2000 Chapbook

All dive resorts are on the Bay Islands: Roatán, Guanaja, Utila, Cayos Cochinos, and other small cayes.... Honduras is home to the world's most aggressive no-see-ums; they bite, bite, bite. Although Skin-So-Soft works for a few, most people need DEET, and some have serious allergic reactions to the bites. Those who are unprepared often find their vacations ruined.... The diving features great walls, offshore seamounts, and excellent coral and gorgonians, although there are few large fish or lobsters due to overfishing.... Favorite dives include Little Bight, Black Hill, Church Bank and Turtle Bay Wall on Utila; and CocoView Wall, Calvin's Crack, Mary's Place, and Valley of Kings on Roatán; Jim's Silverlode on Guanaja; and the seamounts off Cayos Cochinos. Whale sharks are seen occasionally near Utila.... Cayos Cochinos is excellent for diversity of macro subjects..... The rainy season is October through February, and northers can blow and disrupt the diving.... TACA often overbooks, so reconfirm flights (which may not help) and carry essentials as TACA loses or delays luggage.... Spanish is spoken on the mainland, English in the Bay Islands.... While there's little night life or shopping, classic Central American jungles and Mayan ruins inland make great side trips.... Malaria protection is advised....

Aggressor,June 1999, Greg Dyer (gregdyer@earthlink.net) Vis: 40-60 ft. Water: 82 degrees. Restrictions: Be back before the boat leaves. I was bumped from 4 TACA flights. It took 40 hours to go from SFO to Roatán. I had reservations on 5 flights. TACA wouldn't let me on any of them. Instead of going to Roatán from San Francisco, I spent one night in Miami and one in LA. Boat is great. (AggressorFleet: Ph: 800-348-2628 or 504-385-2628; Fax: 504-384-0817; e-mail: info@aggressor.com;website www.aggressor.com)

Bay Islands Aggressor,September 1999, Joe Martz, Los Alamos, NM. Vis: 40-100 ft. Water: 82-84 degrees. Bay Islands have recovered remarkably well from Hurricane Mitch. Sea mounts show no damage and look healthier than our last trip 2 years ago. All the macro attractions at Cayos Cochinos remain, including the colony of sailfin blennies in the small harbor. Honduras one of best kept secrets in the Caribbean. Aggressorfirst rate. Good crew, great food.

Wind Dancer,August 1998, Phil Hampton, Merritt Island, FL. Vis: 40-80 ft. Water: 82-84 degrees. Great boat, great crew. Captain Paul substituted for regular captain. Great operation, wake-up coffee in room, warm towels on deck, 4 dives/day plus night dive. Excellent dive freedom. Reefs on Roatán and Cayos Cochinos were healthy. Lots of barrel and azure sponges. Less fish life and critters than Bonaire or San Salvador. Dolphin Dive was included in the package price and was enjoyable. (Peter Hughes Diving, Inc.; Phone 800-669-9391 or 800-932-6237; Fax 305-669-9475; e-mail dancer@peterhughes.com; website www.peterhughes.com)