Advice needed: Coco view

[charlenek]

Hi Everyone,

I've read so many great threads here about Roatan. My huisband and I are planning a trip. We're not serious divers, vacation only, and we like to do maybe 2-3 days of diving per week. We're considering AKR, Coco View, and maybe FI or Luna Beach. I'm leaning towards Coco View because I like a quieter resort, with nice views, and good shore diving/snorkeling. BUT, there are some things I'm not sure about:

First, we like to eat out. Is it hard to get to restaurants? How much does it cost and how long does it take to get to the West End? Is going to FI to eat an option (and is it worth it)?

I prefer smaller dive boats (8 and less). Is this an option anywhere?

Any opinions on which resorts might be best for us? I am really attracted by the positive comments on shore diving/snorkeling (I'd probably be snorkeling mostly) at Coco View. Are the others good at all? Is AKR very busy? I stopped in Roatan on a cruise and the beach thing was a ZOO. I don't want to be anywhere near that.

Snorkeling/diving at Luna beach anyone???

Thanks!

Charlene

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

I'm going to AKR based on the opinion of someone I respect who has been all over Roatan. He didn't care for CoCo view.

 

[charlenek]

Could you tell me more about why he didn't like Coco View and what he does like about AKR? My biggest concern with AKR is the whole cruise ship thing.

 

[herman]

Welcome to the board Charlene.

I went to Cocoview for the first time in Oct, it was also my first Roatan trip. I enjoyed the stay but I am not too sure it's what you are looking for.

Eating out or just leaving the resort is not a very good option. The resort is on it's own island so you must get the resort to ferry you back and forth between the docks and arrange a taxi for you. I am sure it's do able but at first glance it looked to be a real PITA. We did not try to leave the resort so it may be easier than it appears. The food at the resort was OK, nothing to rave about but it was hot, there was plenty of it and it was always ready on time. It was basic school cafeteria food.

The dive operation was very good. Good DMs, boats and facilities but again it may not be what you want. The boats held around 20 divers each. We did not find them overly crowded. They had several exit points so getting off the boat was easier than the normal rear exit only boat but if you want 6 packs, I did not see any.

I enjoyed Cococview and look forward to going back but it strikes me as a place where you eat/sleep/dive and hang out at and never leave during your stay.

 

[Chaseh]

dive/eat/sleep sounds about right. You can keep your discos, although a casino wouldn't suck.

 

[Dive Bunny]

I love Roatan! I too looked at staying at CocoView at first but thought that the whole transportation thing when you wanted to get somewhere off of the island would get old. I stayed at the Bay Island Beach Resort, which is very laid back & they only have small dive boats, but the food was very good....no buffet and the dive shop was excellent. The rooms are nothing fancy, but we still loved it and plan to go back this fall. The Spooky Channel is right outback of the resort and they have excellent snorkeling. My husband and I are hard core divers, but they have an excellent snorkel trail that you can do day or night. Snorkeling you will see octopus, lobsters, eels, even squid. They all live right there in this channel and it's awesome. There is so much more to see than the colorful fish. This resort is actually right down from AKR. AKR is a nice place, and is very tourist oriented. They have the dolphin pin, large dive boats etc and you will find more young people there than other places. And if you have children they have a lot of programs for them, but personally I prefer something a little more quaint.

 

[HowardE]

I stayed at CoCo View for a week. The transportation problem wasn't a problem, since I never left, nor did I even want to leave until the day before we left the island. We did 5 dives per day, and everything about CCV is awesome...

 

[Doc]

I've read so many great threads here about Roatan. My huisband and I are planning a trip. We're not serious divers, vacation only, and we like to do maybe 2-3 days of diving per week. We're considering AKR, Coco View, and maybe FI or Luna Beach. I'm leaning towards Coco View because I like a quieter resort, with nice views, and good shore diving/snorkeling. :

I think you may have fallen under the spell of those who market Roatan (and the Bay Islands) as having something for everyone. It is still predominately a dive resort destination.

There will be those here who will contradict and say that there are miriad of top-side activities, but I fear they might be overstating or at best- easily amused. It is no Cayman, and in no way Cozumel.

You go to Roatan (so far) to Dive-Dive-Dive. If you want a dedicated dive resort that is biased strictly to divers, CCV will be the choice. You can not beat the shore dive/snorkel anywhere on the island, arguably the best resort based dive/snorkel in the Caribbean.

