Instant Reader Report
on Coco View / [same] in
Honduras / [N/A] on
2003/08
by
Sandy , CA, USA
Report Number 030824121400676

 [Unspecified] 

Dive Conditions

No Backpacks  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Visited more than 5..less than 10 times...always middle to end of August. 
Until THIS visit, nothing out of ordinary.  Within 2 days of arrival,
between 1/2 to 2/3 of total guest population was stricken with severe
intestinal diarrhea, cramping, fever and chills, vomiting.  I only was
able to dive Sunday and Monday before contracting the 'bug' Tuesday
afternoon.  Tuesday evening had SEVERE chills ... Wednesday in bed all day
too weak to move about...Thursday and Friday spent recovering after taking
CIPRO and Lomotil to conteract the situation.  One charter group
reportedly contacted CocoView BEFORE coming to inquire about whether this
problem had been eliminated...told no problem existed...they came and were
out of commission within 2 days.

Now, the Owner Bill has spent considerable effort and money doing such
things as totally redoing the kitchen refrigeration equipment, etc. ...
testing water, food, employees.  Never found anything wrong that could be
the cause.

Most disturbing was/is the attitude on the part of some of the Senior
staff. Most notable the Resort Operations manager who sort of walked
around with a chip on his shoulder and a "what's the matter NOW?'
attitude when various guests approached him on the subject.  One employee
went so far as to say that it seemed that "it was just Coco View's
time in the barrel" for negative comments.  Another passed it off to
a virus from TACA airlines that "incubated" for the 2 days after
arrival.

After much 'testing' of many affected guests, on Friday evening it was
widely reported that there was some sort of 'mold' on the native Honduras
cheese that was different from U.S. cheese.  Owner Bill immediately pulled
cheese from the menu.

I have never written anything like this before...thought it was just
me...until I discovered the magnitude of the problem.  Employess who
interact with the guests on a daily basis told me that this problem is not
an isolated situation...it has been ON GOING.  Paying for a week of diving
and only getting in 2 days is NOT what I consider a value.  I intend to
request a refund from Roatan Charter...run by Owner's son.  What do you
think my chances are?

Dive operation:  As a PADI Divemaster, I checked out the emergency Oxygen
on our dive boat.  Not operational.  Had other Divemaster check other
emergency kits...not operation and/or obsolete.  ONLY on Friday did Resort
Operations Manager FINALLY admit that they were aware of the situation and
working to correct it.  Do yourself...and your fellow divers a
favor...check out the OXY kits in the future and see if they have been
fixed....... 

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