Roatan Real Estate a Caribbean Secret - Roatan SCUBA Diving

SCUBA Diving in the Bay Islands

Best Dive and Snorkeling Sites, Plus Accommodations:

Roatan	Guanaja	Pavilions	Waterfall Reef
Jader Trader	Barrier Reef	Cayos Cochinos	Utila
Barbaretta	Pigeon Cays

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Roatan
West End Wall, which encompasses Peter's Place and Herbie's Place, is great for diving and snorkeling. The reef starts at the shore and extends out 20 yds, where the wall drops off sharply from a ledge at 15 ft. Visibility often exceeds 100 ft. Marine life is superb, with schools of horse-eye jacks, permits, and schoolmaster. Seas are calm, with an occasional light current. No spear fishing.

Guanaja
The Bayman Drop and Pinnacle are wall dives off the north shore. The top of the wall is between 10 and 40 ft. The Pinnacle rises from 135 to 50 ft at the top, where you'll find large barrel sponges, azure vase sponges, gorgonia and black coral. Do not enter the crack at 70 ft. Large black coral trees are found at 80 ft. Good for diving and snorkeling. No collecting or spear fishing.

Pavilions is a series of blind tunnels, pillar corals and outcroppings between 30 and 60 ft. Soft corals and sponges dominate the shallows. Beware of the fire coral which seems hotter here than other parts of the Caribbean. The site is off Michael's Rock around the point next to the Bayman Bay Club. Good for diving and snorkeling.

Waterfall Reef, the site of a huge black coral tree growing off the wall at 45 ft (top of the dive is five ft), takes its name from a series of overhangs with soft bushy corals which appear to cascade down the slope. Numerous anemones, big vase sponges and lots of fish make Waterfall a photographers favorite. Good visibility.

Jader Trader is a 200-ft wreck lying on its right side at 90 ft off the southwest side of Guanaja. Big morays, schools of silversides, turtles and barracuda are in residence. Seas average two to four ft with a light current. Always good visibility. For experienced divers.

Additional dives along Guanaja's barrier reef are Eel's Garden Black Rock Canyons, a maze of tunnels and canyons, Jim's Silverlode, a sheer wall off southwest cay with huge sponges and soft corals. The Cut branches out into caverns and tunnels.

Cayos Cochinos
Cayos Cochinos are a group of 13 small islands deemed a Biological Reserve and managed, in part, by the Smithsonian Institution to conduct a scientific study of the reef. The park is patrolled by park rangers. Diving and snorkeling from the shore or by boat is outstanding.

Utila
Utila, fringed by yet-unnamed virgin reefs, caves and canyons, offers some of the best shore diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean. Wildlife is exceptional, with turtles, eagle rays, southern sting rays and tropicals. Offshore sites are a 15 to 45 minute boat rides. The shore dives lie about 150 yds out.

Barbaretta
Barbaretta Wall off Barbaretta island, a favorite snorkeling and picnic spot between Guanaja and Roatan. This area is a wonderland of barrel sponges and soft corals. The wall stretches for a mile.

Pigeon Cays
Pigeon Cays are a small cluster of islands surrounded by shallow protected reefs, all perfect for snorkeling.

Accommodations:

Each resort offers dive services. Group and individual tours from the US are offered by Landfall Productions, (800) 525-3833. Also Rothschild Travel Consultants, (800) 359-0747 and Tropical Travel, (800) 451-8017 or (281) 367-3386, (281) 298-2335.

Roatan

ROATAN WEST END TOURS and SUEÑO del MAR BEACH RESORT AND DIVE CENTER welcomes you to the Island. We are the only resort in West End with a private beach for your enjoyment. West End Village is the premier water sports destination on Roatan. The quaint village, white sand beaches, and azure coral reefs are located on the leeward side of the island. This makes for excellent water conditions: 80 degrees with 100 feet visibility, zero current and flat seas, as opposed to the windward side that can be very rough.
SUEÑO del MAR RESORT consists of 8 well appointed rooms, all with unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea. Our air conditioned accommodations have decks overlooking our beach and the Caribbean Sea with fabulous sunset views. Our tastefully decorated rooms include amenities to make your stay with Sueño del Mar comfortable and convenient. We are located at the western end of West End Village. Our resort is in a quiet area, yet close to shopping, dining, and entertainment. You can dive, snorkel, kayak, fish, sail, parasail and catch a water taxi all from the convenience of our dock. You may just want to sit on the beach and enjoy your favorite drink from Tita’s Pink Seahorse Palapa Bar and Grill.
We have a full PADI retail store and service department. Our dive shop has an experienced staff that can handle all your diving needs from Discover Scuba Diving to Dive Master Internships. Sueño del Mar utilizes small dive groups to maximize your experience and enjoyment.
ROATAN WEST END TOURS can arrange all types of guided shore excursions that will allow you to experience the Island without the stress. All tours include transportation pick up from the resort.
Visit our website:
www.roatanwestendtours.com

