My girlfriend and I just got back from a fantastic week in Roatan. As new divers we weren't looking for an AI-style resort, and were fortunate enough to make good choices for both our accommodations and diving.
Where we stayed:
Cocolobo. Three buildings containing a total of twelve rooms, all of them ocean view. Big, sunny, clean and new. Great management (although sadly Rory and Claire are going back to England in a few more weeks) and a laid back atmosphere. While more expensive than some options, I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for quiet and relaxation when you want it, while being only a 3 minute walk from the West End.
The one "con" to Cocolobo: It's on the Iron Shore. While there's a beach only a short walk away, you won't be strolling down to the water from your room.
Where we dived:
Coconut Tree Divers. Two well-equipped dive boats and a fantastic staff. We did our OW certifications through them (dives only, showed up with referral), and then dove with them the rest of the week. My girlfriend had equalization issues all week (she ended up not being able to dive two days) and they bent over backwards to accommodate her. She completed dives 3 and 4 of the OW with just her and the instructor after the rest of us had finished the day before.
What we saw: An octopus glaring at us from the conch shell he'd just emptied out, many sea turtles, coral and fish beyond count, the wreck of the Prince Albert (south side dive), lobsters, an eel or three, and on my last dive I caught up with a gorgeous spotted eagle ray (pic attached).
The only bad decision we made was to only go for a week, but fortunately we'll fix that mistake next year. The atmosphere in the West End is a great one, and I can't wait to go back.
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