Roatan - 2013 - choosing a dive resort??

[calvin007]

A few of us are trying to make travel plans for about a week in winter 2013 to Roatan (west side) and came across a few resorts/dive operators. We're all experienced divers and want the focus to be more on the quality of diving and opportunity to do several dives, including the flexibility of shore diving and adding more dives. We're also considering having our meals out and about at restaurants to be able to sample local cuisine versus at the resort itself (hopefully, they will be willing to reduce our cost by removing our "meal" plan).

That said, are there recommendations for the resorts/dive operators? The few I came across are:

SeaGrape Plantation Resort (doesn't seem to have shore diving)
Sueno del Mar (doesn't seem to have shore diving)
CoCoView Resort
Anthony's Key
West End Divers (and then stay at one of their recommended hotels)

I've heard more about CoCoView and Anthony's Key. I'd appreciate any diver feedback on these resorts. Thanks.

 

[Doc]

I are confused.

You mention "West End", but also reference AKR (which is nearby on the North coast and CCV which is decidedly South side.

I go to Roatan for the diving, so I can really best speak to that. You will get the greatest number of dives (certainly per dollar) at AKR and CCV, the latter gets a slight edge. There is some shore diving possible off of AKR if weather permits within restricted hours. If you really want shore diving on Roatan, the kind of access that makes it likely that you will do it 2x a day, it's CCV all the way. At this resort, I get in an easy 4x a day plus a night dive, maybe two (as shore dives). I get 27+ dives in a week at CCV.

Neither AKR or CCV will credit you for missed meals, because that destroys the math that AI's are based upon. Math is a big part of going with an AI, and this has been hashed over and debated many times here, but the simple fact is that if you really truly want more than two dives a day, in terms of money, AI's are the way to go. If you are entuiced by ala-carte day-dive op pricing of 'ten dive packages', that may be plenty for some, not such a deal for others when you start paying for additional dives.

Also- look with care at any day-dive op's dive schedule. Yes, they may indeed offer three departures per day, but usually the time between #1 and #2 are very tight, allowing you time only to get off the boat and not much more- problematic if your lodging is more than "next door". Look for one that offers a "two tank" morning dive plus an afternoon 1 tank dive if that suits your needs.

SGP, SdM and WED will allow you easy access to the night life, bars, and various restaurants of the West End. If you stay at AKR, it's a short cab ride to do this. From CCV it is a bit of a process, and they schedule "evenings out" to facilitate this. I prefer to stay at the resort and keep diving, often doing 2 night dives each evening.

West End dive ops do often mention shore diving, but it is an entirely different proposition in terms of reef structure... it's a long hump from shore- not so with AKR and at CCV it's 200' offshore. West End dive ops mention "weekly boat night dives" if there is a minimum sign-up.

There is a way to suit most every need on Roatan, but if you have very specific requirements for diving, dining, etc, the choices get rather segmented and you have to make that decision as to what you really want.

Be sure to come to Our World Underwater in February, Chicago's Dive Show. http://www.ourworldunderwater.com/ Lots more information there!

 

[chillyinCanada]

I've been diving with West End Divers for a number of years. Highly recommend them. You are not stuck with West End's accommodation either, if you chose to stay elsewhere. Love staying in West End, rather than being stuck at an AI. Have been diving out of Cocoview and BIBR. Boats were great and set up at Cocoview hard to beat. Shore diving is good. Cocoview boats will take you out for a couple of dives and then let you dive back to shore yourself, if you so choose. Cocoview is too far from West End, IMO. Have you considered Luna Beach Dive Resort? Whatever you decide, if you end up staying in West End town, make sure to go to the beach bbq at Barefoot on Sunday evening. Also, enjoy the Rotisserie Chicken place closer into town. Yes, I do love West End, feeling kinda homesick for the place.

 

[Kryssa]

We had a great time diving with West End Diver when we were there for a day traveling by cruise ship- they are an outstanding shop. However, we are looking to pack in as much time underwater as we can get, so we chose CCV. 4 dives from a boat each day (2 are drop offs) and then shore diving after dinner. When you consider the price- $1199 pp/wk+tax- that sealed the deal for us. However, we are not much for nightlife and are happy to be in bed relatively early so we have an easy time making the boat the next morning

 

[calvin007]

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I probably erred in saying "west side" as I meant that in a relatively loose way. Based on my calculations, CCVR seems to offer one of the best "cost per dive" packages with what seems to be lots of freedom for diving. I'm inquiring about the meals, though I know the other challenge could be the ferry back and forth to the main island. Let's see.

