Cruise to Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel. Where to dive?

[KyleeM]

Hello everyone! My husband and I are headed on a Caribbean cruise during Christmas break. We want to go on 2 dive trips. Out of the 3 stops listed in the thread title, which 2 would you pick? Is there one that you would definitely exclude?

Thanks for any information you can give me. My husband and I are pretty new divers so we haven't been diving at any of the places. We spent 2 weeks in Hawaii for our honeymoon so that is the only place we have gone diving.

[sparky923]

I would dive Roatan (Honduras), and Cozumel.

My son and I used Barefoot divers in Roatan, and they were great. We are new to diving as well, and they took really good care of us.

Cozumel has plenty of good dive ops as well.

Belize tenders to shore, so your options for dive ops are a bit more limited. I dove through the ships excursion a couple of months ago, and it really wasn't that great, plus it cost twice as much.

[RickyF]

I would dive Roatan (Honduras), and Cozumel.

My son and I used Barefoot divers in Roatan, and they were great. We are new to diving as well, and they took really good care of us.

Cozumel has plenty of good dive ops as well.

Belize tenders to shore, so your options for dive ops are a bit more limited. I dove through the ships excursion a couple of months ago, and it really wasn't that great, plus it cost twice as much.

+2 for Roatan and Cozumel. Barefoot Divers on Roatan is awesome and they are close to the Cruise Line docks. In Cozumel, there are plenty of good dive ops. I used Blue XTSea during the two weeks that i was just there and they were great also.

[mbwilliamn]

Definitely Cozumel and Roatan. And a third vote for Barefoot divers! We got a great price for Nitrox, 2 dives, lunch and transport. (Pinacolada after diving was awesome!). I've done Cozumel half a dozen times and always go with Aldora. They are right in downtown (calle 5). They have fast boats, so they can run pretty far south away from most of the tourist traffic. They also use Steel 120CF tanks, so you'll get a solid hour on both dives even if someone in the group is a heavy breather. They do about a 2 hour+ surface interval on shore where you can grab lunch. I HIGHLY recommend the fish tacos...my son doesn't like fish but he loved these!

The issue with Belize is it's not practical to go to shore, find an operator and then drive out to the atoll (past your cruise ship) and then all around again. That means you pretty much have to dive off the ship and it's the most expensive one i've seen ~150pp for air (nitrox not avail). Also of the three, it was the least impressive dive site. Enjoy!

[meangene757]

I must agree with the rest of the diver. Just got back from them all and Cozumel and Roatan are the best overall. Made videos of the dive, take a look.
COZUMEL CARNIVAL LIBERTY 6-18 COZUMEL - YouTube
ROATAN CARNIVAL LIBERTY 6-20 ISLA ROATAN - YouTube

[lsorenson]

KyleeM, We did the same 3 ports of call a couple of years back.

We used Native Suns dive shop in the West End of Roatan... We have been to Roatan several times and stay at CoCoView but the one time we took a cruise, I asked someone I trusted my situation with the cruise and they suggested this dive shop... Highly recommend them! Remember, the price you pay for the cab is round trip so keep that in mind and pay when they pick you up at Eagle Rays Bar and Grill, not the best food you will ever eat but the apps and beer work really well and great sunsets if you can make one...

For Coz, Aldora divers was recommended to me and I recommend them myself... Only dive shop I will use...

We were heading to Belize as well but the ship was in a pissing contest with the tenders and we never made it... Just as well as we only have 5 hr in port. With having to use tenders, we decided to use the ships package since the boats pick you up at the ship... Never made it though and ended up in the Caymans...

Both of these dive shops know how the cruise ships operate and will adjust to the ships schedule. They both have toll free numbers if I remember correctly and if your ship skips the port, no charge... Double check this but its how it was for us...

Hope you have good weather...! lee

[xspect]

+1 for barefoot and aldora both are excellent choice.

[CoasterFreak]

I just came back from a cruise to the same ports, and must chime in with Coz and Roatan as well. I dove with Sand Dollar in Coz and Anthony's Key in Roatan. Both were arranged through the cruise line, and even though there is a lot of cruise-arranged dive-bashing on the board, it was perfect for this newbie diver and I had a blast.

[Oldbear]

I just came back from a cruise to the same ports, and must chime in with Coz and Roatan as well. I dove with Sand Dollar in Coz and Anthony's Key in Roatan. Both were arranged through the cruise line, and even though there is a lot of cruise-arranged dive-bashing on the board, it was perfect for this newbie diver and I had a blast.

Another vote for Coz and Roatan...

I have dove with both private and cruise ship dive operators and I second the statement that the cruise ship contractors seem to be a little over priced. But one very inportant thing to remember is with a cruise lead dive trip, if anything happens while you are on one of "their" dive trips, the ship will wait or arrange tranportation to the next port. If something should happen while you are on your "own" dive trip and miss the boarding time...the ship will NOT wait. I have seen this many times. So when I cruise...I dive thru the ship; it is cheap insurance.

In Roatan thru Anthoney's my GF and I did the Dolphin snorkle experience (we stayed for a week at Anthoney's and not thru a cruise ship so I am not sure if it is available thru the cruise). If you could either dive or snorkle with these dolphins it might be a major highlight of your trip...it was truely amazing for us. Unlike many commercial "dolphin swims" I took my daugther to as a child where you line up and let the dolphoin swim by, you actually get to swim with the dolphins and let them interact with you. These dolphins love to play...fetch is one of their favorites so bring large palm leaves and throw them like a freesbie or a dolphin might bring you a rock to throw instead. If you decide to do this activity contact AKR and ask them what is included in your dolphin encounter for they have four events: (1) dolphoin show - very nice and educatinional from the shore and very typical for cruise ships' customers who want to see dolphoins but not get wet; (2) dolphin beach encounter - wade into their large lagoon and the trainers let you touch and interact with the dolphins - typical commercial activities Dolphin Beach Encounter - Anthony's Key Resort - Roatan - Honduras; (3) dolphin snorkel or swim - totally awesome experience this is where you snorkle or swim with the dolphins Dolphin Snorkel & Swim - Anthony's Key Resort - Roatan - Honduras; (4) dolphin dive - I did not dive with the dolphins, but plan to on my next trip Dolphin Dives - Anthony's Key Resort - Roatan - Honduras.

Have a great trip and enjoy yourselves on what ever you decide on.

~Michael~

[cruzbound]

Another vote for Roatan and Coz for diving. We used Scuba with Alison in Coz and she was wonderful. In Roatan we used Banarama and they were very good. Both outfits were very safety concious. In Coz, Alison let us dive by air consumption and on our second dive, I was down for 88 minutes (as it is a drift dive). Roatan was a wall dive which was fantanstic - I can't say which one was better because they were both great. Belize was good but not as good as the other two places. Have fun.