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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Back from SCUBA trip to Roatan- any questions for me?
Any one have any Roatan questions.....
Any scuba questions.......DH and I have done about 70+ dives together in many different locations. Any Belize, Mexico, Grand Cayman, GBR questions?
Re: Back from SCUBA trip to Roatan- any questions for me?
I'd love to spend a week in Roatan. Did you fly in? Where did you stay? How bad were the bugs? Did you have a car while there? Any restaurant recommendations? Thanks!
Comparisons.....
Grand Cayman is the most expensive in terms of hotel, food and diving. Cozumel might be a little more than Roatan price wise. Diving.....I would say GC and Roatan are very similar- big variety and a healthy reef- lots of wall dives and then second dive more shallow. I think there was more life and coral in Roatan than GC. I preferred Roatan, dh preferred GC. We only dove Cozumel once (most diving was in Cancun). I have to say Santa Rosa Wall in Cozumel is the best dive I have ever been on (out of 70+ dives). I don't know if all of Cozumel is like that, but talk about a wall!!!! It was like swimming out into the abyss. It was a very sunny day so visability was great. We also had a dolphin swim under us at depth, so that was awesome. Our second dive in Cozumel was very shallow and not much to see. GC wall is more sloped, Roatan has some good drop offs and wrecks.
I think Roatan has the healthiest reef, provides great variety and is super cheap. Hotels $60-$85, Diving $30 per tank, food dinner is $40-$10 per person depending on where you go. GC was almost $200 hotel, $90 two tank dive, dollar is weak there and food is expensive- $30-$50 pp dinner.
All dives were guided at all locations. GC they took care of all our gear (had it waiting for us on the boat, cleaned, switched our tanks- awesome guys at Wall to Wall Diving. In Roatan we had to carry, set up, change, wash everything. Coconut Tree divers is def a do it yourself op. If you want different look at other dive ops. Dh and I are advanced certified- they cared in Roatan and GC, did not care (would take anyone deep) in Mexico. If you are not advanced certified be sure to talk to the dive ops about that before you sign up with them. They charge $$$ for gear rental in GC, only a couple bucks in Roatan. GC- fresh water hose on boat and fruit during surface interval. Roatan- drinking water only and camera bucket.
Belize is comparable to Roatan- pm me if you want to hear about Belize.
Flew from LAX- El Salvador, San Salvador- Roatan on Taca. I would not recommend Taca unless you know what you are getting into. Our check in took hours and was so unorganized. It is the cheapest for a reason. The little plane we took from El Salvador to Roatan was small and loud. Just be prepared if you fly Taca for some odd encounters.
Stayed in West End. Stayed at Land's End for $85 a night Gecko room. Quite a walk into town every day and night, but quiet. If you don't mind the walk and still want quiet for cheaper go to Sea Grape $60. Bungalows don't have TVs so dh said no, hotel rooms w TV were dark and didn't have the island feel. Lands End had the island feel and AC and wifi and TV and free breakfast. Warning- people who run the place are a little weird, but the bartender Ryan is awesome! They also expect you to pay for half the room w cash on arrival, so there went a ton of our cash. If we had known that ahead of time we would have brought more w us. West End is more authentic and fun. West Bay is full of resorts and cruisers. If you want fancy stay in West Bay. Bring cash for West End.
Taxi to and from airport, no car needed once in West End. Bugs are pretty bad- I wore deet most of the time and didn't get bit till about our 4th or 5th night. I saw people who were out drinking on the beach at sunset w no deet and they looked like they had chicken pox. Dh never wore anything and only got a couple bites. If you are smart you should be fine- just don't forget to put on your repellant and don't be out at dusk. I did not have any problems with no see ums or sand flys which was nice.
Restaurants- Rotisserie Chicken is best dinner deal on the island. Around $8 gets you half a chicken and two sides. We had multiple drinks and each had a dessert and paid about $40 total w tip. Lily Pond was great for a nice dinner. Blue Channel for pizza (way better than Splash). Local food: toastones (plantaines), baledas (soft taco type burrito) and fish stews. They have cheap walk up places and fancy sit down, it is really up to you what you want to spend.