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Dive Review of CoCo View Resort in
Honduras/Roatan

CoCo View Resort: "Healthy reefs", Jun, 2015,

by Marlene Dowell, MD, US (Reviewer Reviewer 3 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 8293.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments Our almost missed connection in Dallas meant our luggage did not arrive with us. And, American does not fly to Roatan every day. But, they made arrangements via other airlines to get our luggage to us. We arrived Saturday. Two bags came Sunday and the 3rd on Monday. Cocoview was extremely helpful in getting us to town to buy what items we couldn't get at their gift shop (which is pretty well supplied with toiletries and swimsuits). The Dive Shop also provided gear for us to use until ours came in. We were happy to find shorties that fit, as well as BCs, masks, and fins, although there is nothing like your own gear.

The first dive (if you are new to the resort) is an orientation dive to check your weights and show you the shore dive highlights. Due to unfamiliar gear and so-so visibility, we weren't too impressed. The diving improved as the week went on and we learned that there were things to be seen on that shore dive.

You can shore dive whenever you want, including nights. The dive boats go out in the morning and the afternoon. The first dive of each outing is led by the divemaster. Everyone followed him. Not sure if you could have opted to dive your own profile if you wanted to. The second dive is a "drop off" dive. The boat heads to the resort; divers are dropped off at one of 3 spots where they can navigate to shore. You can also opt to just ride the boat in to the dock.

Throughout the week the divemasters pointed out various critters, many small, mostly familiar to experienced divers. Picture taking is made more difficult as all the divers are trying to look at the same spots. The reefs we saw seemed to be healthier than many in the Caribbean. Some dive sites didn't have large numbers of fish but some did. Highlights were large numbers of yellow-headed jawfish, lobsters on practically every dive, easily seen even in the daytime, elkhorn and lettuce coral, seahorses on several dives, large barrel and other sponges. And, Roatan must be the world capital for sharpnose pufferfish - there were uncountable numbers on every dive.

Having heard reports of bugs on Roatan (no-see-ums), we were concerned. We were able to avoid them by not sitting out in the sun. There are many locations at the resort where you can sit in the shade and under a ceiling fan. This seemed to keep the bugs away.
The on-the-water cabanas get reserved months in advance. We stayed in a motel room which was adequate and large enough but nothing special. All accommodations have a/c. Our room was conveniently located - only a few feet to the cafeteria and not far to the docks and gear storage. Friends had the Mango Suite, which has 2 bedrooms, a "living room" and 2 porches. Lots of walking around space.

Cocoview is located on a little cay off of Roatan, a short boat ride from the main island. Security seems to be pretty good and we didn't worry about leaving our gear at the open gear storage area. There is plenty of room to hang everything and "cubbies" to leave your mask and fins, etc. in. We took our regs & computers back to the room. Water in the rinse tanks seemed to be changed frequently. The showers at the gear area are not heated, so you can rinse the salt off but you won't want to linger.

While we had several overcast days, some with rain, the water was mostly flat, except for one afternoon dive which ended with a challenging re-entry to the boat. The divemaster said that the previous week had been much worse, so it doesn't seem easy to predict by the time of year. The dive boats are covered so you can get out of the sun or rain, if necessary.

The food was plentiful, served buffet-style. Most anyone should be able to find something to their taste. Salad at every lunch and dinner. Fresh fruit at every meal. Two entrees. Soup each lunch.
Entertainment was provided on several evenings (local musicians, school children performing native dances, hermit crab races, etc.) Two lectures given by one of the Americans who has been on the island since before it had roads were interesting and informative if you want a little island history. An island tour is available (for a fee) on Friday afternoon. The Iguana sanctuary and Botanical garden are both well worth visiting. The shopping at the West End (or was it the East end?), not so much. You won't see much there that you didn't see at the ladies with tables at the scenic overlook or in the giftshop at the Iguana sanctuary.

Although we didn't use it, several people seemed to be using the wifi in the dining area.

Beach/boat towels are available for rent for $5/week. You can change them out several times a day, if necessary.

Cocoview claims to have the largest return clientele of any resort in the world. By the end of the week we could easily see why so many people come back again and again. As much diving as you want and as much food as you want - can't go wrong with that!
Websites CoCo View Resort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, Solomon Islands, Red Sea, Hawaii, North Carolina
Closest Airport Roatan (RTB) Getting There We flew American through DFW. The connection was tight; our flight to DFW was delayed, but the flight to RTB was held for us.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, rainy Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 81-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 20-80 Ft/ 6-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments Separate smallish rinse bucket for cameras on boat. Larger separate tank at dock.
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Subscriber's Comments

By report author: Marlene Dowell in MD, US at Jul 14, 2015 22:57 EST  
Forgot to mention, there is a nurse in residence at Cocoview who was helpful to several who had ear problems or other health issues. MD
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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