Where to go... where to go... Roatan? Bonaire?

[scubaduba]

Hi

Looking for recomendations from all you scubaboard divers on where to go in May. We recently purchased a Tetra Light & Motion housing for our Olympus digital camera and so we're looking for a place to use our camera easily and well.

So we're looking at Bonaire, Belize and Roatan. The beach diving sounds great on Bonaire but I'm quite concerned about our camera being stolen; especially if we don't want to drag our camera on every dive I'm wondering how we would leave the camera safely in a truck.

I've heard great things about Roatan and Belize.

We're relatively new divers and don't care so much about night life on the islands. We're more into relaxation and diving.

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

Bonaire has markers with dive site numbers usually rocks painted yellow all over the island pick one and drive down to the spot and dive.
Roatan CoCo View Resort best shore diving 2 walls and shipwreck
Belize (?) shore diving
in that order.

In Bonaire DO NOT leave anything in your vehicle :nonono: if you are shore diving. It will most likely not be there when you get back :angry: . Leave car unlocked windows rolled down. Cannot stress that enough

 

[Walter]

Of course if you go to Roatan, you can't donate blood for 1 year.

 

[scubaduba]

What do you mean can't donate blood?

 

[Damselfish]

I don't know the details on Roatan - malaria? But there's rules on donating blood related to living in or traveling to certain places.

 

[scubaduba]

Well we booked a week at CocoView in Roatan for May. I'm looking forward to the fun.

 

[parrotheaddiver]

Well we booked a week at CocoView in Roatan for May. I'm looking forward to the fun.

Great choice you will not be dissapointed. ck out their msg board. http://www.cocoviewresort.com under discussion group about on page 3 or 4 you can find a detail description of the front yard and the shipwreck the Prince Albert. I have made copies and they are going with me when I go again in July. Have fun.

 

[Doc]

What do you mean can't donate blood?

Since the country of Honduras is on "the list" of countries that have malaria issues, the largely unaffected Bay Islands are lumped into that category.

I have never even seen a mosquito at the resort mentioned here previously, CoCo View. It is bathed in breezes on that side of the island all the time and there is no standing water on the small 10 acre flat sandy caye that it inhabits.

I would always wear DEET, just to fight off the sand flies. A mandatory when travelling off of the resort for all sorts of bugs.

Not much to worry about.

 

[Doc]

So we're looking at Bonaire, Belize and Roatan. The beach diving sounds great on Bonaire but I'm quite concerned about our camera being stolen; especially if we don't want to drag our camera on every dive I'm wondering how we would leave the camera safely in a truck.

I've heard great things about Roatan and Belize.

You bring up a couple of different questions.

Bonaire is my favorite "island" among the three. It's got great shore diving, the benefit of Klein Bonaire shadowing you from the ever present wind, great restaurants, beaches, and more. How can you leave the camera in the vehicle (or anywhere) without it getting stolen in Bonaire? You can't. Do some research here with the search engine and answer your own issues with security and theft. Petty crime seems to be a national sport.

I would still rather go to CoCoView on Roatan over and above the island of Bonaire. Other posters have said why that is. I will add that the boats have dedicated cameras only padded tables, no slosh wash tanks, and a well known photo pro.

The island of Roatan (as an island generally) is not a bad place to dive, and here I am speaking about chartering on the day ops (West End) type of places. Most of them have marginal to adequate boats. There could be a lot of thrashing around (potential camera abuse on the boat and about) unless you look at the larger AI's (CCV, FIBR, IoLR, AKR, BIBR) or the one day op called Subway. Otherwise, they're pretty hit and miss.

Belize is a great dive opportunity- from a live aboard. Resort based diving from Belize is a very narrow perspective and quite often involves lengthy boat rides. I prefer the Nekton.

Know that you are going to be presented with many macro opportunities, versus creatures that you will use a "normal" lens with. Be ready to follow a divemaster or a good "hunter" and be well versed in shooting tiny stuff. It is fun and rewarding.

Factor the above thought into any desire to take unescorted dives (like shore diving from Bonaire). You may spend the entire dive navigating and tripping thru the iron shore surf... with your expensive camera. You need attentive d.m.'s who are pointing out the stuff :11ztongue no one else can find.

 

[CHSZDRAB]

Hello,

Just back from Belize went to blood bank to donate blood.

" SEE YA IN A YEAR "

I was giving blood once a week.

Belize diving was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just go diving,

Charlyn