Uw photog friendly dive operator on Roatan?

Looking for recommendations on a dive operator in Roatan who is used to dealing with serious underwater photographers and understands our special needs.

This is a tall order... I would like to find a dive operator who:

- Goes out with small group size

- Preferrably caters especially to photographers

- Does not "herd along" divers but allows for sufficient time for photograpgers to stay in location of their choise to shoot - does not force photographers to go on "long swimming tours"

- Allows for suffiuent bottomtimes

- Allows lattitude in staying witn or separate from group

- Will be able to tell what type of site (macro or wa) they will be going to before the trip (so that one won't send up with a WA lens on a muck dive and the macro lens on the day they go to gorgeous droppofts and swimthus

- Will take photographers requests and will be able to find suitable sites

- Are knowledgeable about conditions and able to "find the good stuff".

Anyone has recommendations on who to go with or and experiences to recount?

Thank you in advance!

Marjo

I stayed at Coco View. Their boats had large rinse tanks. We had eight on our boat but there could be more if the resort is full. We did one boat dive as a group (but you are not required to stay with the group) and then they will drop you off at one end of the reort reef or the other and you do your own thing, as you work your way back to the resort. . They repeat this process in the afternoons. There is also unlimited 24 hour shore diving. The guide does try to find things for you to shoot.

Overall, I was underwhelmed with the fish life in Roatan. We did see a pod of wild dolphins and a small whaleshark was seen....but we never found it.

HTH,

Dave

Looking for recommendations on a dive operator in Roatan who is used to dealing with serious underwater photographers and understands our special needs.

 

This is a tall order... I would like to find a dive operator who:

- Goes out with small group size

- Preferrably caters especially to photographers

- Does not "herd along" divers but allows for sufficient time for photograpgers to stay in location of their choise to shoot - does not force photographers to go on "long swimming tours"

- Allows for suffiuent bottomtimes

- Allows lattitude in staying witn or separate from group

- Will be able to tell what type of site (macro or wa) they will be going to before the trip (so that one won't send up with a WA lens on a muck dive and the macro lens on the day they go to gorgeous droppofts and swimthus

- Will take photographers requests and will be able to find suitable sites

- Are knowledgeable about conditions and able to "find the good stuff".

 

Anyone has recommendations on who to go with or and experiences to recount?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

Marjo

I too wasn't so thrilled with diving in Roatán. We stayed near Half Moon Bay in the West End, and dove with Native Sons most of the time. The owner, Alvin, definitely knows the dive sites as well as anyone on the island, but I can't say the place is especially well equipped to accommodate serious photographers. The boats are fast, though, and they do organize trips to Mary's Place, which was a great site. They're reputation seemed to get them a lot of customers, despite the weak website. All in all I thought diving (and life on land) in Utila was better, and not just because of the abundance of whale sharks and rough-toothed dolphins.

I think it's pretty pricey, but Anthony Key Resort has a good reputation, a lot of boats, and definitely caters to photographers. I don't think any other operator on the island comes close in terms of amenities and options. But I didn't dive with them; I only looked longingly at their fleet of boats and pretty facilities while cruising by one day.

Have fun.

- danielandrewclem

I'd stick with Anthony's. Don't use CCV. They are more set up for families and do not have any camera amenities other than a place on the boat for 2-3 cameras.

I just got back from Roatan (last week of January) and I loved it. Although the big game was lacking. Some other posters here said they were underwhelmed with the fish life, I feel just the opposite. I found the fish life here to be better then Hawaii, at least from everything I've seen from diving in Maui and Oahu. On most dives there were no shortage of beautiful fish, and a vast variety, as well lots of lobsters, king crabs, and some eels.

Other then small sea turtles and some eels out of their holes I didn't see anything big. The locals told me the whale sharks come around February to May at Roatan.

Anyway, I stayed at and dove with Luna Beach Resort and I was impressed for being in a 3rd world country. The rooms were nice and the restort iteself was beautiful, friendly staff, one of the nicest and private beaches in west end and the food was not bad. I even had the best french fries I've ever tasted here Its also a close 5 to 10 minute walk to the West End night life and resturants, but not to close that its loud from the bars. http://www.lunabeachresort.com/

As far as catering to photographers, the dive guides were very patient with us and were in no hurry on any of the dives. In fact I almost found the dive guides moved to slow, but it was a nice relaxed pace. When I dove with Lahaina Divers in Maui, those guys moved way to fast and I was constantly getting behind when I stopped to take pictures. They do make sure you stay near your dive buddy though, but considering many of the dives are along walls which drop off into the abyss this is good practice

There was a rinse tank for cameras and a small table on the boat, as well the boat was not crowded when I was there. The resort was full and yet there were only about 8 to 10 divers every day with plenty of space on the 42ft boat.

As for the diving, we mostly dove the west end, west bay, and south side. We ended up on the south side one day because the weather was bad on the west side, and the south side diving offered some new variety of fish and coral which I enjoyed a lot.

Personally I loved Roatan so much that I'm going to try and make it a once a year stop. Although next time I'm going to spend a few days in Utilia as well in hopes of seeing more big game.

I would considefr the Utila Aggressor. Easier to get to La Ceiba and much more camera friendly. Plus the food is better and you mdo more diving.