This is really good encouraging news, how often do you pay into a charity to not see direct effect? , not so with project aware and you guys for winning it. It is positive news for sure.
Hi greg , thanks for posting some stuff..will get round to replying to the others too.
It never ceases to amaze me the propaganda that people accept, especially if it makes them feel better. They justify things in their own mind to make them right. It makes me feel like the better causes like environmental ones will always take a back seat. Only now and it has died off has there been urgency in the governments of the western world to tackle global warming. Still schools of thought (i dont think they are that more schools of spin or propaganda) say there is no such thing! The icelanders themindividualselves (great word) need to act and get properly informed on this whale issue. I thought they were pretty much on the ball but seem to be locked in the past on this one. I too hope they have a shit winter.
What are the issues that concern us now in roatan ? well coral bleaching is perhaps a global problem brought about by global warming. I also wonder about the sewerage which trickles down from the interior settlements straight into the sea. Water is going to become an issue as well. Im happy the seas are rough and the coral is getting a break from the reef bashers. Must be hard for the lobster fisherman, lets see a lobster farm sometime soon. I saw a great one in croatia which also was a lobster restaurant. You ate right over the natural water and the fenced off pens... I will do it if I win the lottery.
Im away from my beloved roatan right now and am plugging the void with a magnificent tale written by David K Evans a big contributor to the islands discussion forum.
Even if you havent yet been to Roatan reading this will be a good thing to do. I havent finished it yet but look forward to it every time I pick it up. If you are a resident of roatan I think you should absolutely read it.
Iceland said last Tuesday it would issue licenses to hunt nine fin whales and 30 minke whales in a year, becoming only the second nation after Norway to defy outright the international moratorium that took effect in 1986.
If you can find an icelandic and a norweigian person and tell them its wrong ok and its a lot worse than imposing an extra 2p on the price of a pint.
Calling on Dive Operations submit your promotional videos !
click here to check out the new movie navigator. This is designed to allow Resorts to be discovered quickly and for users to check out your promotional videos you had created for DVD.
How goes the MP ? Havent heard any news lately, guess I should go visit your site more as well, especially since you are now getting into html hell yourself greg.
Would it be possible to get some Marine Park video online here ?
I believe that the Price Albert (a very nice wreck) is a shore dive from coco view resort but is it possible to do without paying them for their "shore" I dont know.
There isnt much shore diving to my knowledge, I have predominantly been from boat. But Flowers bay can be done from the shore, I have only done this however when the other side of the island was to rough and we had to finish a course off, so I dont kno how good a dive it is ? Its generally a good side of the island.
I'm not a tatoo person but I do admire those with the guts to get one. Its too permanent for me, and I would feel like getting fed up with it. I think I might go for some kind of stylised manta or shark.
I think it would be interesting to hear what other people have inked into their flesh.
Let us all know, can we see yours here when its done bob ? ps did you find where you might go diving ?
To get a full listing of the dive shops and hotels enquire here http://www.roatanet.com
But to answer your question from my own local knowledge here goes:
If you can afford it go to west bay (good for your snorkling), west end has a bit more variety and may be 20% cheaper in all but you have then at your disposal the best beach in the bay islands (some say the world -NOT) You might get some good deals on accomodation up there. You can always get to west end for a look around. Diving IS cheaper in west end though, I would get a few prices and think about what courses you may get "sold"
I dont know about the resorts so dont include them with my comparison, again you can check the weblink above for all their addresses.
1) safety seems to be your biggest priority,(I have never seen any bad practise nor heard of any in west end or west bay) so email the dive shops and note who gets back to you quickly and answers your questions concerning safety like, do they have first aid and oxygen on the boat, and how many years experience does the staff have. When was their equipment last checked etc It is possible to live in west bay and get picked up to dive with coconut tree in west end, i dont know if other dive shops offer that.
2) West Bay has good snorkling just off the beach , just watch for the boats and that goes for anywhere, but here they are looking for snorklers but go a bit too fast for my liking! it is Central America still...
3) I think Roatan to be safe when you apply simple rules which go for anywhere. I would say West Bay is very safe and West End too but I wouldnt advise someone to walk in dark areas at night where there are no people, i.e. from west bay to west end along the beach simply because there is potential for something, to my knowledge nothing has happened in these areas since 7 I was there (7 months) and I guess there was nothing before ?.
4) As a backpacker I know seagrape has some really cheap rooms for 8-10 dollars but I dont think that is what you are after. They are a walk away from the better dive shops, I dont personally rate their own nor berate them- they are not so busy. They are not next to any beach also. They do have some nicer rooms. I would recommend posada arco iris in half moon bay for the best place to stay at from $30 dollars per night the rooms are good and the location on a beautiful bay.
For car rentals I know a few companies again http://roatanet.com have these guys listed.
I would recommend west end to anyone. It has a nice little community and the nightlife is ok for a short time. In the day you will dive i guess and there are a great many dive shops here you can check out the article on this site about the dive shops of west end for more info. The beach at half moon bay is acceptable- bring orange "off" spray with you its like 1/5 the price that it is here its 95 lempiras or 110 in west end and the dollar gets you 19 lempiras so 100 lempiras is approx 100/20 = 5 dollars. You could also try west bay if you want to stay on a stunning beach and there are dive shops there too, but you will pay more for everything. monkey lala in west end = 80 lempiras (you can pay 140 in ricks so beware) and in west bay 120 ! I would check out the individual dive web sites advertised here and go from there http://roatanet.com/listing/roatan-diving.php
and get them to email you prices on courses / accomodation bundles etc for both west end or west bay. If you do please let them know you got info from here they might be more willing to put up some info here when they learn divers actually look here. Its free for them to do so and even contact you via the forum.
I couldn't tell you abot all inclusive it might work out cheaper or not??? but you will be stuck for things to do while off gassing.
Im not familiar with the east side since two years but it has mary's place, calvins crack (this was news to me) and the prince albert wreck which I loved and a few other dives.
I am familiar with the diving in the marine park areas namely the west end from the odysea (not so good these days especially on air) to pablo's just past the point. What is great about diving here is that the distances to the dive sites can be very quick like 5 mins to rarely more than 20 ! The best beach is west bay, I think I would stay up there myself having been in west end TOO LONG
It might be a question of what do I need from my accomodation and what do I want to do when im not diving, that is a better question to ask ...
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they might be more willing to put up some info here when they learn divers actually look here. Its free for them to do so and even contact you via the forum.
