 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeArticlesDiving DestinationsLearning Scuba DivingMarine LifeMiscellaneousDiscussion GroupsGeneralScuba EquipmentScuba LocationsAustralian ScubaUK ScubaDirectoryScuba Clubs |
Scuba Forum / Scuba Locations / January 2005Honduras
I had heard from someone that there are islands off the coast of Honduras that are pretty cheap and excellent diving. Anyone know? M@ > I had heard from someone that there are islands off the coast of > Honduras that are pretty cheap and excellent diving. Anyone know? The Bay Islands. Especially West End in Roatan. I just got back. Lots of others recommended places like CocoView but I didn't go there because I also like to enjoy some nightlife and going to different restaurants and such. In West End there are a number of operators. They don't all have big boats like CocoView but if you do enough dives with one op, you can get your dives for as cheap as $15. I was getting mine for $10 because I stayed in a funky little place that was associated with a certain dive op. It was kind of a package. Most of the restaurants were quite good. West End was a quaint little town and we had lots of fun too. The diving was good around there. I found it quite inexpensive compared to any place I have ever been except SE Asia. Continental offers Saturday flights, direct from Houston. Much more convenient than taking another airline that would put you into San Pedro Sula or La Ceiba and then you'd have to take a puddle jumper over from the mainland. > > I had heard from someone that there are islands off the coast of > > Honduras that are pretty cheap and excellent diving. Anyone know? > > The Bay Islands. Especially West End in Roatan. I just got back. Glad to hear you finally made the trip and enjoyed it. You did more reseach than just about anyone I know. So what were the Positives and Negatives of the trip? Any real surprises after all your research? Ron > > The Bay Islands. Especially West End in Roatan. I just got back. > > Glad to hear you finally made the trip and enjoyed it. You did more > reseach than just about anyone I know. :^) Maybe it just seemed that way. > So what were the Positives and Negatives of the trip? The island is absolutely beautiful, the underwater topography can be breathtaking. West End turned out to be the experience that I had anticipated. I am enchanted with the island and had a wonderful time, both under the water and up on shore. Most of the restaurants served much tastier food than I had anticipated. The zipline canopy tour was a lot of fun (well, except for the harness squeeze stealing my virginity). Any real surprises > after all your research? I managed to miss that Xmas was the rainy season, and only learned of that a couple of weeks before departure. In any event, the weather turned out not too bad but then again, I had 3 weeks of opportunity for good weather. Had I only been there during the Christmas week, I'd have been quite disappointed (in what the weather delivered). I had understood that Roatan was a reasonably inexpensive place to stay, eat, etc. In any event, I was still blown away by just how inexpensive it was. I should keep my mouth shut, so that it doesn't get too popular become ruined that way. I had believed that there were a couple of places in West End that had a bit nicer beach. Not so. Sure, there is a bit of a beach at Halfmoon Bay, but it's not all that either. Apparently, all the pictures that I saw of a very nice beach, were taken in West Bay. That's a pretty nice beach area, too bad it's so far from the action at West End. This was not a major disappointment for me, as I am not a beach lover. That said, like most anyone else, I still enjoy the look of a beautiful beach and do enjoy being able to wade into the water without walking through seagrass. I was surprised by how many ex-pats live and work in West End. It had quite an international contingent. In that regard and one or two others, West End put me in mind of Sairee Beach on Koh Tao, Thailand. I had expected a dive experience much more similar to that found off San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. However, it was different enough, that a side by side comparison would be difficult. In some ways, the diving was much better, in others, not quite as good. And I've never been snorkelling with wild dolphins before. :^) So that was certainly an unexpected treat, delivered up twice. The first time was with a pod of around 11-13 bottle-nose and the second time, was with a much more friendly and inquisitive pod of spinner dolphins. They were right in my face. Exhilarating. I couldn't believe that the taxi drivers would really insist on $10 US to take people over to West Bay, by road. I went all the way up to Bay Islands Beach Resort for $2 and returned for $1.20. In any event, the drivers all just sat there at their little queue by the square and had no business at