 

[diversteve]

Here's my West End perspective:

CCV seemed best for the easiest shore diving. It's also isolated, on it's own island, on the mid-south side - all that's close is Fantasy Island next door. IDK where you'd go for dining from there except with a long cab ride to the West End (maybe French Harbor?). The West End is 45mins? and $40-50? away. As Doc said, it's a special trip from CCV. Like you, we wanted to experience other dining/options on Roatan so chose the West End instead - we're not big AI fans but will when it makes sense.

In the winter the North side does sometimes get blown out. Happened to my friends last week of Nov. Larger operators move a boat to the south side as needed and shuttle you over - others can't/won't. West End likely moves their big boat. AKR does, Coconut Tree Divers and others. IDK about the smaller, panga based ops.

For dining options, you want to stay in the West End/West Bay area. A cab over to the West End from AKR is under 10mins/$6. As RM said, I doubt the AI's will rebate on meals. There's not a lot near AKR either, the resort is fenced/gated and by itself - IDK what's in Sandy Bay nearby but we passed a couple interesting looking places.

Some dining options in the West End: Ooloonthoo, Tong's Thai, Argentinean Grille, Rotisserie Chicken, Lighthouse seemed popular as we passed by. Here's an older list: Restaurants on Roatan (Mavis/Dixie's closed :depressed Sundowner's is a divers beach bar with affordable food. You won't find that concentration anywhere else except maybe parts of West Bay.

We stayed in Half Moon Bay. Cocolobo and SeaGrape are both next to our rental house so I walked over. In that area the ironshore is about 6' high at the waterline - we decided we'd never be able to get back out. SeaGrape has a shore dive - a concrete platform extends over the water. But it's one way - jump in there, drift around the point, out at Half Moon Bay cabins and walk back. Even with gear it's not far, there's a cut-thru from the bay side road not shown on maps. It's this one: Scuba Shore Diving Site Page for: Sea Grape of Honduras, Roatan, Caribbean

One of the nicer options on West End's resort list is Cocolobo. For a regular room/suite resort it's on my future short list. I'd rate SeaGrape a step down - it seemed older, slightly tired looking. Posado Arco Iris has the Argentinean Grille out front - it's an outdoor restaurant so there's noise till around 11PM. Their rooms have an obstructed view also due to the trees, restaurant roof and they sit perpendicular to the beach. Also all the balconies are in line so you look over your neighbors towards the water. BayIslandBeachResort mentioned above closed a few years ago.

You can also shore dive Half Moon Bay wall, have West End drop you off then swim in. We used/liked Coconut Tree Divers all week.

Most operators in the West End charge around $35/dive - less if you buy 10+. Some shops (CTD is one) also have two afternoon dives - RM is correct but the flipside is that the boats return for lunch since many sites are 10-15mins. away. Every day we did two AM dives, back before noon, ate locally and back for 1PM and 2:30 dives. Night dives were less often but someone goes out most nights - there's about a dozen shops within a 2 block area - I think we paid $40.

For specialty dives - shark dive, dolphin dive at AKR, Mary's Place etc. your dive operator can set that up - and a van shuttle also. We were 7 divers so for most, we were the dive. Obviously AKR is convenient for the dolphins but we did all 3 plus the Prince Albert off Cocoview in two mornings of riding around - and were back for the 2:30 dives.

 

[cruiser]

CocoView

 

[Midge907]

I loved my trip to CCV, and will be going back. However it is a dive, dive, dive resort and is a long way away from the hussle of the west end. If you want to sample that side of things, I would recommend getting dropped off on the last dive day (Friday) and hanging out for the day. Also there is a sign up sheet for going out to dinner when you get to CCV, however when I was there no one signed up, as the food is good or adequate at CCV. When I was there I did the optional shark dive, and did an island tour on Friday. When I go back I will do the all day long range dive trip which goes to the west end, and that will be all the traveling I do away from the awesome location of CCV.

 

[jlevine]

Please forgive me if I missed this. What rough time frame do you mean when you say "winter 2013?"

 

[salth2owannabe]

We've been to AKR a couple of times, pretty hard to beat the bang-for-the-buck diving. 3 dives/day and 2 night dives/wk, most all dives sites are close, boats are nice, and shore diving on the north side of the key. The food at AKR is great in my opinion, most as good as the other restaurants we sampled around the island. It depends on what your interests are but the west end stuff is way over rated as far as I'm concerned. If you stay at AKR you can get there easily and cheap but you can stay at AKR and and come and go as you please. We don't really have any allegiance to AKR, we are going to Belize this winter, but I'd go back to AKR in a heart beat.