Carnival's 2 tank dive in Isla Roatan????

[marshhawk]

Has anyone done the 2 tank dive that Carnival offers in Isla Roatan? There is so little information about the dive, how deep do you dive? What was provided? Sweetums is certified, but has not done an ocean dive, LOL, that's why we decided to take this cruise in the first place, to let him do an ocean dive, and then he proposed, and now this trip is our honey moon (four months after the wedding), so I want him returned to the surface safe and sound, but he really wants to do a decent dive. Your posts about the group in Cozumel did not give them resounding results. I am giving him his dive as a Christmas present, and while he says he wants to do Cozumel, I have been reading that this is the better dive site. I know I am asking alot, but which is the safest and best dive for a first time ocean dive........ Cozumel, or Isla Roatan?

Any info helpful.:D

[Cosmo30068]

I'm not on Carnival, but we are visiting Roatan on the Crown Princess in December. You may want to look at a couple of places you could book yourself - always an advantage in my opinion. http://www.cocoviewresort.com has some great shore diving - it's a little further from the port. But for a brand new diver, if there were issues with buoyancy, etc., it's easy to get to shore. Then http://www.bananarama.com would be another option. Regardless of what's posted on their site, they will work with cruise divers to make a schedule. They can also pick you up. We haven't decided which one we are using. See what you think.

[scuabacruiser]

Has anyone done the 2 tank dive that Carnival offers in Isla Roatan? There is so little information about the dive, how deep do you dive? What was provided? Sweetums is certified, but has not done an ocean dive, LOL, that's why we decided to take this cruise in the first place, to let him do an ocean dive, and then he proposed, and now this trip is our honey moon (four months after the wedding), so I want him returned to the surface safe and sound, but he really wants to do a decent dive. Your posts about the group in Cozumel did not give them resounding results. I am giving him his dive as a Christmas present, and while he says he wants to do Cozumel, I have been reading that this is the better dive site. I know I am asking alot, but which is the safest and best dive for a first time ocean dive........ Cozumel, or Isla Roatan?

Any info helpful.:D

Both are excellent dives. In Roatan, they use Anthony Keys Resort, a very good and safe dive op. Not sure who they use at Cozumel but the diving is drift dive and also very good. Make the dive masters aware of his skill level and he should have not problems at either place. He will have a great time.

[marshhawk]

Thank you both for your replys. Scuabacruiser, we love your town, have been there many times. I'm a Civil War buff, my great uncle died at Cold Harbor. (Richmond) Sometimes it's hard to realize with my hobbies I'm a girl. Oh well. Sweetums chose the cozumel scuba and is really looking forward to it.

Cosmo, our only worry was, if you are on an excusion through the cruise lines and are running late the ship waits for you,(from what I have been told.) not so if we use an independent. I'd hate to leave Sweetums in Mexico, it would make the rest of the trip so boring. Again, thanks to you all for all the great info I get on this sight. i will make Sweetums write a report when we get back.

[2Ports]

book through Carnival @ Coz - they use Sand Dollar Sports - a must avoid. If you are going to book through the ship, definetly dive @ Roatan - we dove w/ Anthony's Key a couple weeks ago and had a great time.

[BlueC5Kitten]

I have heard similar rumblings about Sand Dollar Sports in Coz...looking to do scuba with Alison, personally, there. I don't know anything about Anthony's Key, although I know they are a resort there in Roatan. Have heard really good things about Coco View though.

 

I've not been diving in Roatan as yet, but the plan is to go on the ship's excursion in January. I have, however, been diving in Utila, and have heard the reefs are in better shape on Roatan...if that's the case, I will be quite happy.

[marshhawk]

Is it a safety issue that has everyone upset about Cozumel's CC Sand Dollar? Is it the fact that there are so many people? What is the ratio of divers to dive m asters? Is that the problem? Besides over crowding why do you think that Sand Dollar is not good?