all, instead of taking K and I to West Bay for something less than $10. We did eventually find a guy that took us for, um, was it $5 or 6?, but he wouldn't bring us back. Didn't matter. We took the water taxi for $2.00 and that was a wonderful adventure in and of itself. The boat hit something on the way back to West End. We rocked and almost tipped. A couple of people fell off their seats and everyone's eyes were big as saucers. It turned out to be only a piece of wood but K has a very plausible theory as to why all the locals on board were so choked. I'll let her share that with you, if she's of a mind to do so. > > So what were the Positives and Negatives of the trip? > > The island is absolutely beautiful, the underwater topography can be > breathtaking. West End turned out to be the experience that I had > anticipated. thanks for the report and glad to hear you were so thrilled. The reason for the high West Bay taxi fares is that short run is hell on the cars. The steep grades just do a number on the clutches. The road has only been paved for about 5 years, imagine the fun it was before then - especially in rainy season <g> What's funny is what you report as cheap is costly to us old timers. things have gone up threefold in the last decade. But it is my second home and I love it (especially since land values have tripled as well in the last four years and are still skyrocketing). Ron > thanks for the report and glad to hear you were so thrilled. The reason > for the high West Bay taxi fares is that short run is hell on the cars. > The steep grades just do a number on the clutches. The road has only > been paved for about 5 years, imagine the fun it was before then - > especially in rainy season <g> The short run is hell on the clutches because they don't know how to drive very well. I was terrified every time I stepped into a vehicle . . .whether that was for the run over to West Bay . . .or anywhere else on the island. I'll grant you this, however. That is one beautiful trip over to West Bay. > What's funny is what you report as cheap is costly to us old timers. > things have gone up threefold in the last decade. Same situation lots of places. Look at Belize . . .heck, even Hawaii. For that matter, let's look at home. My property value has increased more than 100%. > But it is my second home and I love it (especially since land values > have tripled as well in the last four years and are still skyrocketing). Where is your home located Ron? Do you actually own a place there? I saw a couple of beachfront (well, roadfront) lots that appealed to me. Had to hold myself back. Maybe I'll see you on my next trip? > Where is your home located Ron? Do you actually own a place there? I saw > a couple of beachfront (well, roadfront) lots that appealed to me. Had to > hold myself back. My place is on the ridge line above Second Bight. That is a few miles west of the Cocoview/Fantasy Island entrances. If your on one of their boats just watch the ridge for two octogon shaped houses, I'm just below the second one. I went for ridge to get the views. I see both coastlines and down the eastern ridge of the island. Waterfront is a big draw to me, I grew upin Florida and know some of the headaches that go with waterfront, no thanks. If I had bought strictly for investment, it would have been different. > > Where is your home located Ron? Do you actually own a place there? I saw > > a couple of beachfront (well, roadfront) lots that appealed to me. Had to [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > I went for ridge to get the views. I see both coastlines and down the > eastern ridge of the island. Wow!!! That's got to be spectacular. Who do you dive with? Subway? > Waterfront is a big draw to me, I grew upin Florida and know some of the > headaches that go with waterfront, no thanks. If I had bought strictly > for investment, it would have been different. Doesn't matter . . .it's really not in my budget . . .just my dreamworld. :^) The other thing I noticed about West End, that I've also noticed in San Pedro, is that a significant number of the ex-pats are alcoholics and/or worse. For some, there's just not enough to do and it's too easy to fall into a live-style of slipping by the Sundowner for early cocktails, drinking until it closes and then moving on to the next bar and so on and so on, night after night. I realized long ago, that I would probably not be able to live on an island full-time. Paradise doesn't always seem like paradise when you are living in it. So, vacationing there, is better for me. > Wow!!! That's got to be spectacular. It is if I say so myself. > Who do you dive with? Subway? If I use a shop it is Subway, but that hasn't been in about two years. I go out with a good friend who lives in Port Royal. We have marked a number of our own spots down east. > Doesn't matter . . .it's really not in my budget . . .just my dreamworld. > :^) I was lucky