Roatan - change money? cruise ships? diving?

Hi there, I just spent 4 months in Roatan. I have a Mastercard debit card, and always used the ATM at the Hotel Dolphin in West End. I also used it successfully in Coxen Hole the one time I tried there.

In my experience the cruise shippers never caused much of a problem in West End, I would just see their buses drive by, and would see large groups of them walking down the dock for a glass-bottom-boat tour of the reef. Granted, I spent nearly all my time at my dive shop, or under water.
Speaking of dive shops, I have to recommend Coconut Tree Divers. They are a great group of people - experienced divers, fun attitude, and they have a great shop and boat. Their boat (Wish U Were Here) goes out 3 times a day, plus an occasional night dive (scheduled on demand.) The morning boat goes out for 2 dives - leaves at 9:00am and returns around 12:00-12:30. The surface interval between those 2 dives is spent on the boat, or swimming near the boat if you are so inclined. The boat has a nice big bow area for suntanning, and also a covered area with benches. The boat also goes out at 1:00pm for a single dive, then again at 2:30pm for a single dive. After the last boat comes in around 4:00pm the beers come out and most of the divers and staff hang out on the deck sharing stories until at least 5:00pm when business hours are over. Check out their website - www.coconuttreedivers.com

Have fun!
Clair

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. We leave on Saturday and I can't wait!

Hi -

We spent a week in Roatan about 8 months ago.

our dollars were never - never ever - turned away. The ATMs worked sporadically, and sproradically with different debit/credt cards. We should only have brought more, and in smaller denominations.

Our resort had a dive company on site that was fine. We used them, and they gave us a deal because we stayed with them (Las Rocas). There were lots of other reputable dive companies too though - and hundreds of dive sites - I really liked the "Texas" site - not just b/c I live in Texas.

Have fun - I would recommend STRONGLY getting some cactus juice when you arrive - the sand fleas will eat you alive - they apparently like the salt that is left from the seawater when you come out of the ocean and lay down on your beach towel/beach chair. All 6 of us were victimized, some more than others. The cactus juice helps, as does drinking a lot of the local drink - Monkey Lalas. Yum!
The cactus stuff is about $8/bottle, but worth it.