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4 Stars? Not....
Whenever I see the reference to the "star system", I have to laugh... that's what my wife (who is in the hotel evaluation business) taught me to do. The system actually does have some relevance, but only if you use the long-established criteria that define what it means. And no- "I don't know what you mean". There is no property on Roatan that even qualifies for even a 1* rating, not under any defined rating system
There are different levels of quality, to be sure. If the question was really about diving access, there is a clear top choice on Roatan, you already have my opinion (and from others) here on SB.
Thanks for that, but...
When diving Roatan, I always stay at CCV, but don't misunderstand- I have been off diving extensively around all of the shores of Roatan. I have been diving with all major resort operations, and have spent time looking at the shops and boats of most others that have websites and have any capability to offer a real choice in service. When I talk about Roatan, this comes from almost 30 years of visits. I have, over many years, been aquaplaned around a majority of the reefs on that rock.
I am biased towards AI's in my worldwide vacation choices because all I want to do is dive- 5x a day if possible. I don't know much about the lodging options that utilize the services of day dive ops, although, again- I have likely gotten a good look at the dive-ops... it just doesn't allow me the quantity of diving I want during our vacation week. That said, the AI Fantasy Island is going to have to do some serious repair of their reputation before they'll gain my recommendation. They survived for way past where they should have just plain folded up- all on the backs of a great DM staff and super cheap prices. Even when they were selling it for $585, I still paid the $1175 to stay at CCV, just across the channel.
Roatan can be many things to many people- but the AI's are not situated all that close to the available party atmosphere of the West End- you just have to be sure and understand what you want out of your vacay. I don't want to cook, I don't want to drink at bars, I don't want to buy Guatemalan imports. I just want to dive-dive-dive.
The other huge factor most do not get to compare... is the odd and unique aspect of the local zone of diving that CCV sits in the middle of...
This is where following a good DM who is not spending 97% of his attention hunting Lionfish- they can really teach you a lot. CCV's DMs are among the best I have found worldwide.
I get my two 2-tank boat dives, a lunch nap, an afternoon nap, a night dive, I'm good. I think that the people that think that dive #2 and #4 are "the same dive" every time represent a key aspect of why this local zone falls flat for some divers.
It is advanced diving.
What that means in this case isn't current or rough shore entry- in fact, this area is perfect for absolute noobs. After divers graduate from that level, they likely will hate this specific zone- they just haven't yet developed the skills and ability to spot anything smaller than a Barracuda or Lobster. As divers mature, they develop the advanced skills to be able to hover with perfect buoyancy and utilize advanced observational skills. This would include the daytime use of a flashlight and magnifying glass- once you start... you're hooked.
Pipefish and Sea Horses on every dive. It is just full of critters that you see nowhere else in the Caribbean. It also has the largest variety of soft and hard corals per Paul Humann. When he and other published pros like Stan Waterman shoot the macro images from Roatan- this is where they shoot and stay.
We have found one other place that we like just as well- the Hotel Atlantis on Sabang Beach Philippines. Yes- they have many more unique critters, but if you just look at the dive product, there aren't many others in our "resort favorites list". I do believe that there is some better diving in the Caribbean, but nothing as easily available and unique in the greater Bahamas/Caribbean basin- and again- never found another resort in that zone to match their total product.
Good luck getting a room. That should say something, too
Here is Doc Radawski (of Crystal Skull fame) who has been on island since 1970
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