Instant Reader Report
on Ocotal Beach Resort / [same] in
Costa Rica / [N/A] on
2003/09
by
A. Segal , TN, US
Report Number 030915102150746

 Grand Turk, Provo, Roatan, Dominica, St Lucia, Curacao, Bonaire, Cancun,
Jamaica 

Dive Conditions

A bit stricter on Bat Island and Catalina dives.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

Very intimate hotel.  Great service everywhere.  Most rooms are set in
buildings spaced out hillside.  Some beachfront rooms.  The top rooms have
spectacular view.  Very long walk.  There is a shuttle that takes people
from beach to their rooms.  Swim up bar on beach and some buildings have
their own small pools.  Only rained twice in the evening, otherwise
perfect weather.  Basic, pretty and clean rooms.  Gorgeous setting. 
Fantastic dive shop.  Never had to touch equipment if didn't want to. 
Always had plenty of water, snacks, fresh fruit.  Very good briefings and
overview of boat layout.  Several sharks (bull & white tip), a few
large rays, huge variety of eels in all sizes, dolphins and many turles on
the surface during boat rides.  Backward roll off boat and a line off the
bow to go down.  A bit of current, alot of surge.  I was told prior to my
going by other divers who had been there that I would need a heavy wetsuit
(5mm).  Maybe I got lucky with water temp, but I felt my 5mm shorty was too
much.  But I was trying to break it in since it was new, so I stuck with
it.  Others used 3mm.  My male dive buddy felt the same way.  There were
thermoclines but nothing that lasted long or was terribly uncomfortable. 
The dives at Bat Island and Catalina were a little more rigid as they are
more difficult dives.  On one dive my dive buddy and I got separated from
the group--which is easy considering the vis.  Although we were not lost,
we were headed back in the correct direction, they did send a divemaster
to get us.  I apologized immediately if we worried anyone or if we held up
the group, and was told no problem.  He said glad we were having a good
time and not to worry.  No chastising, no condeming, no glares, no yelling
or demeaning tactics.  Everyone was treated as responsible divers.  Most
everyone on boat was very experienced.  Could go on forever regarding the
country.  Beautiful!  Alot to do in C.R. other than diving!  Maybe not the
most beautiful dives (i.e. coral) but very exciting.  Would go back to
Costa Rica and Ocotal in a heartbeat. 

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