and bought property just before the price started to really go up. Even then I missed the truly great deals by about two years. I paid about $30k an acre, my neighbor was three years before me and paid $7k for a acre with 360 degree view. Now acres near us are going for $100k. Waterfront has gone up even faster. and your right about the expats drinking. I gave up drinking a fewyearsago due to a health issue. Most likely the best thing that could have happened. Another issue is marraiges breaking up, folks aren't use to spending times with their spouses and things just go bad. That just happened to some very dear friends. Even paradise has some thorn bushes (not to mention sand fleas). Ron > > Wow!!! That's got to be spectacular. > > It is if I say so myself. :^) > > Who do you dive with? Subway? > > If I use a shop it is Subway, but that hasn't been in about two years. I > go out with a good friend who lives in Port Royal. We have marked a > number of our own spots down east. Sounds lovely. I went up Port Royal way, I don't remember seeing a village, but we put our feet into the ocean with the waves crashing. It felt like we were the only people on earth, at that beach. > > Doesn't matter . . .it's really not in my budget . . .just my dreamworld. > > :^) [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > $7k for a acre with 360 degree view. Now acres near us are going for > $100k. Waterfront has gone up even faster. Lucky neighbor, or was it good planning? > and your right about the expats drinking. I gave up drinking a > fewyearsago due to a health issue. Most likely the best thing that could [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Even paradise has some thorn bushes (not to mention sand fleas). Too true, too true . . . and I've still got a scar or two to prove it. ;^) Thanks for everything, Ron. Even if I didn't take your advice to stay at Halfmoon Bay Cabins, it was still really great advice. And all of your input to me over the past couple of years that I've been asking, went into my decision tree and as you can see, I'm very happy with how everything worked out. I'm very happy with how everything > worked out. and that makes it all worthwhile. Ron >I had heard from someone that there are islands off the coast of Honduras >that are pretty cheap and excellent diving. Anyone know? Now you're getting silly. If you're not a troll, stop acting like one. > Now you're getting silly. > > If you're not a troll, stop acting like one. I didn't mean to act like one, to tell the truth, I am not really sure what you mean? I'm thinking it's not the thing under the bridge badguy. What did I do? M@ > > Now you're getting silly. > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > What did I do? I could be wrong, but I think Greg may have meant that he believed you should have already known about the Bay Islands. And it is also easy enough to do a websearch on the islands. Roatan, Utila, Guanaja. As for "troll" see here: http://members.aol.com/intwg/trolls.htm > I didn't mean to act like one, to tell the truth, I am not really sure > what you mean? I'm thinking it's not the thing under the bridge badguy. > > What did I do? Ask a naive question that you could easily have answered on your own. A Google search here for "honduras" would give your answer in a heartbeat. >>I had heard from someone that there are islands off the coast of Honduras >>that are pretty cheap and excellent diving. Anyone know? > >Now you're getting silly. > >If you're not a troll, stop acting like one. He's only been a diver of 12 minutes and on Usenet for 10. Give him a break. He's got to come up from the basement to use his Mom's computer.  Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman >>>I had heard from someone that there are islands off the coast of Honduras >>>that are pretty cheap and excellent diving. Anyone know? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > break. He's got to come up from the basement to use his Mom's > computer. I see where you guys are coming from, my apologies. I've been using a computer for a while, but haven't posted much to usenets, and I have only been diving twice. Thanks for the troll url, cleared things up. I'll make a habit out of using google before asking obvious stuff. Thanks for the lesson. M@ Matt Cushing <matt@cushingonline.com> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in: :I'll make a habit out of using google before asking obvious stuff. Bad idea. Just log on and ask your questions. Only invest time and effort sifting through google if you don't get answers. Dan Bracuk If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. The other two options for Roatan are out of Miami. On Saturdays Aerohonduras flies nonstop and on Sunday Taca does the same. Both flights are under $500 rt with taxes (and I've paid as little as $250). Taca is fine for the direct flight, trouble usually only comes up when you