Coco View Resort, on the southside peninsula, is a group of oceanside bungalows, two-story cottages and cabanas built over the water. Standard rooms each have one double and one twin bed. Bungalows have two rooms, each with a kingsize bed. Rates for a winter dive package are $800 per person, double occupancy, for seven nights in either a cottage or cabana and include three meals daily, beach barbecues, taxes, transfers from the airport, two two-tank boat dives daily, unlimited shore diving and night diving. Non-divers pay $725. Great wall dives are a stone's throw from the beach bar. Nearby is a 140-ft tanker wreck, Prince Albert, in 25 ft of water. Disabled access. (800) 282-8932, (800) 525-3833 or (352) 588-4158, fax (352) 588-4158.

Fantasy Island Beach Resort sprawls across its own 15-acre island off Roatan's south coast. A small bridge connects the resort to the main island. Built in 1989 by local entrepreneur, Albert Jackson, the resort's 73 guest rooms are luxurious, with air-conditioning, phones, refrigerators, full baths and cable TV. There is a full-service dive operation on premises with a fleet of 42-ft custom dive boats. Excellent shore diving and snorkeling. Package rates for seven nights in a standard room with six days of diving, three meals daily, service charges, airport transfers in Roatan and use of kayaks, sailboats and Hobie Cats are $895 per person, double occupancy. Non-divers pay $795. Rates drop between Sept 15 and Dec 15 (hurricane season). (800) 676-2826 or (011) 504-455191, fax (813) 835-4569. Packages: (800) 525- 3833.

Inn of Last Resort, Roatan's newest dedicated dive resort, features 30 large guest rooms built of natural woods and decorated with tropical accents. All rooms are air-conditioned. Restaurant. Good shore diving and snorkeling off the resort's beach. Packages from $695 include seven nights, three meals daily, three boat dives daily, unlimited shore diving day and night, airport transfers. (800) 374-8181, (011) 504-45-1838, fax (011) 504-45-1828.

Guanaja
Bayman Bay Club is a beautiful waterfront lodge. Guests stay in cottages on a hillside overlooking the reef. The resort features a dive shop, restaurant, gameroom and clubhouse. Spacious rooms are cooled by ceiling fans and sea breezes. Sea-kayak dive adventures and guided hikes to the island's lovely waterfall are offered. Great snorkeling is right off the resort's 300-ft dock. Dive packages are $899 ($799 for non-divers) and include three meals daily, two boat dives daily, unlimited shore dives, one night dive, hiking tips and use of kayaks. (800) 524-1823, fax (954) 572-1907, or (011) 504- 454179. Write to Terra Firma 11750 NW 19th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323.

Nautilus Beach Resort is a charming, Georgian-style, six-room resort on a 1,000-ft beach. Some rooms are air-conditioned. A full-service PADI dive shop on premises offers basic and advanced courses and operates a 27-ft Delta dive boat. Oxygen. Dive packages are $560 per week, per person, for a double, including a two-tank morning boat dive and one-tank afternoon boat dive daily, three meals per day, airport transfers, unlimited fills for shore dives. (800) 566-6143 or (206) 937-7484, fax (206) 933-8075.

Posada Del Sol is a luxurious Spanish villa resort on 72 acres of oceanfront greenery and, except for two small villages, is the only developed area on the southeast shore. It has an excellent restaurant, bar, pool and tennis court. Rooms are luxurious and spacious. Three 42-ft dive boats whisk guests to 50 moored dive sites. Packages at $900 per diver, double, include three meals daily, two boat dives daily, one night dive, unlimited shore diving, round-the-island cruise, weights, beach barbecue, and airport transfers on Guanaja. Handicapped access. % (800) 642-3483 or (561) 624-3483, fax (561) 624-3225.

