Instant Reader Report
on Dockside Dive Center / CoCo View Resort in
Honduras / Roatan on
2002/05
by
Bonnie Sharpless , MO, U.S.A.
Report Number 020812120806629

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 Jamaica, Bonaire 

Dive Conditions

Had to go through an orientation with a Dive Master before being allowed to
dive.  Orientation included a skills test (mask removal and clearing, reg
recovery, etc.) and a quick underwater tour of the area.  After that,
divers were pretty much left to their own devices.  

Boats had camera rinse tanks and tables for camera gear.  Dock had separate
rinse tanks for cameras.  

Overall Rating

BRING DEET!!!  We were eaten alive by the no-see-ums.  We looked like we
had the measles, covered in red blotches, but the bad thing was that they
didn't itch.  This was bad because we decided it wasn't worth worrying
about.  "What's the big deal;  as long as they don't itch, who
cares?" was our attitude.  The answer:  They will itch later, after
it's too late.  Mine didn't start itching until after we got home and then
I was sleepless for a week!  They sell a product called Cactus Juice that's
supposed to be good, but the boutique at the resort was out of it, so we
didn't get any until we took the island tour on our last day.

They tell you that the water is safe, but that it just tastes funny (boy,
does it), so they give you bottled water to drink.  But if you brush your
teeth, etc., with the tap water, you're still likely to have some
unpleasant side effects.  Both my husband and I had some "intestinal
discomfort," to put it politely, as did several other people we
talked to.  Each of the people who experienced this missed at least one
dive each because of it, some missed entire dive days.  So DON'T DRINK THE
WATER.

Other than that, the place was great!  We enjoyed the freedom of going on
a dive boat or missing the boat and shore diving the CoCo View Wall or the
Prince Albert Wreck on our own.  

There were people on the boats who were solo diving and that was allowed. 
If you wanted to dive with the DM, that was fine, too, and they would point
out critters for you.  Otherwise, you just made your way back to the boat
when you were done.  It was pretty much a do-as-you-please atmosphere as
far as the diving was concerned.

There was supposed to be a helicopter tour to Utila available, but there
had been some sort of legal hassle and so it wasn't available when we were
there.  If you're looking forward to it, check first.  Otherwise, there's a
boat day trip to Utila.  

We saw lots of the usual Caribbean reef fish, some barracuda and a spotted
eagle ray.  Nothing spectacular, but lots of color.  The visibility wasn't
great on the shore dives, especially at the Prince Albert, but it was good
on the boat dives.

The dive setup is great.  You're assigned a cube where you can store all
your gear right at the dock.  There are plenty of rinse tanks, fresh-water
showers and hangers.  If you're going on a boat dive, they will set your
gear up for you on the boat, so the livin' is easy.  Shore dives are a bit
of a walk from the storage area in full gear, but not ridiculously so.

 

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