[scuabacruiser]

Thank you both for your replys. Scuabacruiser, we love your town, have been there many times. I'm a Civil War buff, my great uncle died at Cold Harbor. (Richmond) Sometimes it's hard to realize with my hobbies I'm a girl. Oh well. Sweetums chose the cozumel scuba and is really looking forward to it.

Cosmo, our only worry was, if you are on an excusion through the cruise lines and are running late the ship waits for you,(from what I have been told.) not so if we use an independent. I'd hate to leave Sweetums in Mexico, it would make the rest of the trip so boring. Again, thanks to you all for all the great info I get on this sight. i will make Sweetums write a report when we get back.

Although we don't live in town, it gets a little hot during the summer reenactment for us, so we usually avoid it.

As for the diving, we have also heard negatives from other divers, a couple of dive masters, on a cruise with us about Sand Dollar. Yes it was a safety issue and a lack of supervision with new divers. We have used Papa Hogs and have been satisfied. We have also heard good things about about Allison, Blue XT and many others. If it has to be Coz, I would look around. I have heard the Dive With Martin has a shop at the end of the pier. Let them know your ship, when and what time you will be there and they should be able to work with you. I'm sure he will not miss the ship.

If it has to be with the ship, I would dive at Roatan. Athony Keys is very good and he will NOT miss the ship. The first time we dove there, we used them. We were the LAST people back on the ship. It is correct, the ship will NOT leave you if you book with it through the ship. If you reallllly love him, you would let him dive both.:rolleyes::D

[Roatanfans]

We dive in Roatan all the time (although not off a cruise ship). There seems to be much less of a current in Roatan than in Cozumel, and Roatan dive sites are close to shore (most dive sites are only a few minute boat ride)- you shouldn't have any problems if you booked your own diving in Roatan- there are many dive shops in West End, and all would make sure you got back to the ship on time. Anthony's Key is what most ships use- they are the biggest operation on the island. They have lots of big beautiful boats and I have never heard any complaints about them. Also, as much as I hate to say this, there is much more to see and do (at least if you want to shop or go to the clubs) in Cozumel. Hope this helps- have fun!

[gregli]

I'm not on Carnival, but we are visiting Roatan on the Crown Princess in December. You may want to look at a couple of places you could book yourself - always an advantage in my opinion. www.cocoviewresort.com has some great shore diving - it's a little further from the port. But for a brand new diver, if there were issues with buoyancy, etc., it's easy to get to shore. Then www.bananarama.com would be another option. Regardless of what's posted on their site, they will work with cruise divers to make a schedule. They can also pick you up. We haven't decided which one we are using. See what you think.

We are on the same cruise and plan on diving. Are you booking with the cruise line (and do you know who they use) or are you doing it on your own.

[BlueC5Kitten]

Is it a safety issue that has everyone upset about Cozumel's CC Sand Dollar? Is it the fact that there are so many people? What is the ratio of divers to dive m asters? Is that the problem? Besides over crowding why do you think that Sand Dollar is not good?

 

I've heard a myriad of complaints, from not enough tanks for each diver to dive two tanks (for which they are contracted with cruise lines), to blown O-rings on every tank, poor equipment with leaky hoses and when offered tools to assist in repairs, the tools were broken with nothing so much as a "thanks"...just a level of professionalism that is missing and a lack of respect, I guess. As I have said, only heard bad things, so I will try to avoid them.

[dutchiegirl6]

I am a certified diver and have many of the same questions. I heard from one of my dive master friends that diving in Cozumel is generally "drift diving" because of the strong currents, which might not be the best for a novice diver. My bf and I are planning on doing the 2 tank dive in Roatan from Anthony's Key Resort. I've heard that diving there is really good and very professional. I'm always curious to hear what people on these boards say though.

