Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
 

Dive Review of Turtle Bay EcoResort in
Honduras

Turtle Bay EcoResort: "Unfortunate Downhill Slide of a Once Wonderful Dive Operation", May, 2019,

by Paul Barrett, NM, US (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 9 reports with 9 Helpful votes). Report 10935 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 2 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 2 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 1 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 2 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 3 stars
Comments This was not my first time visiting Turtle Bay on Cayos Cochinos, Honduras. Sadly it will probably be my last.

I want to be very clear, the onsite staff is tremendous and doing what they can with limited resources. Unfortunately they are not getting the support they need from the owners.

I’ve also seen some complaints by other reviewers so let me start by saying, it’s the tropics, there are bugs. Get over it. Also it’s a small island in the tropics with limited power so there is no air conditioning. There are fans in every room but if you require AC to have a comfortable vacation you are better off elsewhere.

We visited in May. We learned that a few months earlier, the resort manager had been fired. That left the two Dive Instructors/Dive Managers holding the bag. They must now run the dive operation including filling the tanks and repairs, manage the hotel and staff, run the bar, and occasionally fill in as cooks.

The diving around Cayos Cochinos is fantastic, not for large pelagics but to see a relatively healthy coral reef community. They even have a few elk horn coral, something all to rare in the Caribbean. Unfortunately since our last visit about five years ago the facilities have gone down hill.

Our first clue that things may not be right was before we even arrived. Our package included rental dive gear. We were contacted and asked if everyone needed the gear because they may not have enough. Fortunately most of us did bring our own kits so that was not an issue. It did begin to make me wonder.

Next when we arrived on island we found they did not have enough weights on hand to fully outfit our group. What sort of a dive resort doesn’t have enough lead?!?! The DMs hustled and had some brought over from the mainland but it did delay our first day of diving for an hour. I later learned they are also short on O-rings!

That first morning I connected my gear and found that one of my 80 cubic inch tanks was reading 890 psi and the other 2600 psi. They had been filled the evening before but it turns out about 1/4 of all the tanks were leaking overnight, some drastically. Several of my group had to switch out tanks. We learned to check our tanks every morning before we left the dock.

The DMs did all they could to help us but the compressor is also on it’s last legs and takes quite a while to fill four tanks at a time and with just enough tanks to accommodate our two tank boat dives, they were filling tanks from very early in the morning until very late at night.

On shore, the seats of most of the beach furniture has ripped out. The dock has an upper deck that in the past we’d sit on to watch the sunset. It is now off-limits because the wood has rotted through and is failing. Apparently a previous guest almost fell through!

On the plus side, the food was very tasty once the regular cook arrived. (On our first day the backup cook refused to prepare meals for our group but did prepare them for the staff. Once again the DMs stepped up and prepared and served us a simple meal.)

From what I’ve heard, the owner of the dive operation has not been on site for several years. Irrespective of if that’s the case he needs to visit, prioritize the needs and infuse funds into Turtle Bay. If he cannot do so he should sell the operation, preferably to someone with sufficient capital and enthusiasm to get the place back up to reasonable standards. It is heartbreaking to see such a wonderful place degrade so much due to neglect and inadequate maintenance.
one.
Websites Turtle Bay EcoResort   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Bonaire, Caymans, Cozumel, Honduras, Truk, Sipidan
Closest Airport San Pedro Sula Getting There Fly to San Pedro Sula, van to La Ceiba, boat pickup to Cayos Cochinos.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 81-83°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 50-100 Ft/ 15-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks None 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 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
Was this report helpful to you?
Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

Subscriber's Comments

By Greg Bruce in WA, US at May 23, 2019 14:34 EST  
Very helpful report. Thanks. I had been considering this resort. This gives me pause.
By Greg Bruce in WA, US at May 23, 2019 14:34 EST  
Very helpful report. Thanks. I had been considering this resort. This gives me pause.
Leave a comment (Subscribers only -- 200 words max)
Subscribers can comment here
 

Subscribe Now
Subscribers can post comments, ask the reviewer questions, as well as getting immediate and complete access to ALL 560 dive reviews of Honduras and all other dive destinations. Complete access to all issues and Chapbooks is also included.

 
Featured Links from Our Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
Reef & Rainforest, Let our experience be your guide -- Reef and Rainforest
Reef & Rainforest
is an agency for travelers that like to scuba dive. Want to see dolphins, whale sharks, Mayan ruins? Let us plan your adventure to Honduras.

Want to assemble your own collection of Honduras reports in one place?
Use the Mini Chapbook Facility to create your personalized collection.

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.

Undercurrent Home


Get more dive info like these and other important scuba updates sent monthly to your email.
And a FREE Recent Issue of Undercurrent

Free Undercurrent Issue
Get a free
monthly email and
a sample issue!


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

Page computed and displayed in 2.64 seconds