connect through San Pedro Sula. Personally I'll take either of those over flying Continental. One strategy to lower the fare is Priceline.. Continental is the only priceline partner flying the Houston/Roatan route. To be certain you get on that flight just use the priceline rules to your advantage. Look for a nonstop Continental flights from nearby cities into Houston that get there in time for you to make the Roatan connection. Priceline only allows one layover, so bid for a timeframe and departurecity that will only allow the flight you want. I do that with American going to Tegucigalpa, Honduras from Miami. They arethe only priceline partner doing the route from Miami. I fly from nearby Tampa at 9am, make the 11:30 AA flight to Teguc from Mia and pay about $400 rt. The posted rate for that itinerary is just under $700. The secret to anything Honduran is to think out of the box but stay within the rules. > I see where you guys are coming from, my apologies. I've been using a > computer for a while, but haven't posted much to usenets, and I have only > been diving twice. Thanks for the troll url, cleared things up. I'll make > a habit out of using google before asking obvious stuff. Don't let them chase you off. Using Google's usually a good idea, but there's no harm in asking most questions here as well, particularly when you can be a bit more specific about your interest. In this group, you'll almost always get some sarcastic remarks. That's just how we are. You'll also get some sound responses from some very experienced divers. That's how we are too. Lee > I see where you guys are coming from, my apologies. I've been using a > computer for a while, but haven't posted much to usenets, and I have > only been diving twice. Thanks for the troll url, cleared things up. > I'll make a habit out of using google before asking obvious stuff. I wondered if you might be trolling too, but using Google isn't really an issue. Your question was phrased as if you might be happy wih a simple yes/no answer, which Google provides in .18 seconds ("honduras islands diving"), but I was figuring you wanted more info if the question was real. I thought troll more because I figured that a diver who heard there might be diving off of Honduras should have heard of the Bay Islands. Having also just gotten back from Roatan, I'll second chilly's opinion about good diving. We stayed at Cocoview and would recommend it for anyone wanting a no-frills, laidback approach with everything available close by. It's an all-inclusive dive oriented resort, which means you get your lodging, meals and diving all for one (low) price, but the other activities are limited compared to a fancier AI like Sandals. If you want more info, ask. Maybe I'll even post a trip report. SignatureSteve The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable belief that it was intended as a statement of fact. If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address. >> I see where you guys are coming from, my apologies. I've been using a >> computer for a while, but haven't posted much to usenets, and I have [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > other activities are limited compared to a fancier AI like Sandals. If > you want more info, ask. Maybe I'll even post a trip report. I hadn't realized that a troll was not just someone who enjoyed sowing dissent within a group, that I could do it just by asking vague questions. I've been diving a total of three times so far and my wife just gave me a certification course for my birthday, so I am pretty psyched. After seeing the final bill roll in after aruba, it's going to be a while before I go back to the caribbean again, at least do Aruba, Curacao or Bonaire. Heard the latter is a really excellent place to go. A friend of mine runs charity events in different countries and they had done a bike ride in Honduras and had stayed in Roatan, saying the diving was rumored to be cheap and beautiful. Need to look at airfare before I start getting into that one. Thanks for the feedback Dan, Lee, and Steve. I appreciate it. M@ > I hadn't realized that a troll was not just someone who enjoyed sowing > dissent within a group, that I could do it just by asking vague questions. Generally, it wouldn't be but your timing was bad. That is, from the perspective that we already had a few threads going about Roatan. Don't worry about it. If you don't feel you've had enough questions answered within this thread or any of the others, feel free to ask. There are enough of us just returned or that love the place, that we will happily answer as many of your questions as we can. > I've been diving a total of three times so far and my wife just gave me > a certification course for my birthday, so I am pretty psyched. After [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > was rumored to be cheap and beautiful. Need to look at airfare before I > start getting into