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Trip
Overview
This program features the remarkable fringing reefs of Roatan. In
contrast to most other Caribbean destinations, many of Roatan's
reefs feature a broad shallow terrace of luxuriant lettuce coral,
edged by dramatic vertical drop-offs starting in only 15 - 20 feet
of water. In addition to the coral, prolific sponges, sea fans,
and other gorgonians offer the snorkeler lush vistas filled with
color and texture.
Thriving amidst the coral is a broad diversity of fish. Roatan offers
the fish enthusiast ample opportunity to view grunts, lizardfish,
flounders, scrawled filefish, red-lipped blennies, jawfish (the
males brood the eggs in their mouths!), small rays, blue and indigo
hamlets (that mate reliably between 5:00 - 5:30 every afternoon!)
and the occasional harmless nurse shark.
The Bay Islands, of which Roatan is the largest, lie roughly 35
miles off the North coast of Honduras. Consequently, the surrounding
waters stay clear, and the reefs remain healthy. Roatan is a slender
gentle ridge stretching 40 miles East to West, but less than 4 miles
wide. This orientation gives us access to either the North or South
shore, providing reasonably protected snorkeling regardless of wind
direction.
Our Reefs of Roatan program is based at Coco View Resort -- a unique
blend of comfortable waterfront accommodations (each with porch
or balcony and private bath), and a warm, friendly, family atmosphere.
Don't expect anything fancy -- meals are buffet; plates and cups
are plastic; and if your bathing suit is wet, the staff requests
that you lift the cushion on your dining room chair. Informal efficiency
typifies this resort.
Thanks to owner Bill Evans's conscientious environmental awareness,
Coco View Resort features some of Roatan's best protected shore
snorkeling. As you swim out from just in front of the resort, shallow
grass beds sheltering conch, lobster, octopus, small rays, and itinerant
squid lead to isolated coral heads which nearly break the surface
at low tide. A few yards beyond this area, the coral heads grow
in numbers and size, becoming a dense thriving reef extending for
hundreds of yards along the front of the resort. Shore snorkeling
is available anytime during our stay at Coco View, affording us
ample opportunity for independent exploration.
During our program, we have negotiated a private boat for our exclusive
snorkeling use. Coco View's boats feature protective roofs, and
are designed to simplify entry and exits into the water with open
transoms and deep, sturdy ladders. Many of Roatan's best offshore
snorkeling sites are within a short 10-minute boat ride from the
resort.
The dive guides at Coco View are some of the most friendly and helpful
local fellows I've ever worked with. As with other residents of
the Bay Islands, they speak excellent English and Spanish, punctuated
with smiles, jokes, and laughter.
We also hope to provide an excellent night snorkeling opportunity.
The shallow grass beds, patch reef, and small coral wall directly
in front of the resort come alive with lobster, eels, octopus, basket
stars, and nocturnal fish - all in an extremely protected setting.
Although we may only have one group outing at night, for those comfortable
with night snorkeling, the ocean is always open and you should feel
free to indulge as often as you wish.
This program also provides certified SCUBA divers with excellent
diving opportunities, both from the resort's regular dive boats
and from shore directly in front of the resort.
In Sea for Yourself tradition, this program includes several informal
slide-illustrated discussions of Roatan's marine environment, along
with other speakers engaged by the resort. We have also been experimenting
with underwater video as an educational tool. This program provides
an excellent opportunity to integrate video from each day's acitivities
into our group discussions.
Our program also includes two half-day island explorations that
will feature both cultural and snorkeling opportunities in other
parts of Roatan. One highlight is a close encounter with dolphins.
Really close! Under the guidance of a trainer, and while standing
in waist deep water, we can hold a dolphin, kiss a dolphin, and
intimately appreciate dolphin strength, agility, and intelligence.
The Bay Islands were originally part of British
Honduras, and consequently have a culture much different than mainland
Honduras. To better appreciate these distinctions, our program concludes
with a two-night excursion to the Mayan archeological site and
highland town of Copan. Copan benefits from many years of ongoing
excavations by world-class archeologists who revealed majestic temples,
ancient roads, and residential neighborhoods. A new addition
is the opportunity to explore well-lit tunnels dug by archeologists
to view the actual buried remains of two major temples.
The history of Copan is literally etched in stone. Distinguished
by some of the finest stelae in the Mayan world, these intricately
carved stone plaques are free-standing history "books" up to twelve
feet tall. Aided by a spectacular sculpture museum featuring a full-scale
temple brightly painted in its original colors, at Copan, extinct
Mayan traditions come to life.
In the nearby town of Copan Ruinas, indigenous traditions still
survive, comfortably intermingled with modest tourist infrastructure.
Horses clip-clop along cobblestone streets, fresh vegetables are
sold at the town market, and a quiet new café serves fine
Honduran coffee made with a great cappuccino machine.
Skill Level
This program will be enjoyed by all snorkelers, from novice to expert.
Your trip leader will gladly provide snorkeling instruction, from
floating to freediving. Whenever possible we will seek out protected
water for our snorkeling excursions, but at times the surface may
be a bit choppy due to wind. Any hiking will be easy to moderate
on well-marked trails. There will be opportunities to climb the
pyramids at Copan, but for the height-sensitive, the site is easily
enjoyed from the ground level.
Trip Limit
The Remote Reefs of Roatan will comfortably accommodate 18 participants,
and requires a minimum of 12. Due to the limited space available
for this tour, reservations for space will be accepted in the order
deposits are received. To ensure a space, we recommend that you
send your deposit as soon as possible. You will be notified when
your space is confirmed.
Weather
Roatan's climate is mild, subtropical, with cooling Caribbean breezes.
The average temperature of 79 degrees Fahrenheit varies little throughout
the year. The rainy season extends from July to January, and the
remainder of the year is usually very dry. We have carefully chosen
a time that should give us optimum weather conditions. However,
as with any tropical destination, there will always be a chance
of rain, mosquitoes, and sand flies.
A Note About Snorkeling
Water
temperatures are expected to be approximately 78-82 degrees F. Thermal
tolerance obviously varies with each individual. As a guideline,
many people wear a thin wet suit when in the water longer than 30
or 40 minutes. Please remember that some kind of covering (such
as a Lycra suit or even pajamas!) when in the water is highly recommended
as protection from sun, occasional stinging zooplankton, or to prevent
coral abrasions.
Financial
Information
The cost of The Remote Reefs of Roatan tour is TBA per person, based
on double occupancy, plus international airfare. For those requesting
a single room an additional supplement of TBA will be added to the
tour cost. Please be advised that single space is limited and subject
to availability.
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