Casa Sobre El Mar is a small family-run hotel built on concrete piers over the reef one-half mile from Guanaja. The effect is like staying on a live-aboard that doesn't rock. Comfortable rooms have private baths and are cooled by sea breezes. No sand flies or mosquitos! Free launch to Guanaja any time. Week-long packages are $595 per person year-round and include three boat dives daily, unlimited 24-hour front-door or back-porch diving with three meals dailyfresh lobster, fish, shrimp, crab, fruits and vegetables. (800) 869-7295 or direct (011) 504-45-4269. Write to Casa Sobre el Mar, Pond Cay, Islas de la Bahia, Honduras, Central America.

Utila
Utila Lodge is a two-story, eight-room inn. Rooms are air-conditioned and overlook the sea. Dive shop on premises. Packages for seven nights, six days of diving are $750 per person. Included are three meals daily, three boat dives per day, two night dives, tanks and weights, belts, unlimited fills for shore dives and airport transfers. (504) 45-3143.

Laguna Beach Resort, the newest and most luxurious dive resort on Utila, has air-conditioned bungalows perched at the water's edge. Full-service dive operation offers three dives daily, night dives and unlimited beach diving on the spectacular fringing coral reef that lies about 150 yds offshore. Snorkelers find lots of fish in the turtle grass on the way out. The dock takes you half-way there. Kayaks for guests use. Rates for a week with diving average $850, $750 for a non-diver. (800) 66-UTILA (88452) or (318) 893-0013, fax (318) 893-5024. Direct (011) 504-45-3239.

Cayos Cochinos
Plantation Beach Resort, formerly a pineapple plantation, on Cochinos Grand is a delightful 10-room beachfront resort. Guests stay in chalets crafted of solid Honduran mahogany, each with private bath, ceiling fans, and either one king or two twin beds. Rooms are clean and simple. Great diving and snorkeling is a giant stride off the beach. All-inclusive, seven-night packages are $895 per person. Transfers not included. % (800) 628-3723 or (011) 504-42-0974, fax (011) 504-42-0974. Write to 8582 Katy Freeway, Suite 118, Houston TX 77024.

Note: If your flight arrives after 4 pm on day of arrival or departs before 8 am on day of departure, an overnight on the mainland will be necessary at a cost of approximately $50 per room.

Facts
Nearest Recompression Chamber: Roatan. Bay Islands Air evacuation is possible from some other areas.

Getting There: The best days to travel are Friday and Saturday. Isleña Airlines flies to the Bay Islands every day but Sunday from Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba to Guanaja. From Miami: American Airlines, (800) 433-7300, has daily flights to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. From Houston: Continental Airlines to San Pedro Sula with a stop in Tegucigalpa and now direct to Roatan. Direct flights to Roatan from Miami on Sunday and from Houston on Saturday, are provided by TACA weekly. Check for best fares...

Taxis are sent by the island resorts to pick you up.

Precautions: Register your cameras and electronic gear with customs before visiting Honduras. Do not bring drugs, plants or flowers or meat into or out of the country.

Language: English on the Bay Islands, Spanish on mainland Honduras.

Documents: A passport, visa, and onward ticket is required to enter Honduras.

Departure tax: US $25 depending on the exchange rate.

Health: Vaccinations are not required. Check with your own doctor for health precautions. On the islands, drinking water comes from mountain wells. Ask about the water before drinking. Pack a diver's first-aid kit for sea stings and bug bites. Buy all your sundries and cosmetics before you leave home.

Currency: The lempira (L). L 18.90=US $1.

Climate: Hot and humid. July and August are the hottest months. Rain clouds crop up most afternoons during summer and fall. Coolest months are January and February. Water temperature averages 80° F year-round.

Clothing: Shorts and T-shirts, jeans and sneakers. Long-sleeve shirts and long pants are good for mountain hikes and protection from bugs or sunburn. Snorkelers should wear protective clothing for the hot sun. Divers will find a lycra suit comfortable for deep wall dives.

Electricity: Most resorts have 110 volts, but some have 220. Carry an adaptor to be sure.

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SCUBA Diving in the Bay Islands