that one. Well, the airfare is a bit high, at least from where I live . . .but then that's true of most anywhere in the Caribbean. Look at Continental. They've regular flights out of Houston on Saturdays. A direct flight is preferable to landing on the mainland and then having to arrange a puddle-jumper over to the island. > Thanks for the feedback Dan, Lee, and Steve. I appreciate it. > M@ >>> I see where you guys are coming from, my apologies. I've been using a >>> computer for a while, but haven't posted much to usenets, and I have [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >before I go back to the caribbean again, at least do Aruba, Curacao or >Bonaire. Heard the latter is a really excellent place to go. Bonaire is the best of the three. Unfortunately, at least for me, airfare is pricey and the trip is long. Essentailly two days out of my vacation. >A friend of mine runs charity events in different countries and they had >done a bike ride in Honduras and had stayed in Roatan, saying the diving >was rumored to be cheap and beautiful. Need to look at airfare before I >start getting into that one. Continental flys out of Houston on Saturdays. Most of the resorts are stuctured on a Saturday to Saturday stay. I just checked on continetal.com ("lowest prices, guarnteed and no service charge"). August 6, return on the 13th, $617 pp, IAH to RTB. Flying out of AUS adds $275 and means being at the airport at 6am. So driving down to Houston the night before and spending $100 at a hotel makes sense (although we'd probably stay at Carol's parents, but I wanted to expand it to include others). As a comparison, we paid $347 pp to fly to CZM The problem for most people is that while the international weight limit is 70 pounds, domestic is 50 and that's what you're stuck with. I didn't bother to price TACA, but I won't fly on them unless I have to. >Thanks for the feedback Dan, Lee, and Steve. I appreciate it. >M@ Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman > Bonaire is the best of the three. Unfortunately, at least for me, > airfare is pricey and the trip is long. Essentailly two days out of > my vacation. Trust me, if I had gotten a timeshare from my sister in law, Aruba would not have happened. Now I understand why people say it's so expensive to go. 1300$ in airfare alone for my wife and I. M@ > >A friend of mine runs charity events in different countries and they had > >done a bike ride in Honduras and had stayed in Roatan, saying the diving [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > The problem for most people is that while the international weight > limit is 70 pounds, domestic is 50 and that's what you're stuck with. I don't understand. A flight to Roatan is an international flight and so you'd get the 70 pounds. Please explain. > I didn't bother to price TACA, but I won't fly on them unless I have > to. It wasn't any cheaper when I did my research on fares, prior to booking for Roatan. > The problem for most people is that while the international weight > limit is 70 pounds, domestic is 50 and that's what you're stuck with. If your final destination is international, domestic segments of the itinerary have the same rules as the international legs. The good news is that you get to have 70 pound suitcases. The bad news is that if your 70 pound suitcase gets lost or damaged, the most the airline is required to pay is the international rate of $9.02 per pound, or $631 if you're right at the maximum weight. If you've got a cheap suitcase and it's filled with really soggy socks and underwear you might be okay, but dry socks and underwear cost more than $9.02 per pound, not to mention stuff like wetsuits, masks or regs. When we booked our flight to Roatan (somewhere around early August, IIRC) it cost $620pp from Newark, and the last time I checked it was over $800 for the week we were going. The week at Cocoview was only $750pp, though, so it's still a pretty cheap trip. The only extra cost you absolutely have to pay is the $30 departure tax. SignatureSteve The above can be construed as personal opinion in the absence of a reasonable belief that it was intended as a statement of fact. If you want a reply to reach me, remove the SPAMTRAP from the address. >>>>I had heard from someone that there are islands off the coast of Honduras >>>>that are pretty cheap and excellent diving. Anyone know? [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >Thanks for the lesson. >M@ Sounds like you have a pretty thick skin. You'll survive. Try rec.scuba if you want real abuse. Signaturedillon "When the French are against it, you know we can't be far wrong." - Adm. Bobbie Ray Inman > Sounds like you have a pretty thick skin. You'll survive. Try > rec.scuba if you want real abuse. I've had to build it up - I teach TaeKwon Do part time ;) And no, I'll leave rec.scuba alone thanks very much. M@ |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.