First, we like to eat out. Is it hard to get to restaurants? How much does it cost and how long does it take to get to the West End? Is going to FI to eat an option (and is it worth it)?

You have pre-supposed that the best of the restaurants are all on the West End. Two of them are, for sure. The Argentinian Grille and the Garden of Eatin. The rest are bars that serve foodstuffs. One of the best is five minutes from either FIBR or CCV, "The View".

I prefer smaller dive boats (8 and less). Is this an option anywhere?

Sure, but ops that run smaller boats offer a bit less day to day consistency. They are newer and less well funded. One notable exception of Roatan is Subway Watersports, the best of the day dive ops.

Uncrowded boats? (versus just small ?) CCV will please you.

Any opinions on which resorts might be best for us?

Honestly- I'm thinking Bonaire, Cozumel, etc.

I am really attracted by the positive comments on shore diving/snorkeling (I'd probably be snorkeling mostly) at Coco View. Are the others good at all?

Under that criteria, no. CCV is a standout. Brilliant shorediving. The only resort based shore dive of any real quality- and no- not the same dive as FIBR. FIBR has the same food as AKR and as CCV. The only difference is that at CCV it's a serve yourself from a buffet line. Eat = fuel... go dive- that's CCV. Other places offer the grand illusion of haute cuisine with the extra bennefit of slow service. More Euro style, and most deffinitely so at FIBR which caters to South Americans and Italians. The benefit? At FIBR there are (very very) occasional sightings of topless neices.

Is AKR very busy? I stopped in Roatan on a cruise and the beach thing was a ZOO. I don't want to be anywhere near that.

On cruise ship days, AKR gets crowded. That's what pays the bills there. Beach? What beach? None of the major AI resorts have a beach other than FIBR. (and Paya Bay, but it stretches the deffinition of a dive resort) The West End Beach crowded on cruise ship days? Yes.

Snorkeling at Luna beach anyone???

Answered as above. LB is about the quietest of any resort. Exceptionaly quiet.

I'm not really seeing CCV as a good match for your needs, but then again, I am not seeing Roatan as what you might be looking for, either. FIBR has some occasional jet skis for rent ($$$) and they sometimes have an operational pool. The beach is man made- huge and unpopulated. AKR is nearer to the West End. Any North/West resort can suffer the vagaries of weather. Do an archive search on this board for oft described weather issues.

AKR also has 82 steps up and down to the dining facility. The Dolphin program is good for about 1/2 a day and you can access it from any other accomodation on the island. The Dolphin Program draws many many cruise ship divers as well as families of children. Great spot for entertaining the chillerens.

The remote locale of CCV being on it's own little island (read: moat) has its own distinct advantages when you get into the habit of leaving your room key in the door and not caring where you left your camera. But yes- you do have to take the 2 minute launch ride to get a taxi cab on the "mainside". Little trade offs.

If your idea of non dive activities centers mainly on sunbathing (slathered with DEET), a trip to fiddle with Flipper at AKR, The Jungle Canopy Zip Line tour and a ride thru the mangroves in a water taxi... you'll be fine. If you hope that the Iguana Farm , the Botanical Garden, or the Horseback riding will be a grand diversion, you may be in for a disappointment.

If you like to drink and whoop it up, the West End area will be a great base of operations and Roatan will suit your needs.

 

[Dee]

Ditto everything Doc said.

 

[charlenek]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all the replies. I'm going to look into BIBR some too and see.

Some background that might help, we went to Western Samoa for 12 days and stayed at Coconuts. If anyone's ever been there, you'll know there's nothing to do, and we're okay with that! Cozumel is okay, but we actually had bad luck diving there and I'm attracted to the idea that the people of Roatan might actually be nice and geniune instead of tourist-pessimists (but I did like the eating in Coz). My fantasy vacation: 2-3 days of really good diving, 1-2 days hiking/kayaking/exploring the island, 2-3 days laying around doing nothing. Oh and eating and drinking every night, but not like up 'till 2am (I'm not in college anymore!). And we're allergic to children.

One thing about the small dive boats. We do that 'cause we like to stay with the dive master since I figure they know A LOT more than we do. But we hate when there are like 15 people following the dive master. That's pointless and some dodo is always kicking you in the head or pushing you out of the way. Also, my husband sometimes takes a few minutes to get under, he can get panicky if rushed, so we like smaller groups who can be a little understanding (like it's better if he can get in first etc).

Any other thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Thanks.

BTW, I'll remember to keep my husband away from FIBR

Charlene