[georoc01]

I am a certified diver and have many of the same questions. I heard from one of my dive master friends that diving in Cozumel is generally "drift diving" because of the strong currents, which might not be the best for a novice diver. My bf and I are planning on doing the 2 tank dive in Roatan from Anthony's Key Resort. I've heard that diving there is really good and very professional. I'm always curious to hear what people on these boards say though.

 

I dove at Anthony's Key both from a cruise ship and have stayed there for a week. The experiences were night and day.

 

When you stay there, they put you on boats with 12 divers max. And I was the only person who made every dive during the week, frequently diving with only the divemaster. We had great dives at a variety of sites on that end of the island.

 

The cruise ship experience was much rougher. Of course, it was my 1st ow dives out of certification. We were on their 42' boats with about 24 divers per boat, 3 dive masters. Needless to say it was pretty chaotic.

 

The diving around Roatan is easy diving. Water is warm and reefs are in good shape with lots to see. I am glad that I did the cruise ship, or I wouldn't have seen the resort. In both cases we did single tank boat dives with our surface intervals at the resort. If you do the cruise ship trip, be sure to take the surface interval to walk around and check out the resort. Its a beautiful place. I ended up coming back to spend a week there.

[heydn62]

I am a certified diver and have many of the same questions. I heard from one of my dive master friends that diving in Cozumel is generally "drift diving" because of the strong currents, which might not be the best for a novice diver. My bf and I are planning on doing the 2 tank dive in Roatan from Anthony's Key Resort. I've heard that diving there is really good and very professional. I'm always curious to hear what people on these boards say though.

 

My first dive after getting certified was in Cozumel and personally, I think drift diving is easier for a novice diver, provided you're with someone to guide your dive. The only thing I didn't like - when you stop for a better look at something, everyone else in the group continues to drift. But it's the easiest way to dive longer without using up your air.

[dtchem1]

We dove with the ship and returned to Anthony's Key, Roatan for a week after the experience. We had great experiences with both. Most of the cruise ship dives are packed to almost unsafe with inexperienced divers. When we spent the week in Anthonys Key we had some cruise ship divers on one of our dives. I guess it depends on how many people sign up on the ship whether they just join a group or have their own boat. Roatan has great reefs and animals as does Cozumel. With these reviews of the Cozumel dive shop, you may want to lean towards Cozumel. You can find dive shop reviews at http://www.scubadviser.com.

[FamilyDoc]

I've been a diver since 1983 and have to say it's hard to have a bad dive! The exception to that rule, for me, was at Anthony's Key. We had 14 divers and 2 DM's. They put us in one large group with one Dm at the front and one at the back. They didn't help the novice divers adjust their bouyancy and we had a couple that kept corking up to the top. The DM's never made an effort to give them any assistance or even seem to notice that some were missing. One man lost his buddy and went back toward where we had come from and was almost out of site before I had to physically tug on the DM and point out the guy. It was truly a terrible, overcrowded, unsafe dive. I was so stressed out trying to avoid being kicked or losing members of the group that I couldn't enjoy it at all.

 

That being said, the resort was beautiful and the equipment nice. From my understanding, if you are actually staying on the resort, the dives are small and much better.

[CaribQween]

If you want to dive with Anthony's Key Resort, do you have to book through the cruiseline? Also, if you do the 2 tank dive with them, afterwards could you do some shore diving before going back to the cruiseship? We'll be in Roatan for 7 hours and the 2 tank dive excursion says it is only 4 hours. So, we may have some extra time.

[rednose83]

I'm not on Carnival, but we are visiting Roatan on the Crown Princess in December. You may want to look at a couple of places you could book yourself - always an advantage in my opinion. www.cocoviewresort.com has some great shore diving - it's a little further from the port. But for a brand new diver, if there were issues with buoyancy, etc., it's easy to get to shore. Then www.bananarama.com would be another option. Regardless of what's posted on their site, they will work with cruise divers to make a schedule. They can also pick you up. We haven't decided which one we are using. See what you think.

 

The banana link is to a porn site. The correct one is http://www.bananaramadive.com/