewage discharges on the beach first!). We would like to do a little fishing (flats? bonefish? tarpon?) also. We'd maybe like to bike around the island in our topside hours if possible (maybe Utila is too small for biking?). We're not hardcore partiers and want to avoid that scene, although we do enjoy a cold beer with a few other interesting folks, be they local residents or other travellers. (We're in our early-mid thirties). We'll probably ferry from the mainland to wherever we end up going.
Since it should be the low season, I don't feel especially compelled to book a whole week somewhere in advance, although I would if I felt confident in any one particular place. I'd love lodging recommendations. I'd also take dive operator recommendations, although that I figure we'll scope out after we get there. Hey, I'd even take dive site recommendations!
Thanks in advance for any and all input, and to anyone headed to the Exumas, lucky you!
, try a look at Barbaretta, the island just E of the tip of Roatan. Google it.
, so we figure we can be relatively spendy for a week since the airfare is so much less!).
scene? On Roatan, as in most dive destinations, you just can't have both. The West End offers the best possible option to achieve this equilibrium, but as with most comprimises, it is just that. 
