Roatan in Summer

[divengolf]

I'm planning to go back to Roatan this summer, probably July or August. I've been to Reef House twice and am going to CCV in a few weeks. All of my trips so far have been in January or early Feb. I've been told that in the winter it's best to dive the south side and switch to the north side in the summer due to prevailing winds. Others have disputed this advice. I'm looking for the experience on this board for the real dope.

Right now, I plan to stay at TBR and dive with SWS this summer. I go to dive and take pics. Other amenities are not real important as long as I have a bed, a shower and edible food. And probably A/C in the summer.

Thanks.

Harry

 

[KevinG58]

I've dived the south side, at RHR and CCV in months ranging from April to August. My totally unscientific opinion is that I have seen more fish life in July and even more in August, than earlier in the year. The trade winds? I have given up trying to predict when they may tend to be calm. The north side of the island is open to swells from storms to the north, that's my understanding of why its probably not a good winter dive destination.

 

[beluga2]

During July and August, it is almost always flat calm on the north side of Roatan.

 

[scubadada]

@divengolf

My wife and I spent a week at TBR and dived with SWS this past August. The weather was good, the seas were flat, the diving was fine. Very restful vacation. We flew in and out on a Saturday, the airport was not bad, I hear it can be a real mess.
Turquoise Bay Resort/Subway Watersports August 2017

 

[Doc]

The water column will be abuzz with critters.

When you're at CCV, if you night dive, you'll find out why that easy shore dive access makes it #1 on Roatan. If you don't night dive, you screwed up.

Night diving at this time of year is what makes Roatan truly exceptional. At CCV we do 5-7 night dives per week.

Oh, the things you will see.

Flat seas on the North, pretty to look at. I'll take the South with its light breezes from the ESE, it grounds the bugs and cools your bod.

Post a trip report please!

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

We are headed to Roatan in 2 weeks and its our first time there. Have a condo booked at Villas del Playa and are considering a few of the dive shops near us. No one seems interested in renting us tanks for the dive site off of our dock? Seems strange to us, especially since we were in Curacao last trip and all we did was shore dives with out a DM or guide. Any suggestions for the tank rental question? We are expecting to do the majority of our diving from a boat. Night diving is great? Does it matter were the night dives are? Thanks

 

[Doc]

Nobody rents tanks for Roatan off prem use, last I knew.

A dive site off of Villas de Playa. "Off"? As in way off? Quite a hump from there. Of the five doable shore dives on Roatan, a dive op is in charge of that access, this isn't one.

From their website: We have Blue Channel (the number one dive and snorkel spot on the island) right in front of the Villas,

Kind of a reach, imnsho... Nah, a huge leap.

Turtle Crossing approx. 400 yds west of us and many many more dive sites very close by.

1200 feet is quite a walk, and an almost impossible swim, at least with gear, there and back. I'd peg it at more like 2,000 feet, but what's 800 feet among clients?

Night dives should be done in very shallow water. That's where all the action is, well above 25' depth. It's amazing, but after one or two coral type dives, it might get boring. So then, you'll try "muck diving" where things really do go-bump-in-the-night. This can be done in areas you wouldn't consider diving in, harborages etc.

Many dive ops offer night diving on a once a week basis, IF they have a minimum number of paying guests. Translation: not a whole lot of night diving going on out West area. If and when these dives are done, they usually are in 70' bottoms, again, stay shallower!

You're going to do all your dives with a dive op. Cut a cash bargain for multiple dive packages. They usually bargain on a ten ride ticket, but if you're a serious diver you'll have some extra discounting at 20 dives. Most visitors buy a 10 and use 6, so I'm told.

 

[Norwegian Cave Diver]

Thanks Doc. We were expecting to swim out past our dock and down thru the seam and turn left or right. Looks like a very short swim.

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

We enjoyed TBR and absolutely recommend SWS. The resort is not close to anything which was great for me. We were with a large group (16 or so) and I believe the Resort paid for a van to take several wives to West End to go shopping and provided an escort to show them around. I posted a full review when we returned. The guides will let you use their slings to take lionfish. The lionfish were really taking over the reefs when we were there...but the upside was they grilled the LF for us on the island trip and it was absolutely the best fish I have ever had, including any lionfish.

I had heard horror stories about the airport, but we did not have any problems. TBR had a rep their to meet us and while we were going through immigration, he located all our bags to clear customs. Great Resort, good food, best dive op I have been on. Newer comfortable boats with heads. We will go back sometime.

Dive Rockstar for me! Salva Vida is actually a pretty good beer too.

Safe Travels,
Jay

 

[Doc]

Thanks Doc. We were expecting to swim out past our dock and down thru the seam and turn left or right. Looks like a very short swim.

Expect this:

Those two white flecks (on left, above) are prolly dive pangas parked at the break of the reef. It goes West from there through that channel. The space between there and the Villas would be a good night muck dive, just be aware of diving in a channel. Not impossible, just a consideration.