Diving in Honduras
                      May 02-09, 1997
                   by Carl L. Wilson, II
       Internet Address: clwilson@access.mountain.net
            Carl.wilson@f14.n279.z1.fidonet.org
                          Part THREE
Resort Name: Inn of Last Resort
Location: Roatan, Bay Island of Honduras
Dive Operation: In House
URL---- http://www.dive.com/innlast.html
EMAIL: lastresort@globalnet.hn
                           Diving
The dive shop/dive operation is an inhouse arrangement.  The
Dive Manager is from Denver has been in Roatan at the
resort about 3 months.
The homepage shows a small boat and describes a larger boat.
The resort has two dive boats that are large 42-45 ft boats
that are beamy and comfortable for perhaps 16 divers.  I was
never on a boat with more than 12 divers while I was there.
Both of the large dive boats are covered and one can get out
of the sun or lay on the sundeck on top.  The boats have two
wooden boarding ladders and plenty of room to stowe gear and
belongings out of the way to keep things dry.
The resort purchased a smaller diver boat when I was there
that is about 30-35 ft., with a top, disel powered and is
hoping to use it when the larger boats are full or they have
a small group wanting to dive together. I think the small
boat pictured on the homepage of the resort is only used for
fishing. Tank pressures were 2800-3100.
The Dive guides want everyone to suit up and walk to the
back of the boat with tank, weight belt and gear on, this is
not the best method.
Although the dive manager and the dive guides are receptive
to suggestions on improving the situation, I do not think
they have had much experience with resort diving.
The biggest problem I have with the dive operation is the
lack of a weighted down line.  Some of us suggested one and
the dive guides dropped a 1/4" nylon cord with a two pound
weight on it.  I do not think they appreciate the safety of
a down line after wall diving for everyone to hang at 15
feet for 3 minutes.  The new dive boat the resort purchased
has a down line on it, a larger rope with approximately a
8lb ball of lead on the end......a real down line.
Diving is mostly on walls and reefs, with several very nice
walls.
The resort has 20 dive sites mapped and most have mooring
buoys on them.  The dive sites are all within 10-15 minuest
from the resort by boat.  The dive schedule is 8:30Am, 10:30
Am, and 2:30PM.  The dive boat returns between the two
morning dives, so you can sleep in and miss the first one
and still do the second two dives.
Although this side of the island is a marine sanctuary I
found few large fish.  I saw two groupers about 24" long and
my dive buddy found one lobster on a wall at 80'.  The reefs
appear to be healthy and I saw no coral bleaching.
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   SLMR 2.1a   Clay, WV-First National Opossum Refuge
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